Abstract
In the upcoming years, many organizations will face the challenge of intergenerational knowledge transfer. This paper reports on a study that investigates this type of knowledge handover in a media company. We particularly focus on knowledge transfer processes, methods and procedures as well as factors influencing respective activities. Five retirees and five successors were interviewed. Results show that in the investigated organization best-practice knowledge management plays a rather tangential role, structured retention programs are missing, and supported knowledge transfer initiatives are rare. However, influencing factors do not differ from previous study results. Retirees transfer their knowledge relying on basic conversations, tandem learning and shadowing. Furthermore, they strongly believe in an informal learning-by-doing approach, while mentoring is completely absent. With respect to the knowledge transfer process, the study shows that although activities follow rather informal procedures, they may be explained by existing knowledge management theories such as Nonaka and Takeuchi’s SECI model.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abelson, M., Baysinger, B.: Optimal and dysfunctional turnover: toward an organizational level model. Acad. Manag. Rev. 9(2), 331–341 (1984)
Aiman-Smith, L., Bergey, P., Cantwell, A., Doran, M.: The coming knowledge and capability shortage: knowledge, skills and experience walk out industry´s door opened by the growing wave of retirees. Res.-Technol. Manag. 49(4), 15–23 (2006)
Asiedu, E.: A critical review on the various factors that influence successful implementation of knowledge management projects within organizations. Int. J. Econ. Manag. Sci. 4(7), 1–5 (2015). https://doi.org/10.4172/2162-6359.1000267
Baptista Nunes, M., Annansingh, F., Eaglestone, B., Wakefield, R.: Knowledge management issues in knowledge-intensive SMEs. J. Doc. 62(1), 101–119 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410610642075
Berthoin Antal, A.: Types of knowledge gained by expatriate managers. J. Gener. Manag. 26(2), 32–51 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1177/030630700002600203
Blackman, D., Benson, A.M.: Overcoming knowledge stickiness in scientific knowledge transfer. Publ. Underst. Sci. 21(5), 573–589 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662510379463
Brown, R.D.: Knowledge is Power: The Diffusion of Information In Early America, 1700-1865. Oxford University Press, New York (1989)
Burmeister, A., Deller, J.: Knowledge retention from older and retiring workers: what do we know, and where do we go from here? Work Aging Retire. 2(2), 87–104 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1093/workar/waw002
Brčić, Ž.J., Mihelič, K.K.: Knowledge sharing between different generations of employees: an example from Slovenia. Econ. Res.-Ekonomska Istrazivanja 28(1), 853–867 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2015.1092308
Christensen, P.: Knowledge sharing: moving away from the obsession with best practices. J. Knowl. Manag. 11(1), 36–47 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1108/13673270710728222
Cyr, S., Wei Choo, C.: The individual and social dynamics of knowledge sharing: an exploratory study. J. Doc. 66(6), 824–846 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1108/00220411011087832
Dalkir, K.: Knowledge Management in Theory and Practice. MIT Press, Cambridge (2011)
Davenport, T., DeLong, D., Beers, M.: Successful knowledge management projects. MIT Sloan Rev. 39, 43–57 (1998)
Davenport, T.H., Prusak, L.: Working knowledge: how organizations manage what they know. In: Knowledge Management. Harvard Business School Press, Boston (1998)
Den Hertog, P., Bilderbeek, R.: The new knowledge infrastructure: the role of technology-based knowledge-intensive business services in national innovation systems. In: Boden, M., Miles, I. (eds.) Science, Technology, and the International Political Economy Series. Science, Technology, and the International Political Economy. Services and the Knowledge-Based Economy, pp. 222–246. Continuum, London (2000)
DeLong, D.W.: Lost Knowledge: Confronting the Threat of and Ageing Workforce. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2004)
Disterer, G.: Individual and social barriers to knowledge transfer. In: Proceedings of the HICSS 34 - Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, pp. 1–7 (2001)
Droege, S., Hoobler, J.: Employee turnover and tacit knowledge diffusion: a network perspective. J. Manag. Issues 15(1), 50–64 (2003)
Durst, S., Ferenhof, H.: Knowledge leakages and ways to reduce them in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). Information 5(3), 440–450 (2014). https://doi.org/10.3390/info5030440
