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The purpose of this paper is to review how knowledge transfer, including knowledge integration, absorptive capacity and reverse knowledge transfer (RKT) in cross-border acquisitions, is examined in existing research work. The authors also propose directions to advance research in cross-border acquisitions.

A systematic literature review is conducted, and related propositions are advanced based on scientometric and bibliometric analysis of 146 papers published over 10 years about tacit knowledge transfer, innovation activities, industrial policy effect on merger decisions, top management experience and value creation in cross-border acquisition. First, the authors searched major themes with the help of Scopus, and later, the authors analysed all received literature with the help of VOS Viewer.

This review facilitates us to identify six clusters and main author keywords. These six clusters are the underlying six research streams, including RKT, cultural distances, value creation, absorptive capacity, innovation and reference to India and China.

Despite knowledge transfer constituting important antecedents and critical factors for the success of cross-border acquisitions, knowledge management in the acquired company through proper knowledge transfer and knowledge integration is not given enough attention. Current literature still fails to provide a holistic picture of how firms strategically manage knowledge post-acquisition. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to analyse the dynamics of knowledge transfer in cross-border acquisitions. The study is a novel attempt to relate current research themes to emerging areas of cross-border acquisitions.

The scholarly discourse concerning the significance of relational embeddedness within multinational corporation (MNC) subsidiaries has reached a stage of maturity, albeit with fragmentation. In light of this, this paper aims to delineate hot topics that can serve as a promising research trajectory for future investigations into the phenomenon of relational embeddedness in MNC subsidiaries.

Through a systematic literature review, the authors examined 66 articles published between 1998 and 2022, sourced from two prominent databases: Scopus and Web of Science. To ensure the rigor of the investigation, the authors specifically focused on articles published in journals accredited with a minimum two-star rating according to the ABS (2021) criteria.

In the systematic review, the authors delineated four principal themes addressed in the literature concerning subsidiaries and relational embeddedness. Within these themes, the authors identified five underexplored research avenues that hold promise for future studies on relational embeddedness within the context of subsidiaries: (a) the question of the dark side of relational embeddedness, (b) the development of a global construct for relational embeddedness, (c) understanding how the social factors of relational embeddedness relate to each other, (d) the gains that local partners have in developing relational embeddedness with subsidiaries of foreign MNCs and how this relationship is moderated by the institutional environment and (e) the impact of internal.

While this study drew upon two major databases, future researchers are encouraged to explore alternative repositories to ensure the thoroughness of the findings. Another limitation of this study pertains to the chosen set of keywords, which did not encompass literature on innovation collaboration or knowledge flows within foreign subsidiaries. These areas are interconnected with the knowledge management literature and relational embeddedness, warranting attention in future investigations.

The managerial insights cater to two distinct cohorts: multinational subsidiary managers, equipping them with insights into leveraging relational strategies effectively and managers of partner companies, facilitating informed decision-making in optimizing access to subsidiary knowledge and resources.

In addition to facilitating the consolidation of fragmented literature, this study has identified five theoretical gaps that remain insufficiently explored within research utilizing the relational embeddedness framework in the context of MNC subsidiaries. Consequently, this research serves as an inaugural step for future investigations, elucidating specific avenues ripe for further exploration in the field.

Based on the perspective of knowledge management, this study aims to discuss how to build cross-city emergency management collaboration mechanism in major emergencies and explore the important role of knowledge management in emergency management collaboration.

Based on the theoretical analysis of knowledge management and the typical case study of cross-city emergency management collaborative rescue, this study provides an in-depth analysis of how these cities achieve high emergency management performance through multidimensional and multilevel knowledge collaboration, thus revealing the mechanism of knowledge transfer, integration and sharing in achieving high emergency management performance.

Through analyzing typical cases, this study finds that building a smooth mechanism for multichannel emergency rescue information can promote the diversification of knowledge transfer methods, building a platform-based integration mechanism for emergency rescue information can enhance knowledge integration capabilities and building a linkage mechanism for emergency rescue materials between cities can promote knowledge-sharing level, thereby improving emergency management performance level.

