THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES: THE TRANSMISSION OF KNOWLEDGE, A MISSING DIMENSION OF STRATEGY

Abstract

Study of the internationalization of research and development activities for developing nations
is a relatively recent phenomenon that has been growing since the 1990s. Various disciplinary
approaches have attempted to address the issues. The static approach, which originated in
economics, seeks to determine the factors likely to favor or limit the internationalization of
research and development. The processual approach centered on the company's modes of
engagement is rooted in management science. In this article we adopt this second approach
by presenting a detailed case study of a five-year research project conducted in partnership
with a leading French car manufacturer, engaged in the internationalization of its engineering
activities. It emerges that the mechanisms for the transmission of business knowledge are a forgotten dimension of internationalization strategies. Taking them into account helps clarify
the difficulties encountered by companies engaged in such strategies.