From the Knowledge Creating Process to the Knowledge Creating Outcome: The Way to go for Multinational Corporations

Abstract

Continuous creation of new knowledge is an activity that is said to enable organizations gain competitive advantage in their operations. However, apart from a few studies that have generated a trail of similar studies on this subject, there remains a shortage of research on how the activity is to be coordinated from input to outcome phase for maximum benefit. This paper presents a proposal to study the knowledge creation activity with a focus on Multinational Corporations and builds on the characteristics of the knowledge creation activity: knowledge creating input (the means used to generate new knowledge); knowledge creating output (the result of the knowledge creating process); and the knowledge creating outcome (the result of the implementation and commercialization processes. I suggest research and development R&D as a means of continously creating new knowledge in MNCs through curiosity and systematic application of existing knowledge. Hypotheses are summarized thus: market research activities in the form of market research, consumer behavior research and cultural research positively influence the knowledge creating process and together with institutionalization agents specifically professions, influence the implementation and commercialization processes that lead to routine knowledge. Feedback from market and organizational members ensure a continuous knowledge creation cycle in organizations.