1. Understanding and Assessing the Concept of
Knowledge Leakage
London
September 2005

2. Project Drivers Philosophy Changes Outsourcing of non-core activities
Introduction of lean
Lower tier companies to provide integrated solutions rather than mere components
The movement of low-value adding activities to low cost base regions
Cluster activities and co-ordinated value chains
Knowledge leaks away from the origin
Also staff retirement and other experience-loss mechanisms
Need to understand long term effect of knowledge leakage – zero productivity?

3. Project Drivers Companies need:
To develop a perspective on their knowledge profile and knowledge flow
Map and manage internal knowledge resources
Understand and optimise knowledge leakage
Maximising for efficient collaboration – but knowing the associated risks
Minimising where risk is to high or knowledge is unnecessary
Inadvertent leak detection
SMEs are at high risk

4. The Project
Developing the concept of knowledge leakage and providing insights from a range of disciplines into the effect of knowledge leakage on UK productivity
To achieve the aim the following objectives will be completed:
To explore if companies appreciate the significance of knowledge leakage
To categorise knowledge leakage as a function of firm and inter firm activities
To develop an outline methodology for companies to assess their knowledge leakage holistically, to understand the risks and benefits associated with the leaks
To provide an assessment as to the potential effect of knowledge leakage on productivity

5. The Project Major deliverables: A taxonomy of knowledge leakage;
A web-based awareness, audit, and risk management tool for use within companies, thus enabling benchmarking both during and after this project;
An assessment as to the potential effect of knowledge leakage on productivity for policy makers and the overarching Sandpit research programme.

6. Progress
Changes in establishment Paul Chan Salford -> Northumbria Diane Mynors Brunel Raphie Kaplinsky Brighton Kathryn Walsh Loughborough  Collaboration agreement signed Institutional requirement before anything can progress  Job adverts Brunel Loughborough
Closing date 19 September 2005
Interview date to be decided today
Brighton – Andrew Grantham
Northumbria – Paul Chan’s time specified in the proposal
Possible researcher - construction water and waste

7. Connectivity and Foundations
Image and the
next generation
Clusters
EU project – drawing to a close
Legal
Readiness
Interoperability
Intellectual
property
Knowledge
management
Supply Chains
Knowledge
Leakage
Value of
Extended
manufacturing
enterprises
New product
development
Improvement
methodologies
Technology
Dialects
Competitiveness
Cost Engineering
IT Readiness
Resource-based
views of firm
Systems integration
Ethics in
Cultures
EU project

8. Dissemination Opportunities
Abstract / Journal of Materials Processing Technology By 30th September an abstract will have submitted to the knowledge section of the: 11th International Metalforming Conference 2006
Abstract / Potential J of Construction Innovation/Building Research and Infor’n
By 30 November, abstract submitted to Construction in the 21st Century: Local and Global Challenges conference, Joint W55/W65 Working Symposium by CIB. Changing frontiers and competitiveness track.
Danish Research Unit for Industrial Dynamics (DRUID)
Winter Conference January 2006; Summer 2006 Conference June 2006
The European Group for Organizational Studies
The 22nd EGOS Colloquium Abstracts: 6 January 2006.
2006 IEEE International Engineering Management Conference - EM Abstract Submission Deadline: 1 March 2006
European Management Review

9. Summary / Position A slow start – administrative – frustration
Initial work examining the position of ‘Knowledge Leakage’
– Addressing reviewers initial remarks
– Preparing the way for the researchers
Gathering views of colleagues academic and industrial
– Concept of lost information into a major UK company
Placing publication markers in advance to ensure publications
– Driving the research through deadlines
Ready to employ – a little worried