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European Management Journal (2013) 31, 124– 136
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/emj
Diversity attitudes and group knowledge processing in multicultural organizations
Jakob Lauring, Jan Selmer
*
Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark
KEYWORDS Openness to diversity; Diversity attitudes; Knowledge sharing; Multicultural organizations; Cultural diversity; Groups; Linguistic diversity; Language diversity
Summary
The ability to locate, share, and use knowledge is vital for effective functioning of organizations. However, such knowledge processing can be complicated by increasing cultural diversity. Recent studies have suggested that a groupÕs diversity attitudes may increase group outcomes. In this study, based on a sample consisting of 489 members of multicultural academic departments, we set out to investigate the relationship between openness to diversity (linguistic, social category, value, and informational) and group knowledge processing (knowledge location, knowledge needed, bring knowledge to bear, and personal knowledge). We found openness to linguistic and informational diversity to have positive associations with all group knowledge processing variables. Openness to value diversity was positively associated with most group knowledge processing variables, while openness to social category diversity only had a positive effect on personal knowledge. ª 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Introduction
In the knowledge-based economy organizations have come to rely increasingly on intangible resources (Østergaard, Timmermans, & Kristinsson, 2011; Teece, Pisano, & Shuen, 1997). In consequence, an organizationÕs knowledge base, in the form of human capital, has become even more important for its performance. Add to this, the capability to locate, share, and use the groupÕs knowledge is an important source of competitive advantage (Tsoukas & Mylonopoulos, 2004). In this regard, it has been argued that employee
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/emj
Diversity attitudes and group knowledge processing in multicultural organizations
Jakob Lauring, Jan Selmer
*
Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark
KEYWORDS Openness to diversity; Diversity attitudes; Knowledge sharing; Multicultural organizations; Cultural diversity; Groups; Linguistic diversity; Language diversity
Summary
The ability to locate, share, and use knowledge is vital for effective functioning of organizations. However, such knowledge processing can be complicated by increasing cultural diversity. Recent studies have suggested that a groupÕs diversity attitudes may increase group outcomes. In this study, based on a sample consisting of 489 members of multicultural academic departments, we set out to investigate the relationship between openness to diversity (linguistic, social category, value, and informational) and group knowledge processing (knowledge location, knowledge needed, bring knowledge to bear, and personal knowledge). We found openness to linguistic and informational diversity to have positive associations with all group knowledge processing variables. Openness to value diversity was positively associated with most group knowledge processing variables, while openness to social category diversity only had a positive effect on personal knowledge. ª 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Introduction
In the knowledge-based economy organizations have come to rely increasingly on intangible resources (Østergaard, Timmermans, & Kristinsson, 2011; Teece, Pisano, & Shuen, 1997). In consequence, an organizationÕs knowledge base, in the form of human capital, has become even more important for its performance. Add to this, the capability to locate, share, and use the groupÕs knowledge is an important source of competitive advantage (Tsoukas & Mylonopoulos, 2004). In this regard, it has been argued that employee