Predictors of Individual Knowledge Acquisition Commitment in a Post-Soviet Setting

Abstract

0Drawing upon interdisciplinary literature, particularly institutional theory, we tested Nonaka's (1994) predictors of individual knowledge acquisition commitment among 1,949 employees from four firms in Ukraine, a transition economy where low absorption of knowledge has slowed economic reforms. 0 Five personality traits explained nearly 44% of the variance in knowledge acquisition commitment, but the results concerning the influence of individuals' perceptions of the organizational context were mixed. 0The findings affirm the value of individual level research in international management (IM), and underscore the importance of contextualizing theoretical models of knowledge acquisition rather than assuming universality. 0 the results have practical implications for the performance of international joint ventures and subsidiaries that are dependent on host country labor in this context, and for indigenous firms attempting to transfer knowledge from developed economies.

Do You Know What I Know? Intent to Share Knowledge in the US and Ukraine

“…Although Russia is the geographic focus of most references to knowledge exchange considerations, Ukraine is comparable as a result of shared cultural heritage, economic relationships, and the Soviet experience (May et al 2011). This shared socialist institutional imprinting, which binds Ukraine and Russia (as evidenced by the violent border disputes and nationalistic uprisings that began in 2013), influences the ability to change operating knowledge (Kriauciunas and Kale 2006), and pervades the post-Soviet region (May and Stewart 2013).…”

“…Traditional survey methods are problematic in emerging economies, primarily because of lingering suspicion of outsiders and information restrictions (May et al 2011). To overcome these challenges to data collection in Ukraine, we drew upon longstanding contacts with local research colleagues to directly solicit participation of Ukrainian firms prior to the political unrest in 2013 that led to the overthrow of the Russian-backed President, Viktor Yanukovych.…”

“…We drew 10 items from May et al (2011) that address an individual's self-efficacy as a learner in knowledge acquisition, and have been validated in Russia and Ukraine. Examples include, ''I avoid new knowledge that is difficult for me.''…”

“…In tandem with IM scholars who advocate research on individual considerations to shed insight on the subsidiary and firm (e.g. May et al 2011;Michailova and Mustaffa 2012;Prashantham and Floyd 2012;Shenkar 2004), it is incumbent on IM scholars to produce insight by capitalizing on context to advance theory (Bello and Kostova 2012). In this endeavor, May and Stewart (2013) advocated ''double-loop'' theorizing that captures the exigencies of context for insights that might enrich a theory's ability to describe and predict phenomena of interest more thoroughly and robustly across contexts.…”

Building professional discourse in emerging markets: Language, context and the challenge of sensemaking

“…These include the difficulties of educating managers and of managerial knowledge transfer through international training and assistance programmes (Branine, 2005;Elenkov, 1998;Michailova & Hollinshead, 2009); the cultural constrains on knowledge acquisition in emerging markets (May, Puffer & McCarthy, 2005;May, Stewart, Puffer, McCarthy & Ledgerwood, 2011); the historical roots of the shortcomings of managerial expertise and business practices in transition economies (Holden, 2003;Holden et al, 2008aHolden et al, , 2008bMichailova & Jormanainen, 2011;Rodrigues, Gonzalez Duarte & de Padua Carrieri, 2012). If narrations reporting different incidences of language-related problems are rather common, analysis of their origins and lasting impact on IB, and in particular the scrutiny of professional discourse as a barrier to the absorption and development of management knowledge in emerging markets, remains a rare occurrence.…”