Knowledge Transfer In Projects Research Articles

Knowledge transfer in interim management projects

Abstract This study aims to define the role of knowledge in a triad of factors determining effectiveness in Interim Management (IM) projects. The discussion is based on the authors’ research concept, which, in addition to knowledge, also explores the categories of trust and power. A longitudinal study using the empirical-inductive approach was conducted in Poland between 2019 and 2021. It included ten enterprises that implemented IM projects in the studied period. The results presented in this article confirm the importance of the empirically adopted study factors, including the transfer of knowledge between the Interim Manager and the client’s (organisation’s) project team. A significant relationship between the level of knowledge and the levels of trust and power emerges as particularly evident. Research can be continued to verify the authors’ initial findings and include the proposed research tools and entities representing different sectors, management cultures and geographical regions in search of additional variables and their correlations with trust, power and knowledge. The research conclusions may prove applicable to both Interim Managers (IMs) and their clients (organisations). They can be used not only for pre-project planning but also during the IM projects.

Experiences with Lessons Learned Method in it Projects

The project manager plays a central role in project integration and successful project completion. Leadership skills, especially knowledge-based leadership skills, are critical to project success as they enable the effective creation, sharing and use of knowledge. Project managers’ social cognitive, interpersonal and strategic skills contribute to effective knowledge sharing. The Lessons Learned method is generally recommended for knowledge transfer in projects, but its effectiveness and implementation are controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate project managers’ experiences with the Lessons Learned method in IT project management. The focus is on how these experiences influence knowledge transfer in IT projects. A qualitative research design was used to gain insight into the experiences of project managers. Eleven experts responsible for IT projects were interviewed in guideline-based expert interviews. The collected data was analysed using content structuring qualitative content analysis. The study found that project managers are responsible for knowledge transfer, but often do not perceive this task. Different perceptions of knowledge transfer methods were observed between traditional and agile training. The Lessons Learned approach showed unsatisfactory results and project managers defined their own methods. To improve knowledge transfer, project management standards should include clear tasks and support decision making. Generic models need to be integrated in the project management standards to ensure consistent approaches in practice.

Deterministic and Probabilistic Risk Management Approaches in Construction Projects: A Systematic Literature Review and Comparative Analysis

Risks and uncertainties are inevitable in construction projects and can drastically change the expected outcome, negatively impacting the project’s success. However, risk management (RM) is still conducted in a manual, largely ineffective, and experience-based fashion, hindering automation and knowledge transfer in projects. The construction industry is benefitting from the recent Industry 4.0 revolution and the advancements in data science branches, such as artificial intelligence (AI), for the digitalization and optimization of processes. Data-driven methods, e.g., AI and machine learning algorithms, Bayesian inference, and fuzzy logic, are being widely explored as possible solutions to RM domain shortcomings. These methods use deterministic or probabilistic risk reasoning approaches, the first of which proposes a fixed predicted value, and the latter embraces the notion of uncertainty, causal dependencies, and inferences between variables affecting projects’ risk in the predicted value. This research used a systematic literature review method with the objective of investigating and comparatively analyzing the main deterministic and probabilistic methods applied to construction RM in respect of scope, primary applications, advantages, disadvantages, limitations, and proven accuracy. The findings established recommendations for optimum AI-based frameworks for different management levels—enterprise, project, and operational—for large or small data sets.

Service Design Handover to user experience design – a systematic literature review

Knowledge transfer plays an important role in digital Service Creation Projects where information should flow through service design, Agile UX, and software implementation phases. One context for these handovers exists in projects where the service designers participate in the early phases of exploring and scoping the service, while agile user experience specialists take over the digital parts of service design and programmers the software implementation. The purpose of this study is to summarise scientific knowledge into best practices for effective information flow in real world Service Creation Projects. Special attention is paid on an important and understudied project phase, knowledge handover from service design to software implementation, which is referred as Service Design Handover in this study. A systematic literature review was conducted to analyse the current scientific knowledge on knowledge transfer in digital Service Creation Projects. PRISMA 2020 statement was used for reporting the review, which also influenced planning and execution of the systematic review process. SCOPUS search brought up 773 publications, and the full content analysis was done for the 41 most relevant publications. Based on the literature analysis, the best practices for effective knowledge transfer are related to communication quality and quantity, circumventing the need for communication, and verifying successful communication. To provide an overview of effective knowledge transfer, frameworks of Service Creation Project information flow and Service Design Handover are proposed. The existing knowledge transfer literature is voluminous, but this literature review is the first to study knowledge transfer in Service Creation Project context. The framework, best practices, and list of potential problem sources in knowledge transfer provide new knowledge for managing the information flow in service creation. The research gaps found in this literature review show the need for future research, such as empirical studies on service creation practice. • First systematic literature review on Service Design Handover. • Information flow framework for Service Creation Projects. • Initial framework for Service Design Handover to Agile UX. • Service vision, user stories and prototype are the most critical boundary objects for the Service Design Handover.

