Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

“Not with the mind alone” A critique of “Knowledge transfer between Russian and Western firms: whose absorptive capacity is in question?” by Snejina Michailova and Irina Jormanainen

“Not with the mind alone” A critique of “Knowledge transfer between Russian and Western firms:... Purpose – This paper seeks to provide an invited response to the Michailova/Jormanainen paper ( CPoIB , Vol. 7 No. 3) . Design/methodology/approach – The author adopts a subjective approach to respond to the Michailova/Jormanainen paper and challenge/develop further some of the authors' findings. Findings – The author: suggests that a striking capacity for improvisation applied to virtually every human activity in the USSR; agrees with Michailova and Jormanainen that the Soviet Union's knowledge legacy is a far more important resource for Western firms than is usually appreciated, but believes it is very difficult for the latter to use this resource “in a more nuanced manner”; posits that Russia is learning a new language both literally and metaphorically; and concludes that Russians prefer asymmetrical relationships with the West. Research limitations/implications – There is a need for more research into Soviet history and even earlier periods of Russian history to explain contemporary Russian management and the Russian style of interaction with foreign business partners. Practical implications – Foreign firms dealing with Russia must learn to live with asymmetry in their relationships with Russian business partners; knowing sharing operates in a zone of severe terminological and attitudinal mismatches. Originality/value – Historical approach; use of Russian language sources, including Tolstoy; first reference in English‐language management literature of Russia's first Handbook of Knowledge Management. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png critical perspectives on international business Emerald Publishing

“Not with the mind alone” A critique of “Knowledge transfer between Russian and Western firms: whose absorptive capacity is in question?” by Snejina Michailova and Irina Jormanainen

Download PDF
7 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/not-with-the-mind-alone-a-critique-of-knowledge-transfer-between-HppZbvG83E
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
ISSN
1742-2043
DOI
10.1108/17422041111180782
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose – This paper seeks to provide an invited response to the Michailova/Jormanainen paper ( CPoIB , Vol. 7 No. 3) . Design/methodology/approach – The author adopts a subjective approach to respond to the Michailova/Jormanainen paper and challenge/develop further some of the authors' findings. Findings – The author: suggests that a striking capacity for improvisation applied to virtually every human activity in the USSR; agrees with Michailova and Jormanainen that the Soviet Union's knowledge legacy is a far more important resource for Western firms than is usually appreciated, but believes it is very difficult for the latter to use this resource “in a more nuanced manner”; posits that Russia is learning a new language both literally and metaphorically; and concludes that Russians prefer asymmetrical relationships with the West. Research limitations/implications – There is a need for more research into Soviet history and even earlier periods of Russian history to explain contemporary Russian management and the Russian style of interaction with foreign business partners. Practical implications – Foreign firms dealing with Russia must learn to live with asymmetry in their relationships with Russian business partners; knowing sharing operates in a zone of severe terminological and attitudinal mismatches. Originality/value – Historical approach; use of Russian language sources, including Tolstoy; first reference in English‐language management literature of Russia's first Handbook of Knowledge Management.

Journal

critical perspectives on international business – Emerald Publishing

Published: Oct 25, 2011

Keywords: Absorptive capacity; Knowledge transfer; Russian companies; Western companies; Russian language; Soviet Union

References

  • History of the Soviet Camps
    Applebaum, A.
  • Trust and Western‐Russian Business Relationships
    Ayios, A.
  • Assessing the potential for effective cross‐cultural working between “new” Russian managers and western expatriates
    Camiah, N.; Hollinshead, G.
  • Rethinking the MBA: Business Education at a Crossroads
    Datar, S.M.; Garvin, D.A.; Cullen, P.G.
  • Europe: A History
    Davies, N.
  • EC aid to the East
    (The) Economist
  • Economist Schumpeter: tutors to the world
    (The) Economist
  • Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia
    Figes, O.
  • Science in Russia and the Soviet Union: A Short History
    Graham, L.