Knowledge management of MNCs in the post-COVID era: the role of cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the mechanism of knowledge management within multinationals during the post COVID-19 era, with particular consideration given to the relationship between the cultural intelligence of top managers and knowledge-oriented leadership using fear of COVID-19 as a moderating factor.
Design/methodology/approach
Derived from upper echelons’ theory and research on knowledge management success (KMS), a theoretical model and associated hypotheses have been developed and tested. Structural equation modeling was used with statistics collected from 288 top managers and executives of multinational corporations dominated by knowledge-intensive industries through a network investigation.
Findings
Results indicate that the levels of executives’ cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership contribute to KMS, while knowledge-oriented leadership acts as a mediator between them. In addition, the fear of COVID-19 of senior executives negatively affects both the direct and mediated influence of cultural intelligence on KMS.
Research limitations/implications
The current research uses an empirical approach to examine cross-border KMS. Further research is needed to develop more comprehensive measurement tools for KMS and more detailed research by further developing the subdimensions of cultural intelligence. In addition, this paper used cross-sectional research that limits the capability to establish causal relationships over time.
Originality/value
The research explores the “human side” of the key antecedents of KMS, fills the gap in research about the impact of cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership on the achievement of KMS, paves the way for emerging knowledge-oriented leadership from the initial phase to the mature phase and contributes to the literature on environmental uncertainty and crisis, using the COVID-19 as a representative context.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Award Nos. 72271214, 71762033 and 72071176) and Social Science Foundation of Yunnan Province (Award No. ZD202213), Fundamental Research Project of Yunnan Province, China (Award No. 202401AS070041), the Outstanding Youth Project of Yunnan Province, China (Award No. 202301AV070010), Philosophy and Social Science Innovation Team of Yunnan Province, China (Award No. 2024CX14, 2022CX01), Xing Dian Talent Teacher’s Program of Yunnan Province, China (Award No. [2018] 73). The assistance of Elizabeth Dunlop from CSU, and Sophia X Duan from RMIT of Australia, Dr. Li Shen from Juniata in America and Professor Kostis Konstantinos from the University of Greenwich in the UK is gratefully acknowledged.
Citation
Zhang, Y., Xiong, P., Rong, S., Frost, M. and Zhou, W. (2024), "Knowledge management of MNCs in the post-COVID era: the role of cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-03-2023-0189
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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