This study examines the survival of individual subsidiary in an inter-subsidiary perspective within the ever-increasing competitive environment in the Greater China region between Mainland Chinese subsidiaries and Taiwanese subsidiaries. 80 Taiwanese Multinational Enterprises¡¦ (MNEs¡¦) participated in this study and the researcher specifically looked at the two sub-frameworks, data collected were empirically tested. In the first sub-framework, it examines the influences of inter-subsidiary competition for strategic positions on subsidiary survival with respect to its strategic importance, resource asymmetry, and some characteristics of value activities. In the second sub-framework, it examines the influences of competition on knowledge flow positions with respect to knowledge flows and intellectual capital. The results showed that these determinants have different effects on subsidiary survival. Specifically, in the first sub-framework, the strategic importance and advantages of intangible resources enhances a focal subsidiary¡¦s survival, whereas local responsiveness, advantages on physical resources, similarity and mobility of value activities decreases its survival. On the other hand, in the second sub-framework, determinants of knowledge flows specifically on knowledge inflows, knowledge transfer, and absorption capacity of a specific peer subsidiary decreases its survival rate. Further, determinants on intellectual capital such as application capabilities on organizational capital and human capital are seen as positive factors. Finally, this study discusses the implications of inter-subsidiary competition for these factors in determining a focal subsidiary¡¦s survival.

This thesis is an empirical investigation into the control mechanisms of headquarters (HQ) exercised over their subsidiaries and is conducted with the help of primary data collected from 147 Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) operating in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Following on from the literature review, this study proposed that the headquarters-subsidiary mechanisms could be linked to agency theory (with the 'classical' principal-agent relationship as its core) and to resource dependency theory (implying relations between the subsidiary and other partners based on interdependence). Our results show that the agency and resource dependency mechanisms are indeed used side by side and complementary to each other to exercise control. The Headquarters-subsidiary model used in this study has four components of control in it: personal centralised control (PCC), bureaucratic formalised control (BFC), output control (OUT) and informal control (INFO). These controls (as an agency mechanism) provide a solid platform on which other mechanisms can be built. The complementarities of these control mechanisms may be linked to earlier studies that show that successful organisations combine tight control with more open, informal and flexible information and communication exchanges. A focus that bends too much towards formal control or too much towards informal control may threaten a company's existence. Our research provides an empirical explanation on this premise. The study found that Anglo-Saxon countries heavily use impersonal types of control mechanisms, specifically bureaucratic formalised control and output control. Compared to the US, the level of control in Oriental subsidiaries is less; or, put differently, the latter enjoy a greater degree of autonomy than US subsidiaries. Once a unit is operational, Oriental parent companies grant many more degrees of freedom than US parent companies. When we deconstructed the results for Europe, comparing German and British MNEs as a group to Oriental MNEs, we found that the latter exercised greater overall control. With regard to output and bureaucratic control, we found that both US MNEs and those from the Middle East exercised greater control than Oriental MNEs. The study drew the aspect of international transfers into the picture and investigated the role of expatriates in controlling subsidiaries. It has been recognised that expatriates can form both direct and indirect means of control. In executing direct types of control, expatriates directly supervised decisions taken at subsidiaries. The study found that this role is particularly strong in MNEs from Asia-Pacific countries and German MNEs, and is much less important in subsidiaries of Anglo-Saxon MNEs. We found that subsidiaries of German MNEs experienced a very high level of control; indeed, the only control mechanism that German MNEs did not implement among subsidiaries was control by socialisation and networks. German and Japanese MNEs are perhaps more rooted in business systems concerned with the management of issues internationally than American or British companies. The second group reflected that Anglo-Saxon countries heavily used impersonal types of control mechanisms, specifically bureaucratic formalised control and output control. When we deconstructed the results for Europe, comparing German and British as a group to Oriental MNEs, reveals the latter as possessing greater overall control. With regard to output and bureaucratic control, we found that both US MNEs and those from the Middle East exercised greater control than Oriental MNEs. Headquarters can strategize to implement control by the informal and social means method by positioning a sizeable number of managers from the home country within the subsidiary. Indeed, our results revealed this as true. It seems that their presence has positive and significant effects on most levels of control: personal, output, bureaucratic and informal. Contrary to this, however, we found that the presence of a sizeable number of expatriates (as opposed to headquarters managers) leaded to greater autonomy in subsidiaries. In terms of strategy and structure, we indicated that the three distinct organisational models identified for MNEs could be recognised in our study. Control INFO was significantly, positively related to global strategy, multi-domestic and transnational strategy compared with PCC, BFC, and OUT control mechanism. Conversely, BFC had a significant, negative and weak relationship with global strategy and transnational strategy, and no relationship with multi-domestic strategy. In general however, we can deduce the existence of a tendency for global, transnational and multi-domestic MNEs to use indirect control mechanisms and informal control suited to their integrated organisational models to a larger extent. Our results confirmed previous studies in the field of organisation theory, in the sense that size is an important explanatory factor for differences in control mechanisms. In contrast to these studies, however, a dominant effect was found only for the indirect control mechanisms. Few detailed studies that have investigated the effect of size on the two indirect control mechanisms; in actuality, most previous studies have focused on the direct control mechanisms (personal centralised control and bureaucratic formalised control) only. As such, our study reconfirmed the importance of the variable size, but concluded that it is mainly associated with higher levels of indirect control. The age of the subsidiary does not seem to have a significant influence on the type of control mechanism that is exercised by headquarters towards a particular subsidiary. Our study investigated the importance of various MNE characteristics in an attempt to explain performance differences between MNEs. The advantage of this study is that many of the characteristics that have been identified in previous literature as being important factors influencing performance were included in our research design, in order for us to be able to answer the other research questions. This therefore allowed us to assess the relative importance levels of different variables in explaining performance differences between companies, such as: country of origin, industry, size, interdependence, local responsiveness, knowledge flows, and the strategy and structure of the MNEs.

