DMCA
Knowledge transfer: A basis for competitive advantage in firms Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
| Citations: | 391 - 4 self |
BibTeX
@MISC{Argote_knowledgetransfer:,
author = {Linda Argote and Paul Ingram},
title = {Knowledge transfer: A basis for competitive advantage in firms Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes},
year = {}
}
Share
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
OpenURL
Abstract
This concluding article in the special issue of Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes on the foundations of knowledge transfer in organizations argues that the creation and transfer of knowledge are a basis for competitive advantage in firms. The article builds on a framework of knowledge reservoirs to show why knowledge transfer can be difficult and to identify the kinds of knowledge that are most difficult to transfer to differ-ent contexts. The article develops the proposition that interac-tions among people, tasks, and tools are least likely to fit the new context and hence are the most difficult to transfer. This theoretical result illuminates how organizations can derive com-petitive advantage by transferring knowledge internally while preventing its external transfer to competitors. Because people are more similar within than between organizations, interactions involving people transfer more readily within than between firms. By embedding knowledge in interactions involving people, organizations can both effect knowledge transfer internally and impede knowledge transfer externally. Thus, knowledge embed-ded in the interactions of people, tools, and tasks provides a basis for competitive advantage in firms. q 2000 Academic Press The ability to transfer knowledge from one unit to another has been found to contribute to the organizational performance of firms in both the manufacturing
Keyphrases
knowledge transfer competitive advantage human decision process firm organizational behavior special issue differ-ent context organizational behavior knowledge reservoir effect knowledge transfer organizational performance com-petitive advantage new context theoretical result organization argues external transfer human decision academic press
