Knowledge transfers from business conferences to firms’ permanent locations

Abstract

ABSTRACT Studies on trade fairs, business conferences and similar events have explored the circumstances of such temporary face-to-face encounters, the types of communities that get together and their interaction patterns. Despite this research, there is no sound understanding of how firms transfer knowledge generated during these events to their permanent locations. This paper aims to contribute to closing this research gap by studying eight business conferences in Canada and Germany. Based on semi-structured interviews and systematic observations during the pre-pandemic, we demonstrate how, during such events, mobile firm representatives generate knowledge that is transferred back home, where it may be applied and has an impact. We identify four major knowledge generation and learning mechanisms – as well as multiple sub-mechanisms – that are central in this process: (i) feedback and problem solutions, (ii) improvements of existing and development of new products, (iii) collecting inspiration related to latest trends in the field, and (iv) development of business networks.