TEchNOLOGy TRaNSFER MODEL - Javna agencija

KNOWLEDGE FOR BUSINESS IN BORDER REGIONS
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Module 6: KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER
Mag. Romana Rauter, Dr. Jutta Pauschenwein
6.1 Basic principles and aims of the module
Module 6 deals with the topic of knowledge transfer. Its aim is a deeper understanding of a) different transfer forms used in practice,
b) motives for knowledge transfer, c) different transfer process models known from literature and d) a rough overview concerning
knowledge management, organizational learning and knowledge transfer. Especially the theoretical ideas and answers concerning
a), b) and c) are supported by new and fresh ideas and results derived from a just finished diploma thesis regarding knowledge
transfer and innovation processes. Additionally the potential for implementing knowledge transfer via Web2.0 tools is explored.
6.2 Keywords
Knowledge Transfer, Process Models, Innovation Process, Knowledge Management, Organizational Learning, Web2.0 Tools, Social
Media;
6.3 Knowledge transfer
Dealing with the question of how knowledge could be transferred from knowledge suppliers to knowledge acceptors, you are
automatically faced with divergent terms and definitions. Therefore, as a first step, a definition seems to be appropriate. According
to North (2005) data and information are the basis for every form of transfer, building upon that knowledge as well as a technology
can be transferred. The question whether knowledge or only information is transferred depends on the perspective of the recipient.
Depending on his/her (knowledge) context, he/she decides whether the transferred object can be embedded in existing structures
and is therefore knowledge or if it cannot be embedded and hence remains only information. The following figure shows this classification:
Figure 1: Systematization of knowledge transfer
Following that, research transfer can be every form of transfer; it is seen as every exchange of know-how between research institutions
and enterprises.
Generally said, knowledge and technology transfer can be understood as any activity targeted at transferring knowledge and technology
that may help a company or a research institution to further promote its activities. And it is a two-way-process where both
research institutions as well as companies can stimulate each other with new knowledge, ideas or research results.
6.3.1 Process models as guidelines for designing knowledge transfer
An analysis of the existing literature gives some hints on how such knowledge transfer processes could look like. A selection of
examples is shown in the following table:
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