Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research | 2026
Authors: Rivas-Montoya L.
DOI: 10.1007/s41471-026-00238-9
Journal: Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research
Year: 2026
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
Document Type: Article
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access
Cited by: 0
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. © The Author(s) 2026.
Complex adaptive systems (CAS); Corporate strategy; M10; Managerial Knowledge; Multi-business firm