Knowledge transfer within a multinational industrial services firm
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Helsinki University of Technology |
Diplomityö
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Date
2006
Department
Major/Subject
Yritysstrategia ja kansainvälinen liiketoiminta
Mcode
TU-91
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
74+5
Series
Abstract
The objective of this work is to identify the potential for knowledge sharing in a multinational organisation. Sub-goals are to identify valuable types of knowledge, to identify how such knowledge can be transferred, and to understand some of the obstacles to such a transfer. The literature review draws on the knowledge-based view of the firm, organisational knowledge and knowledge creation, and social capital to present a framework of interorganisational knowledge transfer. The framework looks at four elements of knowledge transfer: characteristics of the source, the recipient, and the knowledge itself, as well as the organisational context. Context and knowledge related issues are believed to be relatively more important than the motivation of source and recipient. A case study is then carried out within a multinational industrial services organisation. Data from interviews with 40 managers in 10 countries (in North America and Europe) is used to classify units of the firm, based on their growth and profitability. Interview data is then cross referenced to performance, to understand what types of knowledge are particularly valuable. Results indicate that the type of knowledge that it would be most valuable to transfer include the business logic, knowledge about customers, and higher level technical knowledge. However, features of the organisational context, such as the lack of lateral linkages, particularly between units in different countries, fail to provide the conditions necessary for such knowledge transfer to occur. It is recommended that the organisation take steps to encourage knowledge transfer, by facilitating linkages, setting goals, and internally marketing successful transfers. In this way, some of the knowledge sharing benefits of being a global company will be realised.Description
Supervisor
Laamanen, TomiThesis advisor
Paasikivi, NelliKeywords
knowledge management, organisation science, industrial services