Knowledge management Module 7 obstacles to knowledge transfer Dr Jiangang Fei AUSTRALIAN MARITIME COLLEGE

Focus questions How do knowledge-related characteristics impede knowledge transfer and sharing? What are the main factors that influence individuals to share their knowledge? How can organisational internal structure affect knowledge sharing and transfer? Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.

Characteristics of knowledge Causal ambiguity Undefinable portion of knowledge (e.g. Human skills) A property of collectively held knowledge Imperfectly understood idiosyncratic features of the new context Unprovenness Usefulness Relevance Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.

Characteristics of the source of knowledge Lack of motivation Fear of losing ownership, a position of privilege, superiority Not being adequately rewarded for sharing hard won success Unwilling to devote time and resources to support the transfer Not perceived as reliable Trustworthiness Credibility Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.

Characteristics of recipient of knowledge Lack of motivation: reluctant to accept knowledge from outside Fear of changes No reward Laziness Consequences: Foot dragging passivity Feigned acceptance Hidden sabotage Outright rejection Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.

Characteristics of recipient of knowledge (cont.) Lack of absorptive capacity Unable to exploit outside sources of knowledge Lack the ability to value, assimilate and apply new knowledge Lack of retentive capacity A lack of persistence to exploit Lack the ability to institutionalise the utilisation of new knowledge Social confidence: comfort zone & approachability Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.

Characteristics of the context Barren organisational context Formal structure and systems Source of coordination and expertise Behaviour-framing attributes Arduous relationship Ease of communication Intimacy of the overall relationship between the source unit and the recipient unit Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.

Characteristics of the organisation Organisational structure: could either facilitate or hinder knowledge transfer Formal hierarchical (centralisation) (-) Informal lateral relations (+) Competition between units (-) Shielding mechanisms through partitioning tasks (-) Physical separation of experts (-) Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.

A knowledge transfer framework Knowledge Flows Context Relationship Organisation Individual Knowledge Mechanisms KT Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.

Review Now return to the focus questions at the beginning of this module and consider whether you can answer them to your satisfaction. Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.