In the area of knowledge management and knowledge governance, previous research has mostly focused on either knowledge stocks or knowledge flows of firms or organizational units. Contrary to this work, our study is among the first to integrate these two perspectives in order to shed light on the complementarity effects of different types of knowledge stocks and flows in the multinational corporation (MNC). We investigate intra-functional as well as cross-functional complementarity effects from the perspective of the knowledge recipient. We test the impact of stocks on flows on the benefit that is created for MNC units. Based on a comprehensive sample of 324 relationships between MNC units we find that both types of complementarity create benefits for these units, but that the effects from intra-functional combinations of knowledge stocks and flows are significantly stronger than from cross-functional combinations.

The fast growth of science parks around the world has inspired many researchers to investigate the function and performance of science parks (SPs). Interestingly, mixed findings are reported on science park performance in the literature: some researchers found that SPs have benefits for the firms located on site; whereas other researchers doubt the benefits that SPs are claimed to have. This thesis aims to explain these mixed findings and proposes a relational approach to study the general view of interorganisational knowledge flows. The main research question to be answered is: How can the mixed findings of previous research studies regarding innovative performances of science park firms be explained? A sample of 52 new technology-based firms (NTBFs) situated in Gauteng was interviewed by means of structured questionnaires. Despite the fact that this research did not empirically confirm the theoretical explanation of the mixed findings found in science park literature, some issues raised in the recommendation section of this thesis could account for the mixed findings, namely differences in the scanning processes of new entrant firms, the nature of networking activities, services provided by SP management teams, academic-industry links and configurations of knowledge flows. The findings and recommendations of this study may help policy makers to further improve the design and functioning of science parks in emerging economies. / Thesis (PhD(Technology Management))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) / unrestricted

La littérature économique attribuant des rôles endogènes à l'évolution technologique et à lagéographie pour expliquer la croissance économique suggère que la compréhension des fluxde connaissances dans l'espace et de leurs conséquences sur les activités d'innovation est aucoeur de l'explication des disparités dans la croissance économique. À cet égard, cette thèsemet l'accent sur les réseaux de connaissances comme un mécanisme permettant la circulationdes connaissances dans l'espace et le temps. Parmi les différents types de réseaux deconnaissances, elle étudie les réseaux de collaboration de R&D et explore deux questionsprincipales.Tout d'abord, elle examine l'effet de la géographie sur la formation du réseau pour savoir si lesflux de connaissances par les réseaux de collaboration en R&D sont limités dans l'espace oupas. Elle s'enquiert de cette question à la fois pour le réseau multilatéral entre lesorganisations et le réseau inter-régional entre les régions européennes dans le domaine desbiotechnologies en utilisant les données sur les collaborations de R&D promues par lesProgrammes-Cadres Européens.Deuxièmement, elle explore comment un réseau évolutif de collaborations de R&D entre lesrégions affecte les performances des régions en matière d'innovation. Elle utilise l'économétriespatiale pour quantifier les effets statiques et dynamiques des flux de connaissances desvoisins spatiaux et d'un ensemble évolutif de partenaires de collaboration sur l'activitéinventive des régions dans le domaine des TIC au cours de la période 2003-2009. / The economic literature attributing endogenous roles to technological change and geography inexplaining economie growth suggests that understanding knowledge flows in space and theirconsequences on innovative activities is central to explaining disparities in economie growth. Inthis regard, this PhD thesis focuses on knowledge networks as a mechanism that enablesknowledge flows in space and time. Among different types of knowledge networks, it studiesR&D collaboration networks and addresses two main issues.First, it investigates the effect of geography on network formation to figure out whetherknowledge flows through R&D collaboration networks are constrained in space or not. It inquiresthis question both for multilateral R&D collaboration network among organizations and theresulting inter-regional network among European regions in the field of biotechnology using dataon R&D collaborations promoted via European Framework Programmes.Second, it addresses how an evolving network of R&D collaborations among regions affectsregional innovation performances in time. It employs a spatial econometric approach to quantifythe static and dynamic effects of knowledge flows from spatial neighbors and an evolving set ofcollaboration partners on inventive activity of regions in the field of ICT durin 2003-2009.