The importance of knowledge transfer in the implementation of an integrated ERP system

Purpose: Importance of knowledge transfer in the process of implementing an integrated ERP class IT system. Design/methodology/approach: The chosen research approach involved a case analysis, employing two distinct data collection methods an unstructured interview with a member of the implementation team and observation conducted by the article's author. The rationale behind investigating knowledge transfer in ERP systems implementation projects is well-founded, as it is deemed essential for enhancing the overall efficiency of project management in this domain. Findings: The research demonstrates a clear correlation between the stages of the knowledge life cycle and those of the project. In the project's preparatory phase, essential organizational knowledge is identified. Subsequently, during the IT solution design phase, there is a transfer of knowledge from employees to consultants, contributing to the development of a cohesive IT solution project. This project is then implemented in the subsequent phase, leveraging organizational knowledge for solution creation, testing, and utilization. Research limitations/implications: The insights presented in this study pave the way for additional theoretical and practical exploration. The adoption of an integrated ERP class IT system represents a strategic decision with profound implications for business processes, resource utilization, and management efficiency. The ramifications of this decision underscore its pivotal role in shaping the overall trajectory of organizational operations. Practical implications: The implementation process demands a spectrum of diverse and often specialized knowledge from participants, leading to multidirectional flows of such knowledge. Consequently, there arises a crucial necessity for research into knowledge transfer methodologies within the design environment. Originality/value: Implementation projects necessitate a range of diverse, often specialized knowledge from participants and entail multidirectional flows of such knowledge. The focal point of these projects is the amalgamation of organizational, management, business, and technological knowledge possessed by all participants, encompassing future users of the integrated system. Keywords: ERP systems, knowledge transfer, small and medium-sized enterprises. Category of the paper: Case study.

Measuring Knowledge Transfer in Innovation Projects: A Comparative Analysis

Collaboration of organizations with universities and research institutes is a way of decreasing not only the time but also the cost of R&D activities in innovation projects. This paper is a study on knowledge transfer measurement models in order to analyze their metrics and identify the use of techniques for measuring the flow of knowledge between companies, public research institutes, and universities in national innovation surveys. The comparative analysis of these models is part of a study to evaluate the ways to measure the impact of universities on society through innovation projects.

Social Networks and Knowledge Transfer in International Construction Joint Venture Projects: A Case Study in Thailand

International joint ventures (IJVs) are a specific type of strategic alliance between contractors from developed and developing countries and have been increasingly used. IJVs between multinational organisations are considered a successful strategy to benefit from international market opportunities in the globalised world. International construction joint ventures (ICJVs) have become of significant interest as the global construction market continues to be integrated into the more competitive business environment. The aim of this article is to uncover the knowledge transfer (KT) practices in an ICJV using social network analysis (SNA). The case presented here is the pilot study. A total of 19 questionnaire surveys were undertaken with selected team members. UCINET 6.0, an SNA package, was used to analyse the collected data and NetDraw was used to visualise the sociogram. This article first presents the actors' attributes; then, social network characteristics, which consist of network structure, network density and degree of centrality and cliques of actors, are presented. This analysis will be used to identify the key actors that influence the KT processes in this case study.

IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PROCESSES TO ADDRESS SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS BETWEEN SENIOR AND JUNIOR STAFF IN ENGINEERING PROJECTS

Skills and knowledge gaps between senior and junior staff is prevalent in engineering projects. This study aimed to identify the factors that affect knowledge transfer and methods to retain transferred knowledge between senior and junior staff in the South African engineering environment. Although several studies have examined the factors that influence knowledge transfer, very few have studied the factors affecting knowledge transfer between senior and junior staff in engineering projects. This study found that knowledge transfer is not made a priority in projects, and that there is a lack of knowledge transfer platforms and structures in projects. Incentivising knowledge transfer by making it a work outcome would improve knowledge transfer in projects. Keywords Knowledge Transfer; Engineering Projects

Sustainable Knowledge Sharing Model for IT Agile Projects

In order to overcome work environment challenges and remain competitive in the market, organisations must adapt. An organisation's competitiveness can be improved through knowledge sharing; however, improvement without responsibility can have a negative impact on the sociotechnical environment which people cannot fully comprehend. According to researchers, business involvement in sustainable development goals remains minimal [51]. As a result, a sustainable consciousness is crucial to improve the business. In the project profession, sustainability is a business approach that balances the environmental, social, economic, and political aspects of project-based work to fulfil the demands of stakeholders without jeopardising or overburdening the availability of natural resources for future generations [33]. This study goes a step further and proposes a theoretical design that aims to ensure sustainable development during conceptual knowledge transfer in Agile IT projects.

