Abstract

VAN WAVEREN, Corro; OERLEMANS, Leon  and  PRETORIUS, Tinus. Refining the classification of knowledge transfer mechanisms for project-to-project knowledge sharing. S. Afr. j. econ. manag. sci. [online]. 2017, vol.20, n.1, pp.1-16. ISSN 2222-3436.  https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v20i1.1642.

BACKGROUND: The complex, unique and temporary nature of projects makes project-to-project knowledge transfer challenging and has attracted attention from both practitioners and academic scholars. This challenging nature of project-to-project knowledge transfer led to the proliferation of a host of tools and instruments (so-called knowledge transfer mechanisms) in which little structure can be discovered making selection by (project) managers a difficult task. AIM: This article aims to deal with this unstructured proliferation of knowledge transfer mechanisms by empirically categorising these transfer mechanisms, thereby reducing the number of mechanisms to groups that share a common characteristic. SETTING: The study takes stock of the wide range of knowledge transfer mechanisms available and analyses them in terms of specific characteristics (e.g. explicitness or reach). METHODS: A multi-method approach is used in which a multi-level latent class analysis is applied on data collected via an expert panel. RESULTS: Five categories of transfer mechanisms could be empirically established where these mechanisms showed common characteristics. CONCLUSION: The taxonomy developed will allow organisations and project managers to more efficiently select appropriate transfer mechanisms for use in project-to-project knowledge transfer.

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