Adaptation In Knowledge Transfer Within MNC Subsidiary Episodes

Abstract

With the advent of multinational corporations (MNCs), it is more important than ever to understand how parent companies oversee their subsidiaries' activities and transfer knowledge to them. Japanese corporations have led the way in this field, employing approaches such as the Toyota Production System (TPS) to transfer the Japanese manufacturing ethos while maintaining quality and control in their international operations. While much has been said about the process of transferring Japanese manufacturing capabilities, little is understood about how these processes. Thus, a complete qualitative investigation was done in the Japanese multinational's subsidiary, which included three significant manufacturing initiatives (or philosophies): "TPS," "TPM," and "TS." Case data were acquired using 52 in-depth interviews with project participants, documentation, and moderate-participant observations. Using the subsidiary's procedures, forming the complete process, and, most importantly, utilizing and developing episodes in snapshots to comprehend the process, we gain a better grasp of knowledge transfer. This article further elaborates how adaptation is a major element in episodic knowledge transfer.