Knowledge Transfer and Knowledge Flows

Abstract

In this chapter, the concept of knowledge flow is presented from a broad perspective. First, the term of knowledge transfer is explained and on this basis, the concept of knowledge flow is defined. Second, the relations between knowledge flow and the following phenomena are explained: knowledge sharing, perception of resources and streams in organizations and workflow. Third, the subject of knowledge flow and its stages are discussed, together with the relation of knowledge flow with technologies and the flow of data and information. Fourth, the taxonomy of knowledge flows is proposed, based on the following dimensions: flow direction, flow duration, time constraints, flow location, relationship between the sender and recipient of knowledge, flow level, flow planning, flow formalism and the initiating party (push/pull approach), form of knowledge, area of knowledge, the relevance of knowledge. In the final section, the factors influencing knowledge flows are described within three categories: human factors (e.g. function in the organization; sender and recipient motivation; recipient’s absorption and retention capacity or trust), technical factors (e.g. having time; having technical skills; the ambiguity of knowledge or lack of knowledge verification) and organizational factors (e.g. size of the organization; organizational context; organizational relations or organizational structure). All these aspects are crucial especially in the context of the knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) companies and various knowledge flows taking place inside and outside these companies.