Corporate language proficiency in reverse knowledge transfer: A moderated mediation model of shared vision and communication frequency

Abstract

In this paper, we developed and tested a moderated mediation model of interunit relational characteristics in reverse knowledge transfer. Specifically, by integrating international business research with social identity theory, we hypothesized that shared vision mediates the positive effect between host country national employees’ corporate language proficiency and reverse knowledge transfer. Furthermore, we hypothesized that headquarters-subsidiary communication frequency enhances the relationships between language proficiency and shared vision as well as shared vision and reverse knowledge transfer. We tested these effects on data collected from 574 middle managers leading functional departments of foreign subsidiaries in Japan. Our findings supported these hypotheses.