The Development of a Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Sharing in Agile IT Projects

Organizations must adapt their resources to meet the challenges associated with changes in the work environment in order to remain competitive in the information era. Several research findings identify knowledge sharing as a means for an organization to improve its competitiveness. Knowledge sharing can be defined in a variety of ways, but it essentially refers to the exchange of knowledge from an information giver to an information receiver. This is a purposeful activity that adds value to the client organization, particularly in IT system that employs Agile methodology. For the scope of this paper, we are going to consider only Agile knowledge transfer in IT projects that occurs in two angles: business knowledge transfers from client to consultant; and IT technical knowledge transfers from consultant to client. However, when interdisciplinary teams are involved in Agile IT projects, the knowledge transfer mentioned before remains inefficient once the knowledge loss persists throughout the project life cycle. The conversion of conceptual knowledge, which only exists in the brains and minds of individuals, into explicit knowledge is essential for organizations to gain and maintain competitive advantages over its competitor. This study proposes an alternative conceptual framework to address conceptual knowledge transfer in IT projects that use Agile methodology.

Knowledge management in project management: mapping bibliographic convergence

ABSTRACT The present study sought to map the bibliographic convergence of Knowledge Management (KM) and Project Management (PM). To achieve this goal, we adopted bibliometric techniques, supported by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The bibliographic coupling showed that the emerging KM literature deals with KM and results in PM, KM and project-oriented organisations, KM and project success, projects as a knowledge source, KM in interorganisational projects, and knowledge transfer in projects. Moreover, we determined that the intellectual structure of the area, KM fundamentals, KM and learning in project-based organisations, KM in organisations and projects, and KM and social mechanisms were also notable themes. Additionally, the EFA detected a relationship between the emerging themes and articles representing the intellectual structure. Furthermore, our results provide insights practitioners can use to recognise emerging issues the organisation is experiencing in the literature.

Embedding scientific information into forestry praxis: Explaining knowledge transfer in transdisciplinary projects by using German case

The Horizon 2020 project, ALTERFOR, generated knowledge about forest management alternatives. Researchers modelled a future, sustainable provision of ecosystem services, where a salient question was one of how to facilitate the application of these innovative scientific results in praxis. Our qualitative study uses a method mix and the analytical Research-Integration-Utilisation (RIU) Model to provide in-depth explanation of the knowledge transfer going on between the ALTERFOR research project and the forestry praxis. The leading assumption related to this communication process is that selected pieces of information are de-embedded from their scientific context of the research project and re-embedded into the existing knowledge of specific forestry actors, who utilise them to implement science-based management solutions in their forest. This assumption is empirically corroborated by using ALTERFOR's German case. For the approximately 100, 000 ha of Augsburg Western Woods (south-western Bavaria) the researchers simulated five scenarios, showing which ecosystem services would be provided by different forest management models over the next 100 years. The integration of scenario results into the praxis comprised three integration forums. Within the first forum (pre-study) the alternatives focusing on “recreation” and “hunting” were dropped due to a lack of supportive powerful allies from praxis. Within the second forum (bilateral meeting) the three other scenarios - “timber production”, “multifunctional” and “set aside” scenarios, all remained in the discourse of praxis. Yet, the third forum (multilateral meeting - workshop) triggered the toughest selection. Most project results were either ignored or declined strongly, so that only a few pieces of scientific information found acceptance by particular actors, who utilised them either through support or resistance: (i) the State Forest used the information about the “multifunctional” scenario to legitimise the solution which was already in use (multifunctional management), whereas the Private Forest used the information for the possibility to increase timber harvests in a sustainable way, in order to push for (an otherwise contested) strategy of maximized timber harvesting; (ii) the State Forest resisted the possibility of increasing sustainable timber harvesting, whereas the Private Forest rejected the implementation of set asides. Both actors had sufficient power capabilities to realise their interests, even against the interests of other landowners or political groups. These results show that it is not complex scientific knowledge that makes it through the selection process, but rather, pieces of scientific information, de-embedded from their theory-based context of the research project, are re-embedded into the context of powerful actors in praxis, who then utilise these to either support or resist their own science-based solutions. Based on this, we suggest that the ambitious Horizon 2020 goal of facilitating knowledge transfer is attained more effectively when the project opens up multiple options for dialogue between researchers and different groups from praxis (multi-actor approach), abandoning the idea of one, best solution and offering different alternatives instead.

