Title: Antecedents of knowledge transfer effectiveness in international teams

Authors: Torbjørn Bjorvatn; Andreas Wald

Addresses: School of Business and Law, University of Agder, P.O. Box 422, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway ' School of Business and Law, University of Agder, P.O. Box 422, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway

Abstract: Despite the rapid proliferation of international teams, limited research exists on knowledge transfer effectiveness in such teams. This study investigates the impact of geographical distance, native-language diversity and national cultural diversity on within-team knowledge transfer effectiveness. Moreover, the mediating effect of group-level absorptive capacity is assessed. Using a dual-sample approach, structural equation modelling is applied to analyse a sample of 196 internationally dispersed project teams. We find that geographical distance and cultural diversity impede both absorptive capacity and knowledge transfer effectiveness. In contrast, language diversity amplifies absorptive capacity and exhibits an indirect-only positive mediating effect on knowledge transfer effectiveness. The results suggest that the effects of the international business environment on team outcomes are more complex, layered and conflicting than commonly assumed.

Keywords: knowledge transfer; distance; language; culture; diversity.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2024.139613

European Journal of International Management, 2024 Vol.23 No.4, pp.622 - 647

Received: 10 Nov 2018
Accepted: 23 Dec 2019
Published online: 05 Jul 2024 *

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