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National Cultural Influences on Knowledge Sharing: A Comparison of China and Russia
Author(s) -
Michailova Snejina,
Hutchings Kate
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of management studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.398
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1467-6486
pISSN - 0022-2380
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2006.00595.x
Subject(s) - collectivism , knowledge sharing , china , set (abstract data type) , knowledge management , business , cultural knowledge , political science , sociology , public relations , individualism , computer science , pedagogy , law , programming language
This paper presents a set of theoretical propositions regarding knowledge sharing in China and Russia. We argue that there are important national cultural similarities and differences between the two countries that result in certain similarities and differences in individual knowledge‐sharing behaviour in Chinese and Russian organizations. We claim that vertical collectivism and particularistic social relations in China and Russia lead to intensive social relations among organizational members, which facilitate knowledge sharing between in‐group members in organizations in both countries. We also maintain that differences in the essence of collectivism as well as in the extent of collectivism in the two cultural contexts lead to different intensities of knowledge sharing in Chinese and Russian organizations. Finally, we discuss theoretical and management implications of this research.