The central theme of this doctoral research is organisational knowledge creation in the cross cultural context of the post-socialist transition of former Eastern European (EE) countries towards a more liberal market structure and methods of working. This transition was particularly important for those countries seeking European Union (EU) accession such as Romania, and impacted on those organisations having a major role in accession such as the Romanian Border Police (RBP). The need for organisations to expand their knowledge of strategic decision making for change and development resulted in a plethora of EU-funded training interventions to fill the gap. The literature suggests that as a result of the dominance of Western ideology of the transitional process, cognitive dissonance and a general disconnect with the outcomes of EU-funded projects was a product of such interventions. This research explores how a more collaborative co-inquiry methodology with partners can bring about knowledge creation as a more sustainable and significant approach for organisational change. Specifically, it investigates the reflective capabilities of a group of Romanian Border Police (RBP) managers to reveal how they can create knowledge for organisational change and development in preparation for EU accession. Simultaneously a framework for facilitation was developed as a result of using the original research of Geppert and Clark (2002) and Breiter and Scardamalia (2000), as a foundation for the operationalisation of the research and in the attempt to move away from traditional models of knowledge transfer to further develop the changing dimensions of training interventions in the EE as suggested by Michaelova and Hollinshead (2007). It is offered as a purposeful method for the sustainable organisation, in preference to western style knowledge transfer projects. The findings result in a complex model of knowledge creation for the RBP and a better understanding of how Western trainers can work with EE organisations to achieve the desired outcomes for developing organisations. Moreover recommendations are made on how the EU can best utilise this research as a basis for funding future knowledge transfer projects, to guarantee that funding is having an impact on developing organisations at a time of austerity.

This thesis investigates the dynamics of knowledge transfer between cultures within multinational firms, with a particular emphasis on subsidiaries located in Sweden and Romania. This study investigates how subsidiaries adjust corporate knowledge to fit local cultural contexts through semi-structured interviews with participants from a range of sectors. It also looks at the wider effects of these changes on organizational knowledge transfer processes. The research methodology used is qualitative research.   The data indicates that local cultural and regulatory variations have an impact on knowledge transfer tactics. Different techniques to integrating and adjusting corporate knowledge are shown by companies in Sweden and Romania, which reflect different operational and cultural contexts. The results show how subsidiaries improve their strategic positioning and operational efficacy within the multinational framework by utilizing both local and global advantages.   The study's methodology involves using thematic analysis to analyze the gathered interview data in order to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying cross-cultural knowledge transfer. The main results suggest that the effectiveness of knowledge transfer is heavily dependent upon the ability to navigate and incorporate local cultural characteristics alongside international standards.   By offering empirical insights into the difficulties and methods of knowledge transfer within Eastern European contexts, which are less studied than those in the West, this study adds to the body of literature already in existence. Additionally, it has useful ramifications for global firms looking to maximize knowledge management in various cultural contexts.

Magistro baigiamojo darbo objektas – žinių vadybos procesų tarpkultūrinės sąveikos kontekste ypatumai Lietuvoje įsikūrusiose tarptautinėse kompanijose. Darbo tikslas – atskleisti kultūrinių skirtumų raišką žinių vadybos procesuose tarptautinėse organizacijose, įsikūrusiose Lietuvoje. Teorinėje darbo dalyje išskiriami pagrindiniai žinių vadybos aspektai bei pagrindiniai tarpkultūriniai skirtumai remiantis G. Hofstede (1997) kultūrinėmis dimensijomis, pasireiškiantys organizaciniame kontekste ir profesinėje veikloje. Remiantis išskirtais žinių vadybos aspektais ir tarpkultūriniais skirtumais yra atskleidžiami pagrindiniai žinių vadybos procesų savitumai, tarpkultūriniame kontekste. Atliekant Švedijos, Japonijos ir Didžiosios Britanijos įmonių atvejų analizę buvo nustatyta, kad įmonės nacionalinė kultūra atsispindi kompanijų žinių vadybos procesuose. Buvo atskleista, kad viena iš daugiausiai žinių vadybos procesams įtakos daranti yra individualizmo ir kolektyvizmo dimensija. Tyrimas taip pat atskleidė, kad ne tik nacionalinės kultūros bruožai turi įtakos žinių vadybos raiškai, kartais jie yra nustelbiami ir kompanijos atstovaujamo sektoriaus ir jo veiklos specifikos, kuri yra reglamentuojama įstatymų. Atvejo analizės tyrimas parodė, kad savitas istorinis, socialinis, institucinis Lietuvos žinių kontekstas turi įtakos žinių vadybos procesų, siūlomų įmonių centrinių būstinių, svarbos suvokimui ir atitinkam žinių panaudojimui. / The subject of the Master‘s thesis is the distinctiveness of the knowledge management processes in the context of cross-cultural interaction within Lithuania-based international enterprises. The aim of this work is to reveal the expression of cultural differences in the processes of knowledge management within Lithuania-based international enterprises. In the theoretical part of the thesis the basic aspects of knowledge management are distinguished and the basic cross-cultural differences are explained based on G.Hofstede’s (1997) cultural dimensions that occur in organizational context and are a part of professional activities. Based on these distinguished aspects of knowledge management and cross-cultural differences, the basic particularities of knowledge management processes within cross-cultural context were discovered. Analysis of cases of Swedish, Japanese and British enterprises revealed that national cultures were mirrored in the processes of knowledge management employed by these companies. It was disclosed that individualism and collectivism were the main dimensions determining the flow of knowledge management processes. The analysis also discovered that national cultural features were not the only factors that influenced knowledge management processes. Sometimes the specifics of a sector enterprise worked in or the enterprise’s own specifics that were being determined legally played a more crucial role than cultural uniqueness. Case analysis revealed that... [to full text]

This thesis project explored how study abroad program administrators can help Japanese students develop intercultural competence through predeparture and ongoing intercultural training so as to improve their capacity to adapt effectively to American cultural norms. The ultimate purpose of this thesis project was to help Japanese students who were studying in the U.S. balance their involvement with their peer group from Japan and build relationships with people in the U.S. in order to fully experience American culture. To provide a context for this study, a review of the literature was conducted regarding the challenges faced by Japanese students while studying in the United States. It also examined literature concerned with elements relevant to the experience of Japanese students as well as literature on the intercultural training that I put together at the end of this project; those elements included: cultural issues, intercultural competence, training design, transformative learning, and intercultural training. Interviews were conducted with international education professionals who work with Japanese students in study abroad programs to find out how their Japanese students adapted their Japanese cultural norms while in the U.S. Based on the literature, some existing intercultural training programs, and the interviews, I designed an intercultural training program for a group of Japanese students who will attend a ten-month study abroad program in the northwest part of the U.S. The training program includes the following elements: learning about ones own culture and other cultures, observing and experiencing switching cultural behaviors, and reflecting critically on the interactions with peer Japanese students as well as American students during the study abroad.