International coordination of technology flows and knowledge activity in innovation

This paper seeks to analyse technology flows and the coordination of knowle dge activity within the context of technological innovation in multinationa l firms. A kev element in analysing how technology is transferred internall y within the firm is to consider the wider issue of knowledge and informati on flows. As the pace of technological change and diffusion has speeded up and the number and age of subsidiary operations has matured, multinationals have been increasingly faced with transferring 'softer' forms of technolog y and knowledge as the shift of competitive advance towards these more dise mbodied forms of technological change has become more prominent. Developing this therm the paper concludes by highlighting that concern about intra-fi rm technology transfer has shifted from moving the direct 'results' of inno vation or technical elements to the delivery of a wider 'envelope' or mecha nism which allows the transfer of knowledge surrounding the innovation proc ess.