Purpose

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of knowledge management within multinationals during the post COVID-19 era, with particular consideration given to the relationship between the cultural intelligence of top managers and knowledge-oriented leadership using fear of COVID-19 as a moderating factor.

Design/methodology/approach

Derived from upper echelons’ theory and research on knowledge management success (KMS), a theoretical model and associated hypotheses have been developed and tested. Structural equation modeling was used with statistics collected from 288 top managers and executives of multinational corporations dominated by knowledge-intensive industries through a network investigation.

Findings

Results indicate that the levels of executives’ cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership contribute to KMS, while knowledge-oriented leadership acts as a mediator between them. In addition, the fear of COVID-19 of senior executives negatively affects both the direct and mediated influence of cultural intelligence on KMS.

Research limitations/implications

The current research uses an empirical approach to examine cross-border KMS. Further research is needed to develop more comprehensive measurement tools for KMS and more detailed research by further developing the subdimensions of cultural intelligence. In addition, this paper used cross-sectional research that limits the capability to establish causal relationships over time.

Originality/value

The research explores the “human side” of the key antecedents of KMS, fills the gap in research about the impact of cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership on the achievement of KMS, paves the way for emerging knowledge-oriented leadership from the initial phase to the mature phase and contributes to the literature on environmental uncertainty and crisis, using the COVID-19 as a representative context.

中文翻译：

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后疫情时代跨国公司的知识管理：文化智慧和知识导向型领导力的作用

 目的

本研究旨在调查后 COVID-19 时代跨国公司内部的知识管理机制，特别考虑高层管理人员的文化智商与知识导向型领导力之间的关系，以对 COVID-19 的恐惧作为调节因素。

设计/方法论/途径

源自高层对知识管理成功（KMS）的理论和研究，已经开发并测试了理论模型和相关假设。采用结构方程模型，通过网络调查，对以知识密集型产业为主的288名跨国公司高层管理人员进行统计。

 发现

研究结果表明，高管的文化智商和知识型领导力水平对KMS有贡献，而知识型领导力在两者之间起中介作用。此外，高级管理人员对 COVID-19 的恐惧会对文化智力对 KMS 的直接影响和中介影响产生负面影响。

研究局限性/影响

当前的研究采用实证方法来检验跨境 KMS。需要进一步的研究来开发更全面的知识管理测量工具，并通过进一步开发文化智能的子维度来进行更详细的研究。此外，本文使用的横断面研究限制了随着时间的推移建立因果关系的能力。

 原创性/价值

该研究探讨了KMS关键前因的“人性一面”，填补了文化智能和知识型领导力对KMS成就影响的研究空白，为新兴的知识型领导力从起步阶段铺平了道路。进入成熟阶段，并以 COVID-19 作为代表性背景，为有关环境不确定性和危机的文献做出贡献。