CROSS-CULTURAL PERCEPTIONS ON KNOWLEDGE SHARING IN HETEROGENEOUS COLLABORATIONS

Benjamin Niedergassel (), Steffen Kanzler (), Salvador Alvidrez () and Jens Leker ()
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Benjamin Niedergassel: University of Münster, Institute of Business Administration at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Leonardo-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
Steffen Kanzler: University of Münster, Institute of Business Administration at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Leonardo-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
Salvador Alvidrez: University of Salamanca, Observatory for Audiovisual, Contents at the Department of Sociology and Communication, Campus Unamuno, Edificio FES s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
Jens Leker: University of Münster, Institute of Business Administration at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Leonardo-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany

International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), 2011, vol. 15, issue 03, 563-592

Abstract: This qualitative study investigates different perceptions of knowledge sharing in a cross-cultural research collaboration between German and Chinese scientists. Special emphasis is placed on the in-group and out-group orientation of partners, different communication styles and personal and organizational influence factors. Data was obtained by conducting six focus groups in Germany and China. All ideas expressed in these focus groups were categorized and thoroughly evaluated. Our analysis reveals that the in- and out-group orientation of collectivistic and individualistic cultures might not be as pronounced as theory would suggest. In fact, members of the more collectivistic Chinese culture even showed a higher out-group orientation than members of the more individualistic German culture in our study. The resulting theoretical and practical implications for managing cross-cultural collaboration projects are discussed in detail in the paper.

Keywords: R&D; collaboration; cross-cultural; China; Germany; knowledge sharing; communication (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1142/S1363919611003441

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