Knowledge hiding as an unprecedented auxiliary in the knowledge management process for protection and to achieve innovation: the case of a pharmaceutical MNE operating in Egypt

This paper investigates the process and strategies used by a pharmaceutical MNE in Egypt to acquire, assimilate, transform, apply and protect its knowledge for the purpose of achieving innovation. The analysis is conducted through the lens of absorptive capacity theory and based on seven interviews with key stakeholders to explore how knowledge protection practices and supporting mechanisms were applied to achieve innovation and organizational effectiveness., Thematic analysis reveals that Knowledge infrastructure capabilities constitute the backbone of knowledge processing capabilities, supported by other constituents such as appropriability regime mechanisms, the role of management (HRM), knowledge management approach, knowledge hiding, and the absorptive capacity. The study concludes that successful knowledge management is a byproduct of integrating knowledge infrastructure capability with processing capabilities, and mediated by knowledge hiding mechanisms and strategies. The findings offer a valuable empirical perspective from a pharmaceutical MNE operating in Egypt and provide new insights into the nature of the intermediating influences of knowledge management processes that lead to innovation and superior organizational performance.