This study has great significance for how to build cross-city emergency management collaboration mechanism in the digital era. In the future, the authors need to further discuss the following two aspects in depth: research on the impact of cross-city emergency management collaboration mechanism on improving the knowledge management capabilities of government emergency management departments; and research on the impact mechanism of knowledge management capabilities on city resilience.

Through case analysis of cross-city emergency management collaborative rescue for major emergencies in China in recent years, this study proposes three specific strategies for cross-city emergency management (smooth, integration and linkage mechanisms) and reveals that these three strategies are essentially aimed at improving the government’s knowledge management level.

This paper aims to elucidate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, reverse innovation and international performance of emerging economy multinational enterprises (EMNEs).

The authors analyze archival data of Chinese limited companies between 2010 and 2016, including 11,230 firm-year observations about 1708 firms. In order to test the study’s mediation hypotheses, the authors apply an ordinary least square (OLS) regression.

The authors find evidence that the entrepreneurial orientation of EMNEs has a positive effect on reverse innovations. Furthermore, the authors find positive effects of reverse innovation on the international performance of EMNEs. This pattern of results suggests that the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and international performance is partially mediated by reverse innovation.

The study’s findings help managers in EMNEs to promote reverse innovation by building and using their entrepreneurial orientation. It also helps them to set out and gauge the chances of success of their internationalization strategies. The findings also hold relevance for firms in developed economies as well, as they may understand which emerging economy competitors stand to threaten their positions.

The strategic role of reverse innovations – i.e. clean slate, super value and technologically advanced products originating from emerging markets – has generated considerable research attention. It is clear that reverse innovations impact the international performance of EMNEs. Yet how entrepreneurial orientation influences international performance is still underexplored. Thus, the current study clarifies the mechanism by examining and testing the mediating role of reverse innovation among the entrepreneurial orientation–international performance link.

We focus on multi-level heterogeneity in board interlocks by accounting for the experience of the “tied-to” firm and the efficacy of the channel for knowledge transfer. Specifically, we study the role of board interlocks of a focal firm with cross-border acquirers and their implications on the entry mode decision (greenfield vs acquisitions). While studying board interlocks, we also consider the type of directors (inside vs independent) that form the interlocks. We situate our research within the context of knowledge-intensive industries in emerging markets. By focusing on heterogeneity in board interlocks, we consider the interplay between experiential and vicarious learning and its implication on a firm’s foreign market entry mode choice.

We conduct our analysis on a propriety dataset of 450 foreign market entries by Indian firms belonging to knowledge-intensive industries during the period 2003 to 2013. We use a binomial logistic regression model to analyze the choice between greenfield ventures and cross-border acquisitions.

We find that firms are more likely to choose cross-border acquisitions over greenfield ventures when connected to other cross-border acquirers through inside and independent director interlocks. However, this effect is more substantial for inside director interlocks. Foreign institutional investors’ shareholding weakens the impact of inside director interlocks but strengthens the effect of independent director interlocks. A firm’s cross-border acquisition experience weakens the impact of independent director interlocks. Still, it enhances the effect of inside director interlocks on the likelihood of choosing cross-border acquisitions over greenfield ventures.

The study highlights heterogeneity in board interlocks and the effectiveness of channels of transfer of learning. It also highlights boundary conditions of board interlocks’ effectiveness in shaping the entry mode decision by elucidating the biases within different actors in the organizational learning process.

In the context of severe environmental pollution and resource shortage, this study aims to examine how knowledge flows affect the green activities of firms. Specifically, this paper explored whether the firms’ knowledge flows, namely, knowledge inflow (KIF) and knowledge outflow (KOF), play a moderating role in relationship between corporate environmental responsibility (CER) and green innovation in Chinese high-polluting firms.

The analysis was carried out based on a panel data set of 305 heavy-polluting Chinese listed firms from 2010 to 2020. Meanwhile, this paper adopted the fixed model to empirically attest the proposed hypotheses regarding the relationships among CER, knowledge flows and green innovation.

The results indicate that there is a U-shaped relationship between CER and green innovation, while the two dimensions of knowledge flows exert opposing effects on the nonlinear link between CER and green innovation. Specifically, KIF positively moderates the effect of CER on green innovation, whereas KOF negatively moderates the effect of CER on green innovation.

