Inter-organizational Knowledge Transfer Processes: An Integrative Perspective

A process view on inter-organizational knowledge transfer (IOKT) is valuable in developing support strategies and in bridging the gap between human-and technology-oriented approaches for IOKT operations. However, there are few studies explicitly identifying and explaining IOKT processes, and those intensively focus on post-transfer processes and neglect the knowledge source perspective. In this paper, the IOKT processes are identified by focusing on how organizations can receive knowledge from another and by considering both the receiver and source perspectives. From the receiver perspective, the identification of the transfer processes is influenced by absorptive capacity theory. From the provider perspective, knowledge codification is taken into consideration. Based on the integrative perspective, the IOKT processes include identification, codification, acquisition, and interpretation have been established. The practical and research implications of the study for further studies are discussed.