期刊名称：Researchers World - Journal of Arts Science & Commerce
印刷版ISSN：2229-4686
电子版ISSN：2229-4686
出版年度：2013
卷号：4
期号：1(1)
页码：67-76
出版社：Educational Research Multimedia & Publication
摘要：The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of organizational culture on individual absorptive capacity. The study utilized task orientation, risk-orientation, cooperative norms, open communication, and collective rewards dimensions of organizational culture. The study was conducted by using survey among engineers working in the electrical and electronic sector of the Malaysian manufacturing industry and data was gathered from 305 respondents. The engineers in this study are all employed by foreign multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in Malaysia. Partial least square method was used to analyze the data collected. The findings indicated that there was partial support for certain aspects of organizational culture in influencing individual absorptive capacity
关键词：Organizational culture; absorptive capacity; engineers; manufacturing. ; var currentpos;timer; function initialize() { timer=setInterval("scrollwindow()";10);} function sc(){clearInterval(timer); }function scrollwindow() { currentpos=document.body.scrollTop; window.scroll(0;++currentpos); if (currentpos != document.body.scrollTop) sc();} document.onmousedown=scdocument.ondblclick=initializeR;R;R;ese;ese;ese;ese archers;archers;archers;archers;W;W;W;orld;orld;orld;orld;Journal of Arts; Science & Commerce ;¡ö;E-ISSN 2229-4686 ;¡ö;ISSN 2231-4172;International Refereed Research Journal ¡ö www.researchersworld.com ¡ö Vol.¨CIV; Issue¨C1(1); January 2013[67] ;INTRODUCTION: ;The presence of multinational corporations (MNC) in Malaysia hasbenefitted the nation's human capital ;development through the implementation of training and knowledge transfer programs. Training ;programshave affected almost all levels of local employees in MNCs; from production operators to high-;level executives (Blomstrom & Kokko; 1998). Similarly;MNCs also expect these local workers or host-;country national workers (HCN) who are employed by the MNCs to be able to absorb knowledge and apply ;that knowledge to increase their technical and managerial ability in order to improve their job performance. ;In other words; these HCN workers are expected to upgrade their skills to become skilled and knowledgeable ;workers. Therefore; the empirical investigation into the ability of local workforces to absorb new knowledge; ;information and skill from the training and exposure from the presence of these MNCs is something worth ;delving into since it can reveal the current state of local employees' abilities to absorb knowledge in MNCs. ;This information will provide guideline for the government to design relevant policy than can strengthen the ;human capital development in Malaysia by utilizing MNCs' technology and expertise. Furthermore; ;empirical studies in this subject matter are scarce. ;Besides utilizing the benefit from the presence of MNCs; another important concern is about the ;ability of talented people in Malaysia to augment their skills to become highly-skilled labor and have ;the ability to be innovative and creative. This concern is much related to the learning capabilities of ;local workers to absorb knowledge and apply that knowledge. Since MNCs are always involved in ;knowledge transfer activities from headquarters to subsidiaries local workers must have sufficient ;level of learning capabilities in order to absorb the transferred knowledge(Gupta & Govindarajan; ;2000). Therefore; investigating the absorptive capacity among local workforces in MNCs is a crucial ;issue as it has been identified as benefitting to the nation's human capital development. This study is ;expected to empirically reveal the level of learning ability of local workforces in MNCs to absorb ;foreign knowledge or technologies through their employment in MNCs. ;Currently; there is a growing interest in MNCs' administration and management of the knowledge flow process ;within organization; besides their daily routine such as production; innovation; and marketing activities (Gupta & ;Govindarajan; 2000). Their operations are 'no longer seen as repositories of their national imprint but rather as ;instrument whereby knowledge is transferred to subsidiaries; thereby contributing to further knowledge ;development' (Minbaeva; Pedersen; Bjorkman; Fey; & Park; 2003; p. 587). Hence; there is a need to investigate ;the above phenomena by focusing on the absorptive capacity of HCN workers who work with MNCs. Even ;though Cohen and Levinthal (1990) have clearly claimed that firm's absorptive capacity is built on individual ;absorptive capacity; that capacity actually is not equally possessed by all individuals inside the firm (Hamel; 1991). ;By having the ability to absorb knowledge; HCN workers can take the opportunity from the intra-MNC ;knowledge transfer process to enhance their skills through knowledge acquisition activities. ;However; the influence of the employees' immediate environment in influencing the absorptive capacity cannot ;be ignored. According to the social cognitive theory; the changes in human behavior are affected by the changes ;in environmental and personal factors. Bandura (1977) classifies environmental factors into two categories; ;social and physical environment. Social environment is defined as the socio-relationship environment; such as ;the environment of relationship between the administrative body and the workers; among family members; ;relationship between peers; and the policy of an organization. Meanwhile; physical environment refers to the ;physical setting surrounding a person such as the temperature; infrastructure; and size of the room. ;Bandura(1977) also stressed that with the interaction that exist between environment and individual factors ;which involves human beliefs and cognitive capabilities; there will be behavioral development and modification ;based on changes in individual personal factors. The social cognitive theory also elucidates that human being ;are actually the product of a social system in an environment with a strong bond with the social-cultural ;network that is embedded with human self-development; adaptation; and change (Pajeras; 2002). ;Therefore; this paper posits that the organizational culture of a firm; representing the environmental factor; will ;influencean individual absorptive capacity. The empirical evidence from the study will help researchers to ;identify inter-relationship between both variables which is very crucial in learning activities. The evidence will ;also highlight the intensity of absorptive capacity among HCN workers who serves with MNCs. Thus; the study ;will examine the linkages between the firms' organizational culture and an individual's absorptive capacity.