Knowledge is a sustainable advantage and knowledge assets can increase value with use. A snowball effect of knowledge advantage advocates effective knowledge management and fosters its continual growth as it flows. Knowledge, however, flows unevenly throughout an organization and the problem is that the fundamental dynamics of these flows are still not well characterized in theoretical and computational models. This study built on existing work—knowledge-flow theory, need knowledge generation, and the critical success factors for enterprise resource planning implementation—to examine the multidimensional knowledge-flow phenomenon in context, and used the case study methodology for knowledge-flow theory building. The research question was two-pronged: how can need knowledge and its flow across stakeholders within an organization be explained using a multidimensional knowledge-flow model and how can Nissen’s five-dimensional knowledge-flow model be validated using a real-life immersion case? The researcher relied on three sources of evidence for this case study: project-related documentation, archival records, and interviews. Data triangulation yielded three results components: (a) a chronology of key events that obstructed knowledge flow, (b) a logic model depicting themes that contributed to knowledge-flow obstruction, and (c) explanations of the knowledge-flow patterns. This case study suggested enabling need knowledge determinants and obstructing conditions are in play that determine the path of need knowledge flow. These two research artifacts should be considered together to provide a fresh research avenue towards better understanding of knowledge flow dynamics.

Les travailleurs hautement qualifiés - scientifiques et ingénieurs en particulier - sont un atout important pour le développement d’un pays car ils sont des facteurs majeurs dans la production de connaissances. C'est ce qui justifie les efforts compétitifs déployés par plusieurs pays afin d'attirer ces travailleurs. Les pays de destination sont en général décrits comme étant les grands gagnants des migrations des travailleurs hautement qualifiés. Ce qui n'est pas le cas des pays d'origine où ces migrations sont perçues comme une perte en capital humain. Cependant, ce phénomène serait beaucoup plus complexe qu'il n'y parait. En effet, il existe d'autres facteurs inhérents à la dynamique des migrations des travailleurs hautement qualifiés qui restent soit partiellement ou totalement inexplorés dans la littérature. Ces facteurs sont liés à des éléments résultant de ces migrations et pouvant créer des retombées positives vers les pays d'origine tout en contribuant ainsi à l'innovation dans ces pays. Afin d'explorer plus en profondeur cette question, il serait nécessaire de conduire une analyse approfondie autour de la question sur la nature des liens entre migrants hautement qualifiés résidant à l'étranger d'une part et celle des liens qui lient ces migrants à leurs pays d'origine d'autre part. A travers cette analyse, nous nous proposons de contribuer au débat sur le « brain gain » en investiguant les dynamiques de diffusion des connaissances à l'intérieur du réseau des migrants hautement qualifiés dans les pays de destination, mais également vers les pays d'origine. / Highly skilled workers – scientists and engineers in particular – are an important asset for a nation in so far that they enter in the production of knowledge as highly valuable human capital. That is why many countries have been competing for attracting. Receiving countries are in general pictured as the biggest winners from highly skilled migration. While the latter is perceived as a loss for sending countries. However, the situation might not be as simplistic as it seems. Indeed, we believe there are several unexplored factors underpinning the dynamics of highly skilled migration which contribute to some positive feedback to the sending countries in terms of knowledge and innovation while spurring innovation in the destination countries. And for a better understanding of these factors, one needs to look further into the nature of the ties linking highly skilled migrants abroad on one hand and to their home countries on the other hand. With our research we intend to contribute to the brain drain – brain gain trade-off debate by investigating the dynamics of knowledge diffusion within migrants’ networks in receiving countries and more importantly to sending countries.