This study demonstrates how green innovation can be influenced by CER and, moreover, provides a more nuanced understanding of the value of knowledge management (KM) in firms’ green activities. In this way, this paper answers the call for understanding the importance of green transformation in the context of KM.

This study aims to investigate the influence of inventors’ abilities to acquire external knowledge, provide broad and professional knowledge and patenting output (i.e. different types of inventors) on the formation of structural holes.

The authors collected 59,798 patents applied for and granted in the USA by 33 of the largest firms worldwide in the pharmaceutical industry between 1975 and 2014. A random-effects tobit model was used to test the hypotheses.

The inventors’ ability to acquire external knowledge contributes to the formation of structural holes. While inventors’ ability to provide broad knowledge positively affects the formation of structural holes, their ability to provide professional knowledge works otherwise. In addition, key inventors and industrious inventors are more likely to form structural holes than talents.

The results identify individual factors that affect the formation of structural holes and improve the understanding of structural hole theory. This study is unique in that most scholars have studied the consequences of structural hole formation rather than their antecedents. Studies on the origin of structural holes neglect the effect of inventors’ knowledge abilities and patenting output. By addressing this gap, this study contributes to a more comprehensive theoretical understanding of structural holes. The results can guide managers in managing structural holes in accordance with inventors’ knowledge abilities and patenting outputs, which optimize the allocation of network resources.

Many authors have recognised multiple research gaps at empirical and theoretical levels regarding the interplay between the management of intellectual capital (IC) and the development of innovation capabilities from a strategic approach to technological opportunities, especially in knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS). This paper endeavours to provide answers to some of these research questions by relying on empirical observations in the context of an emergent economy.

After reviewing the literature through the lenses of the IC and knowledge-based view, the paper operationalises IC as a formative construct and explores its relationships with Technological Orientation, Innovativeness and Innovative Performance. This investigation employs structural equation modelling to analyse data collected through a questionnaire from a sample of KIBS members in a cross-sectional study.

The research confirms the positive influence of human capital on a company’s Technological Orientation, which in turn impacts Innovative Performance in KIBS. Structural and relational capital positively affect Innovativeness and the latter directly impact performance. All other IC components were found to determine the dependent variables through a mediated effect.

This research has several limitations. Firstly, it has to be stressed that the significance of the statistical findings is dependent on the sample size, and the results’ explanatory power and effect size cannot be extrapolated to other demographics in different regions or sectors. Secondly, it should be observed that the results of the empirical research can be affected by the respondents’ subjectivity in assessing the items and their perception of reality when providing the answers. Thirdly, this is a cross-sectional study, and results concerning, e.g. the Innovative Performance may be subject to change over a longer period of time, though items in this construct have inquired about results obtained over time. Finally, given the purpose of the research, the outcome may be limited to the research model design. Future research could attempt to replicate the results by investigating other demographics and other regions and by employing a longitudinal study.

The study highlights the value added by adequate management of all IC elements, as they affect the output of organisational business strategies and processes in an integrated manner. An organisational technological strategy that is based on up-to-date technologies, the embeddedness of technology in the organisational processes and the staff’s continuous technical/digital upskilling are conducive to competitive advantage and business success in KIBS. High competencies and skills that are continuously renewed through training as well as the acquisition of digital competencies, play an influential role in generating innovative capabilities that lead to business performance. Flexible and efficient business processes, the company’s support for informal knowledge sharing between employees and its ability to exploit new knowledge to sustain growth are prerequisites for KIBS’ success. Promoting an organisational culture of trust and collaboration, making the staff feel valued and satisfied and effectively using digital technologies for communication are all significant factors in supporting the development of innovation capabilities.

This research proves that IC management, viewed as an integrated construct comprising human, structural and relational capital management, significantly affects Innovativeness through the development of technology-based innovative capabilities. Furthermore, in a context where KIBS (and other companies) nowadays compete in a digital environment, technology and technical knowledge are paramount for a company’s success. The study validates in an aggregated model the role played in innovation by the management of knowledge and technical knowledge embodied in the employees’ competencies and know-how, the management of tacit and explicit knowledge developed by the structural capital and the management of stakeholder knowledge accumulated by the relational capital.

