Knowledge sharing in a cross-cultural context: Nordic expatriates in Japan

Although the scholarly discussion increases our understanding about aspects involved in the management of knowledge, relatively little is known about knowledge sharing in a cross-cultural context. Yet, attitudes about knowledge sharing as well as knowledge sharing behavior have been identified in related research as varying across cultural contexts. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the aspects that influence the act of making knowledge available to others in a cross-cultural context. The empirical part of the study, consisting of semi-structured interviews with 30 Nordic expatriates and eight Japanese managers in Japan indicates that language differences, status hierarchies, collectivism, and logical differences can create barriers to knowledge sharing. Managerial implications and suggestions for future research are offered.