A system dynamic approach for simulation of a knowledge transfer model of heterogeneous senders in mega project innovation

PurposeThe owners of mega projects typically assemble multiple academic research units and enterprises to form an innovation alliance, which carries out knowledge transfer and knowledge creation targeting technical challenges in the process of engineering construction. Due to high technical and management complexity of mega projects, factors affecting knowledge transfer among innovation subjects are complex and diverse. This study proposes a mixed system dynamics (SD) method to build and simulate the process of knowledge transfer in mega projects innovation and analyzes the driving mechanism that enhances knowledge stock of enterprises and engineering innovation results.Design/methodology/approachFirst, this paper proposes a conceptual model for knowledge transfer in mega projects by adopting event analysis of the data gained from investigations and interviews. Then, a qualitative model of knowledge transfer that considers mutual influences of the owner, academic research unit and enterprises is developed. Based on that, mathematical relationship among variables of the qualitative model is determined and a quantitative model of knowledge transfer that considers heterogeneity of knowledge sender is built. Finally, simulation is achieved using Vensim software.FindingsThe factors affecting knowledge stock of enterprises are analyzed from three aspects: (1) the individual motives and capability of academic research units and enterprises; (2) the gap between academic research units and enterprises; (3) the heterogeneity of academic research units. The results show that the willingness and capability of knowledge reception by enterprises, specific knowledge transfer context such as relational distance and organization distance between academic research units and enterprises and academic research units with high knowledge stock have key influences on the knowledge stock of enterprises.Research limitations/implicationsFactors affecting knowledge transfer within the alliance of innovation in mega projects and their correlations are highly complicated and difficult to determine. Despite massive investigations and interviews on many long-span bridges in China in this study, it is barely possible to directly obtain accurate data for all variables in the model. Limitations of historical data result in limitations on applications of the proposed model.Practical implicationsBy building the mega projects knowledge transfer model and conducting simulation analysis, this paper has generated practical values for the owners of mega projects on fostering, organizing, coordinating and managing of innovations. Especially, this study provides specific strategies and suggestions on selection of innovation subjects, motivation and guaranteed efficiency of knowledge transfer and knowledge creation of academic research units and enterprises.Originality/valueThis study proposes a conceptual model for factors affecting knowledge transfer that applies to innovations in mega project context, which fills the gap in the research of knowledge management in mega project innovations. Additionally, combining with the method of SD, the unique role of owner in knowledge transfer of mega projects and the differences among various knowledge senders and their influences on knowledge stocks of enterprises are thoroughly considered, and the research method of modeling and simulation of knowledge transfer mechanism is supplemented and extended.

Implementation of BIM technology for knowledge transfer in IBS building maintenance projects

PurposeThe current maintenance management method affects the efficiency of the complex, high-rise industrialised building system (IBS) building maintenance management projects in Malaysia. The usage of a conventional system (paper-based reports/unsystematic database) has various drawbacks, such as IBS component aesthetic and structural defects which occur repeatedly in the building and maintenance of conventional building, lack of integration between maintenance systems and lack of the intelligent capabilities of linking defect diagnosis operations in maintenance affecting various building elements with IBS component defect knowledge. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to focus on the development of a mechanism to improve IBS component defect knowledge transfer in IBS building maintenance projects through the integration of building information modelling (BIM).Design/methodology/approachEight clients/maintenance contractors were selected based on the major problems of using a conventional system to investigate the maintenance management practices in each complex and high-rise IBS building.FindingsThe findings indicated that several computerised systems such as Building Automation System and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System are used by a client/maintenance contractor. Moreover, BIM technology awareness was found to be limited, with no implementation in IBS building maintenance till now. The results of this case study were used as a foundation for the development of a prototype system using Computerised Maintenance Management System, Expert System and BIM.Originality/valueThe development of this new system improves IBS component diagnosis knowledge integration with the BIM technology.