This research takes a fresh and comprehensive perspective to investigate how IC management can impact Innovativeness and Innovative Performance in KIBS by focusing on the nexus with the organisations’ Technological Orientation. The paper makes an original contribution to research concerning IC, KIBS, technology and innovation based on empirical evidence and a new approach to assessing IC as an aggregate rather than by looking at individual components.

This study aims to examine the mediating influence of organisational improvisation (OI) in the relationship between knowledge management (KM) processes and innovativeness. It explores the role of sharing, creating, acquiring and storing knowledge in managing uncertainties through developing improvisation capability. In addition, it examines whether KM–improvisation relationship contributes to higher innovativeness in information technology (IT) companies in India.

This study derived a conceptual framework based on a critical review of literature. The data were collected from 231 employees using an online questionnaire from listed Indian IT services and consulting companies. The data reliability, validity and biases were checked, and hypotheses were tested using path analysis in structural equation modelling using software such as SPSS and AMOS.

All KM processes, except acquisition, had a positive and significant relationship with innovativeness and OI. OI was positively related to innovativeness. Mediation results show that OI mediated the relationship between knowledge sharing–creation, knowledge base and innovativeness. OI did not mediate between knowledge acquisition and innovativeness. The results indicate that sharing, creating and storing knowledge builds an organisation’s ability to improvise and innovate in a dynamic environment.

A cross-sectional design limits its ability to derive a cause-effect relationship. Survey methods are prone to common method bias. Future studies can adopt a longitudinal approach with objective measures. Moreover, the impact of pertinent factors, such as experimentative culture; HR practices that reward and support improvisational behaviour and exposure to organisational routines/culture can be evaluated.

This study suggests that implementing KM processes of sharing, creating and storing knowledge are crucial to build improvisation and innovation capabilities to sustain in volatile market, and enhance employee innovative work performance and creativity, while gaining external knowledge is not beneficial in the moment of improvisation.

This study contributes to the literature being one of the first empirical research connecting KM processes, improvisation and innovation. This study adds to the knowledge-based innovation literature by presenting improvisation as a mediating link between KM processes and organisational innovativeness. This study extends the understanding of how organisations can harness knowledge to innovate in uncertain times. It provides evidence regarding the role of KM processes and capabilities to improvise innovation in the context of an emerging economy.

Sportswear brands are increasingly adopting co-branding strategies. Despite the success of marketing practices in co-branding remaining unclear, product category fit and partner brand name potentially play crucial roles. The aim of this research is to explore the effectiveness of marketing practices employed by sportswear brands when collaborating with different partner brands.

Due to internal data-sharing restrictions within companies, transaction data from second-hand platforms serve as a crucial source to compensate for the lack of first-hand market data. Using second-hand transaction prices effectively reflects long-term consumer demand and provides reliable support for evaluating product market value and brand marketing practices. A total of 315,584 records detailing trading information were collected from POIZON, a Chinese second-hand trading platform known for sportswear. These data were organized into 5,421 entries and analyzed by multiple regression.

The findings indicate that partner brand popularity negatively affects the price premium of co-branded sportswear (PPCS), with product category fit and partner brand name moderating this relationship. High partner brand popularity can lead to cue competition and consumer confusion, reducing PPCS. This challenges the assumption that higher brand popularity always correlates with greater perceived value. However, when product category fit is high, this negative effect is reversed. Additionally, while celebrity endorsements exert a positive influence on PPCS, their effectiveness diminishes when the partner brand name is related to a celebrity, suggesting an overshadowing effect.

Sportswear companies should prioritize product category fit when partnering with popular brands. Concurrently, they must thoroughly assess the naming style and distinctive attributes of partner brands when choosing endorsers. Similarly, marketing firms need to ensure that the endorsers’ values align seamlessly with the brand name to prevent any potential conflicts.

This study offers new insights by applying the competitive cue theory to demonstrate how partner brand popularity negatively affects co-branding effectiveness, moderated by product category fit. By validating the meaning transfer model, it shows that celebrity endorsements enhance the price premium of co-branded products in the secondary market. Additionally, the introduction of the overshadowing effect reveals how partner brand names moderate this impact. Supported by empirical field data, these findings enrich market research beyond conventional evaluations.