The paradox of technological capabilities: a study of knowledge sourcing from host countries of overseas R&D operations

Jaeyong Song and Jongtae Shin
Additional contact information
Jaeyong Song: Graduate School of Business, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
Jongtae Shin: College of Management, Long Island University, Greenvale, USA

Journal of International Business Studies, 2008, vol. 39, issue 2, 303 pages

Abstract: We investigate the factors that influence the extent to which a multinational corporation's headquarters (MNC-HQ) sources knowledge from the host countries of its R&D labs. We propose that the technological capabilities held by MNC-HQs present a paradox. On the one hand, they enhance MNC-HQs' learning capabilities. On the other hand, they reduce MNC-HQs' motivations to outsource knowledge from host countries. We also argue that it is important to consider both relative and absolute levels of technological capabilities, because relative levels can influence MNC-HQs' motivations to source knowledge from host countries. Statistical findings generally support our arguments. Journal of International Business Studies (2008) 39, 291–303. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400348

Date: 2008
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (56)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jibs/journal/v39/n2/pdf/8400348a.pdf Link to full text PDF (application/pdf)
http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jibs/journal/v39/n2/full/8400348a.html Link to full text HTML (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:jintbs:v:39:y:2008:i:2:p:291-303

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer. ... nt/journal/41267/PS2

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of International Business Studies is currently edited by John Cantwell

More articles in Journal of International Business Studies from Palgrave Macmillan, Academy of International Business
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().