Permeability to inter‐ and intrafirm knowledge flows: the role of coordination and hierarchy in MNEs

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) actively participate in both inter‐ and intrafirm knowledge flows. But what distinguishes intrafirm knowledge flows from those across firms? Are they essentially the same with ‘more of it’ going on intrafirm, or is there a fundamental qualitative difference between the two? This research sheds light on this issue by empirically comparing the evolution of intra– and interfirm knowledge flows using patent...