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Submitted by Valdinei Souza (neisouza@hotmail.com) on 2015-10-06T21:42:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação de Mestrado de Mario Cezar Freitas.pdf: 1614801 bytes, checksum: 8619c54df1fc8436aac4435b76645546 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Urania Araujo (urania@ufba.br) on 2015-10-29T18:57:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação de Mestrado de Mario Cezar Freitas.pdf: 1614801 bytes, checksum: 8619c54df1fc8436aac4435b76645546 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-29T18:57:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação de Mestrado de Mario Cezar Freitas.pdf: 1614801 bytes, checksum: 8619c54df1fc8436aac4435b76645546 (MD5) / O presente trabalho estuda a dinâmica da inovação em um aglomerado de empresas, sua relação com os fluxos de informações e conhecimentos e a estrutura da rede de interações entre as empresas. Foi adotada a análise de rede sociais para identificar propriedades estruturais da rede de empresas pertencentes ao arranjo produtivo de confecções de Salvador- Ba, com base nos fluxos de nformações e conhecimentos envolvidos nas interações que ocorrem em conseqüência da necessidade de desenvolver inovações. Foi realizada uma pesquisa com a aplicação de um questionário estruturado junto a trinta e seis empresas do arranjo produtivo. Os dados obtidos possibilitaram avaliar as métricas da estrutura da rede de interações e a influência que tem em relação aos fluxos de informações e conhecimentos envolvidos com a inovação. No final, são apontados possíveis referenciais de métricas que podem caracterizar a intensidade das interações e cooperação entre empresas do arranjo produtivo. / ABSTRACT The present work studies the dynamics of the innovation in a clusters of companies, its relation with the flows of information and knowledge and the structure of the network of interactions between the companies. The network social analysis was adopted to identify the structural properties of the companies network involved with cluster of confections of Salvador-Ba with the basis in the information flow and knowledge involved in the interactions that occur in consequence of the necessity to develop innovations. A research was carried through with the application of a structuralized questionaire applied to thirty six companies of the cluster. The obtained data made it possible to evaluate structural metrics of the network of interactions and the influence that was related to the information flows and involved knowledge with the innovation. In the end, possible metric references are appointed that can characterize the intensity of the interactions and cooperation between companies of the cluster.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:44:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Antonio Thomaz Pacheco Lessa Neto.pdf: 3151767 bytes, checksum: d39f096f36e24de37a2e846d245fa19e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-11-05 / Knowledge flows, especially in subsidiaries of multinational corporations, now have an increasing importance in organizations and therefore the discussion of research in the field. The aim of this work is to analyze flows not only through transfers, but also conversions of knowledge between the three families of intangible assets (external structure, internal structure and individual competence), since, for the creation of value, the key lies in the fact that such transfers and conversions be effective (SVEIBY, 2001). Concerning the method, this dissertation presents an empirical study through a survey applied along the Brazilian subsidiaries of multinational corporations, from a theoretical construct Knowledge-based view (KBV) where makes an analysis of the assets of individual competence, internal structure and external structure, and having for its object of study brazilian companies in Brazil listed in data collection known as the best and biggest from business magazine EXAME covering the year 2012. The study indicates, for the sample data (nine respondents) removed of the universe effectively researched (140 companies and not the initial 565), that there is the maximization of value creation from knowledge flows in two directions only by knowledge transfers and conversions of Individual Competencies for External Structure, within the Internal Structure, of Internal Structure for Individual Competencies and within the External Structure / Os fluxos de conhecimento, de modo especial em subsidiárias de corporações multinacionais, passam a ter uma importância crescente nas organizações e por consequência nas discussões de pesquisas no campo. O objetivo deste trabalho é a análise dos fluxos, não somente através das transferências, mas também das conversões, de conhecimento entre as três famílias de ativos intangíveis (estrutura externa, estrutura interna e competência individual), uma vez que, para a criação de valor, a chave reside no fato de tais transferências e conversões serem eficazes (SVEIBY, 2001). Quanto ao método, esta dissertação apresenta um estudo empírico desenvolvido através de uma survey aplicada junto às subsidiárias brasileiras de corporações multinacionais, a partir de um construto teórico da visão baseada no conhecimento (VBC) - ou Knowledge-based View (KBV) - onde se faz uma análise dos ativos de competência individual, de estrutura interna e de estrutura externa, e tendo por objeto de estudo as empresas do Brasil listadas no levantamento de dados conhecido como Melhores e Maiores da Revista EXAME referente ao ano de 2012. O estudo indica, para a amostra dos dados (nove respondentes) retirada do universo efetivamente pesquisado (140 empresas e não as 565 iniciais), que existe a maximização de criação de valor a partir dos fluxos de conhecimento em duas direções somente pelas transferências e conversões de conhecimento de Competências Individuais para a Estrutura Externa, dentro da Estrutura Interna, da Estrutura Interna para as Competências Individuais e dentro da Estrutura Externa