Unravelling Managerial Knowledge Sharing in a Multi-Business Firm

Abstract In single businesses, managerial knowledge plays a crucial role in delineating strategies and making competitive decisions. However, in multi-business firms (MBFs), managerial knowledge assumes an even greater significance as it not only guides competition but also shapes the management of a diverse business portfolio to realize synergies. This research aims to investigate how managerial knowledge is shared while managing a multi-business firm? Employing an in-depth qualitative case study from the complexity perspective, the study focuses on the top management team (TMT) of a multi-business insurance firm. Drawing on non-participant observations, interviews, and document analysis, this qualitative inquiry proposes a conceptualization of managerial knowledge within MBFs as a complex adaptive system (CAS). By doing so, the study contributes novel insights into the understanding of managerial knowledge as a CAS, thereby enriching our comprehension of how MBFs realize synergies through knowledge sharing and facilitate decentralized decision-making. This study offers significant implications for practitioners and scholars alike by deepening the understanding of the intricate dynamics inherent in managing multi-business firms and underscores the importance of knowledge sharing in realizing synergies.