The Processual Analysis of Knowledge Transfer in Technology Alliances

The paper studies on horizontal knowledge transfers between the technology alliance partners. Firstly, the article analyzed the knowledge infrastructure management on the basis of operation flow. The knowledge chain includes the knowledge produce, stockpile, communicate and application, among these activities which is a dynamic process going forward circularly and spirally with knowledge improvement. Secondly, the article offered a four-stage process model of knowledge transfer within technology alliances by analyzing the types of knowledge transferred and characteristic feature of technology alliances. The process model of knowledge transfer identifies stages of knowledge transfer and factors that are expected to correlate with effectiveness of knowledge transfer at different stages. The process of knowledge transfer is divided into four stages-knowledge transfer preparing, initiating, implementing, evaluating stages. The study shows that seven influencing factors which are disseminative capability of the knowledge senders, absorptive capability of knowledge receivers, knowledge identifying ability, knowledge transfer means, resources input, context applicability and the execution of knowledge transfer accelerate knowledge transfer, whereas information dissymmetry is found to prevent knowledge transfer. We conclude with implications of our findings for academic scholars and managers.