Single business demands managerial knowledge related to how to compete. Multi-business firms require managerial knowledge not only about competitive strategy, but also about corporate strategy. Managerial knowledge is more than the one needed to govern business units. It means sharing knowledge between different organizational levels in order to confront business diversity and capturing of synergies. Based on non-participant observation, interviews and document review, this qualitative paper presents a conceptual model of corporate knowledge as a complex adaptive system (CAS). This research uses complex case study approach, focusing on the top management team of an insurance multibusiness firm. This paper contributes with a definition about managerial knowledge as a complex adaptive system that facilitates decision-making decentralization.
