Knowledge sharing in a multi-cultural setting
Author
Regoci, Bálint András
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2020
Submitted on
2020-10-01
Abstract
This thesis examines how national and organizational cultures jointly shape knowledge sharing in a multicultural organization. Focusing on Centrica Energy Trading A/S (formerly Neas Energy A/S), a Danish energy-trading company with a highly diverse workforce, the study is motivated by substantial staff turnover and the need for effective onboarding and knowledge retention. The central research question is: How do national and organizational culture impact knowledge sharing? Using a qualitative case study based on interviews with a diverse set of employees (and participant observation), the thesis synthesizes literature on knowledge, tacit and explicit knowledge, barriers and motivators to sharing, and national and organizational culture. Its contribution is an integrated framework that captures the combined influence of both cultural levels on knowledge sharing and related factors—addressing a gap where prior studies often considered them separately. The thesis then explores how Centrica’s organizational culture incorporates these factors and how employees from different national backgrounds perceive and align with them. Detailed empirical findings are presented in later chapters of the thesis.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan nationale og organisatoriske kulturer tilsammen påvirker videndeling i en multikulturel organisation. Med udgangspunkt i Centrica Energy Trading A/S (tidligere Neas Energy A/S), en dansk energihandelsvirksomhed med medarbejdere fra mange lande, motiveres studiet af omfattende medarbejderudskiftning og behovet for effektiv onboarding og videnfastholdelse. Den overordnede forskningsspørgsmål er: Hvordan påvirker national og organisatorisk kultur videndeling? Gennem et kvalitativt casestudie baseret på interviews med en mangfoldig medarbejdergruppe (samt deltagende observation) kobler specialet litteratur om viden, tavs og eksplicit viden, videndelingens barrierer og motivatorer samt national og organisatorisk kultur. Bidraget er et integreret rammeværk, der samtidig indfanger de to kulturlags indvirkning på videndeling og relaterede faktorer—et område hvor eksisterende forskning ofte behandler lagene hver for sig. Specialet kortlægger dernæst, hvordan Centricas organisatoriske kultur inkorporerer disse faktorer, og hvordan medarbejdere med forskellige nationale baggrunde forholder sig til dem. De detaljerede empiriske resultater præsenteres i specialets senere kapitler.
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