Human-Related Factors in Knowledge Transfer: A Case Study

Knowledge transfer in IT is challenging due to a number of factors, including cultural issues, organization maturity level, and mentality. However, the root cause of these key factors is human nature. The paper describes early steps and findings of the knowledge transfer from world-renowned Carnegie Mellon University to a brand new Russian startup, Innopolis. The Innopolis City will integrate experience of academicians, researchers and practitioners. Innopolis will be a self-sufficient ecosystem with a kindergarten, STEM school, IT university and IT park. The university is going to be a unique project, since it there are no pure IT universities in Russia. Successful knowledge transfer for the new university is challenging due to a number of human-related factors. The focus of the paper is to detect and manage the key factors, which may help or hinder knowledge transfer. The paper contains author's findings, which may differ from the official Innopolis University position.