The cultural context of learning in international joint ventures
- 1 November 1999
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Emerald in Journal of Management Development
- Vol. 18 (8), 666-675
- https://doi.org/10.1108/02621719910293765
Abstract
Currently, learning in international joint ventures between developing and developed countries tends to be viewed as a one‐way process, with Western partners assuming superiority in both technology and management. Learning is often dominated by the rational drive to achieve organisational effectiveness without sufficient attention to cultural differences, which has created problems of mutual understanding. In this paper we examine learning processes in Chinese‐Western joint ventures as well as the cultural context where learning is taking place. We argue that improved management of joint ventures lies in the process of collective learning of joint venture partners. To achieve this, it is important for partners from diverse cultures and socio‐economic backgrounds to understand the different modes of managing and organising. We illustrate this with examples from our study of Chinese‐Western joint ventures.Keywords
This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
- Disciplines of Organizational Learning: Contributions and CritiquesHuman Relations, 1997
- Believing Is Seeing: Joint Ventures and Organization Learning*Journal of Management Studies, 1995
- On dialogue, culture, and organizational learningOrganizational Dynamics, 1993
- Taking flight: Dialogue, collective thinking, and organizational learningOrganizational Dynamics, 1993
- DO ORGANIZATIONS LEARN? AN EMPIRICAL TEST OF ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING IN INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC ALLIANCES.Academy of Management Proceedings, 1993
- Organizational Learning: A Review of Some LiteraturesOrganization Studies, 1993
- Cultural constraints in management theoriesAcademy of Management Perspectives, 1993
- Competition for competence and interpartner learning within international strategic alliancesStrategic Management Journal, 1991
- Bounded Rationality and Organizational LearningOrganization Science, 1991
- Organizational LearningAcademy of Management Review, 1985