The Role of Contextual Factors in Knowledge Transfer in Transactional Projects

Nowadays, with a significant growth in the number of organizations, they seeks to increase their competitive advantages as much as possible. One of the effective approaches is knowledge management, through which organizations try to reuse the experiences and knowledge created in their previous projects. Today, many projects are carried out by forces from other nationalities, in which each participating organization operates within complex national, organizational, and information contexts. So, knowledge is transferred between geographically dispersed individuals and organizations, and across cultural and national boundaries. Given these conditions, knowledge management processes, especially the transfer and acquisition of knowledge, are very important. The purpose of the present study is to design a conceptual framework of the contextual factors affecting the knowledge transfer in transnational projects using meta-synthesis method. For this purpose, firstly the previous research has been studied and interpreted the factors which are effective in transferring knowledge from different sources and then analyzed them using the open coding method to propose a conceptual framework

New product development processes and knowledge transfer in automotive projects: An empirical study

We report on the process management of a new product development project in Renault Samsung Motors, Inc., which is an international joint venture between Renault and Samsung, and also a part of strategic alliance between Renault and Nissan. The data collected from multiple sources were analyzed using qualitative analysis techniques. The findings show that (a) companies entering into concurrent technology/knowledge transfer by sharing platforms should consider their organizational capabilities carefully before introducing platforms from partner companies. Nevertheless, a company does not have to lower its standard in choosing a platform in order to match its underdeveloped organizational capabilities. Rather, customer expectations and market requirements should be the basis of selecting a platform to be introduced, and (b) developing a similar project organization structure and processes in a strategic alliance is effective in building trust and improving knowledge sharing/transfer between firms and between functions. The study contributes to development of two areas of management theory: (1) management of knowledge, and (2) expertise transfer in alliance/international business new product development projects and intricacies involved in it. Managerially, the implications are that the ownership and control of an international joint venture have a deep impact on the management of organization structure and processes. In turn, these may promote or inhibit effective cooperation and knowledge transfer between partner companies and their functions.

Knowledge Transfer, Knowledge-Based Resources, and Capabilities in E-Commerce Software Projects

Together with the recognition of successful knowledge transfer as an important growth strategy for small and medium-sized software firms, questions related to the knowledge-based resources have emerged, including what and where knowledge is and how capabilities may influence knowledge transfer in e-commerce software projects. This study provides a deeper understanding of the relevance of knowledge transfer in such projects. The research findings identify the challenges of transferring this tacit knowledge across such projects and even within the user organizations as well. In addition to the technology knowledge and the absorptive capabilities perspectives, this study considers the market knowledge and the associated marketing capabilities as the alternative input to such projects. Most importantly, it offers a clear guide to project managers in their team building and recruiting. By using rigorous theoretical deductions and empirical support from the case studies, the study provides significant research contributions to the academicians and the implications for the practitioners of software projects.

Effective Knowledge Transfer in Successful Partnering Projects

The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a link between partnering and effective knowledge transfer. Analyzing the key factors that enable partnering, there are reasons to believe that partnering may help to promote effective knowledge transfer in projects. Collaboration, open communication, and trust are some partnering elements that imply effective knowledge transfer and, consequently, lead to successful outcome. The findings will drive practitioners to a greater awareness of partnering practices and assist in promoting effective knowledge transfer in partnering projects.

The failure of the mangrove conservation plan in Indonesia: Weak research and an ignorance of grassroots politics

Successful scientific knowledge transfer in conservation projects depends on how the science integrates with local grassroots knowledge bases. Weak research comes about through a lack of adept research units. Science-based grassroots knowledge is based on assumption and experience. A new model of the science-policy interface, RIU (Research-Integration-Utilisation) model is used in this case study. This study identifies two phases of knowledge transfer in mangrove conservation plan in Segara Anakan area, Indonesia. The first phase is started by initial research in order to form a basis from which to develop the conservation’s programmes. The integration of research findings faced strong challenges from grassroots communities resulted from involving the elite as the allies of ADB (Asia Development Bank). Grassroots communities were successful in delivering their message, whereas the scientific sector did not produce good problem solving research, as it was oriented towards the wishes of established elite communities. The second phase is started by review study by which the elites were defining the results from the study as reflecting the public’s interests. Therefore, they planned to use the research finding as a basis from which to implement the diversion plan. Nevertheless, they changed their decision due to the tension created by the increasing resistance from grassroots communities. Grassroots politics, in this instance, was more successful in the decision making process. The subsequent elite were more sensitive to grassroots politics than the ADB and their allies.

A Proposed Framework for Knowledge Transfer in ERP Implementation Projects

A Proposed Framework for Knowledge Transfer in ERP Implementation Projects