Combining Stocks and Flows of Knowledge: The Effects of Intra-Functional and Cross-Functional Complementarity

Tina C. Ambos, Phillip Christopher Nell, Torben Pedersen

    Research output: Working paperResearch

    Abstract

    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.
    Original languageEnglish
    Place of Publicationwww
    PublisherSSRN: Social Science Research Network
    Number of pages32
    Publication statusPublished - 2012

    Keywords

    • Knowledge Management
    • Knowledge Stocks
    • Knowledge Flows
    • Knowledge Transfer
    • Transfer Benefits

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