Durst, S., Yip, J., Lee, R.W.B.: SME succession planning and knowledge loss assessment. In: Ordoñez de Pablos, P., Turró, L.J., Tennyson, R.D., Zhao, J. (eds.) Advances in Business Strategy and Competitive Advantage. Knowledge Management for Competitive Advantage During Economic Crisis, pp. 282–298. IGI Global, Hershey (2015)
Durst, S., Wilhelm, S.: Knowledge management and succession planning in SMEs. J. Knowl. Manag. 16(4), 637–649 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1108/13673271211246194
Edvinsson, L., Malone, M.S.: Intellectual Capital: Realizing Your Company’s True Value by Finding Its Hidden Brainpower, 1st edn. Harper Business, New York (1999)
Erikson, E.H.: Childhood and Society. WW Norton & Company, New York City (1950)
Gold, A., Malhotra, A., Segars, A.: Knowledge management: an organizational capabilities perspective. J. Manag. Inf. Syst. 18(1), 185–214 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.2001.11045669
Harriss, H., Vickers, G.: Capture it: A Future Workplace for the Multi-generational Knowledge Worker. Helen Hamlyn Research Centre, London (2005)
Harvey, J.: Managing organizational memory with intergenerational knowledge transfer. J. Knowl. Manag. 16(3), 400–417 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1108/13673271211238733
Heisig, P.: Harmonisation of knowledge management – comparing 160 KM frameworks around the globe. J. Knowl. Manag. 13(4), 4–31 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1108/13673270910971798
Hendriks, P.: Why share knowledge? The influence of ICT on the motivation for knowledge sharing. Knowl. Process Manag. 6(2), 91–100 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1441(199906)6:2<91::AID-KPM54>3.0.CO;2-M
Hofer-Alfeis, J.: Knowledge management solutions for the leaving expert issue. J. Knowl. Manag. 12(4), 44–54 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1108/13673270810884246
Hofer-Alfeis, J.: The leaving expert debriefing to fight the retirement wave of the ageing workforce. Int. J. Hum. Resour. Dev. Manag. 9(2), 300–304 (2009)
Holtshouse, D.: Knowledge work 2020: thinking ahead about knowledge work. Horizon 18(3), 193–203 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1108/10748121011072645
Lahaie, D.: The impact of corporate memory loss. Leadersh. Health Serv. 18(3), 35–48 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1108/13660750510611198
Joe, C., Yoong, P., Patel, K.: Knowledge loss when older experts leave knowledge-intensive organisations. J. Knowl. Manag. 17(6), 913–927 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-04-2013-0137
Joia, L.A., Lemos, B.: Relevant factors for tacit knowledge transfer within organisations. J. Knowl. Manag. 14(3), 410–427 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1108/13673271011050139
Joseph, B., Jacob, M.: Knowledge sharing intentions among IT professionals in India. In: Dua, S., Sahni, S., Goyal, D.P. (eds.) ICISTM 2011. CCIS, vol. 141, pp. 23–31. Springer, Heidelberg (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19423-8_3
Kuyken, K., Ebrahimi, M., Saives, A.: Intergenerational knowledge transfer in high-technological companies: a comparative study between Germany and Quebec. ASAC 30(2), 1–18 (2009)
Lee, J.: Knowledge management: the intellectual revolution. IIE Solut. 32(10), 34–37 (2000)
Lin, H.: Knowledge sharing and firm innovation capability: an empirical study. Int. J. Manpow. 28(3/4), 315–332 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1108/01437720710755272
Lisenkova, K., McQuaid, R.W., Wright, R.E.: Demographic change and labour markets. Twenty-First Century Soc. 5(3), 243–259 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1080/17450144.2010.480828
Maier, R.: Knowledge Management Systems. Springer, Berlin (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-71408-8
Mayring, P.: Qualitative content analysis. In: The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Data Analysis, pp. 170–183 (2014). https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446282243.n12
McDermott, R., O’Dell, C.: Overcoming cultural barriers to sharing knowledge. J. Knowl. Manag. 5(1), 76–85 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1108/13673270110384428
McNichols, D.: Optimal knowledge transfer methods: a generation X perspective. J. Knowl. Manag. 14(1), 24–37 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1108/13673271011015543
Nonaka, I., Takeuchi, H.: The Knowledge-Creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1995)
