Knowledge Harvesting from International Joint Ventures

Abstract

This dissertation explores and analyses factors which could facilitate Knowledge

Harvesting, and also how important it is for the parent companies. Knowledge

Harvesting is one of the knowledge processes within an international joint venture

network that has not received much attention from the academic community. After

relevant review of the literature in the area of international joint ventures and

knowledge management, the authors of the dissertation created a model. The model

consists of five factors: Motive, Absorptive capacity, Knowledge characteristics,

Trust, and Control. Eight hypotheses are formulated in order to test the model. The

empirical study is concentrated on Swedish companies involved in an international

joint venture with a foreign company. A deductive approach is chosen in order to

answer the research questions, and primary data is collected using an online survey.

The results of the questionnaire are analysed in a descriptive manner and several

conclusions are drawn.