Olla, P., Holm, J.: The role of knowledge management in the space industry: important or superfluous? J. Knowl. Manag. 10(2), 3–7 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1108/13673270610656584
Puppis, M., Künzler, M., Jarren, O.: Media structures and media performance: Medienstrukturen und Medienperformanz. Relation. Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna (2013)
Ramanauskaite, A., Rudzioniene, K.: Intellectual capital valuation: methods and their classification. Ekonomika (Vilnius University) 92(2), 79–92 (2013)
Ranjbarfard, M., Aghdasi, M., López-Sáez, P., Navas López, E.J.: The barriers of knowledge generation, storage, distribution and application that impede learning in gas and petroleum companies. J. Knowl. Manag. 18(3), 494–522 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-08-2013-0324
Ropes, D.: Intergenerational learning in organizations. An effective way to stimulate older employee learning and development. Dev. Learn. Org. Int. J. 28(2), 7–9 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1108/DLO-10-2013-0078
Seleim, A.A., Khalil, O.E.: Understanding the knowledge management-intellectual capital relationship: a two-way analysis. J. Intellect. Cap. 12(4), 586–614 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1108/14691931111181742
Spender, J.: Organizational knowledge, learning and memory: three concepts in search of a theory. J. Org. Chang. Manag. 9(1), 63–78 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1108/09534819610156813
Starke, F.A., Dyck, B., Mauws, M.K.: Coping with the sudden loss of an indispensable employee. J. Appl. Behav. Sci. 39(2), 208–228 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886303255959
Suppiah, V., Singh Sandhu, M.: Organisational culture’s influence on tacit knowledge-sharing behaviour. J. Knowl. Manag. 15(3), 462–477 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1108/13673271111137439
Susanty, A., Handayani, N.U., Henrawan, M.Y.: Key success factors that influence knowledge transfer effectiveness: a case study of Garment Sentra at Kabupaten Sragen. Procedia Econ. Financ. 4, 23–32 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/S2212-5671(12)00317-6
Szulanski, G.: Exploring internal stickiness: impediments to the transfer of best practice within the firm. Strateg. Manag. J. 17(2), 27–43 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250171105
Szulanski, G.: The process of knowledge transfer: a diachronic analysis of stickiness. Organ. Behav. Hum. Decis. Process. 82(1), 9–27 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1006/obhd.2000.2884
Teece, D.J.: Strategies for managing knowledge assets: the role of firm structure and industrial context. Long Range Plan. 33(1), 35–54 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-6301(99)00117-X
Wang, S., Noe, R.A.: Knowledge sharing: a review and directions for future research. Hum. Resour. Manag. Rev. 20(2), 115–131 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2009.10.001
Wang, Z., Wang, N., Liang, H.: Knowledge sharing, intellectual capital and firm performance. Manag. Decis. 52(2), 230–258 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-02-2013-0064
Wiig, K.M.: Knowledge management: an introduction and perspective. J. Knowl. Manag. 1(1), 6–14 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1108/13673279710800682
Wijetunge, P.: Organizational storytelling as a method of tacit-knowledge transfer: case study from a Sri Lankan university. Int. Inf. Libr. Rev. 44(4), 212–223 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iilr.2012.09.001
Youndt, M.A., Subramaniam, M., Snell, S.A.: Intellectual capital profiles: an examination of investments and returns. J. Manag. Stud. 41(2), 335–361 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6486.2004.00435.x
Yun, S., Takeuchi, R., Liu, W.: Employee self-enhancement motives and job performance behaviors: Investigating the moderating effects of employee role ambiguity and managerial perceptions of employee commitment. J. Appl. Psychol. 92(3), 745–756 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.92.3.745
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Schlögl, S., Sallaberger, P., Ploder, C., Bernsteiner, R. (2018). Exploring Knowledge Transfer in the Media Industry. In: Uden, L., Hadzima, B., Ting, IH. (eds) Knowledge Management in Organizations. KMO 2018. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 877. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95204-8_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95204-8_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-95203-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-95204-8
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)