Managing Knowledge Transfer—A Communication-appropriation Perspective

Abstract

This article presents a communication-appropriation perspective for examining knowledge transfer behaviours of workers. The proposed theoretical perspective is stemmed from the knowledge-as-power phenomenon and the knowledge transfer dilemma of workers, which argue that knowledge transfer may not represent the best option of workers due to the worries of losing knowledge appropriability and organisational power. Based on such psychological tension of workers, the communication-appropriation perspective advocates that workers may manipulate the mode of communication (codification and personalisation) in the knowledge transfer process as a responsive strategy to their appropriation threats so as to result in an incomplete transfer of knowledge. The present work differs from past research in its emphasis on the workers’ perspective of knowledge transfer management which has been relatively under-researched as compared to the organisation’s. The developed theoretical perspective is able to enhance our understanding of the influences of power struggles and appropriation concerns on the knowledge transfer behaviours and strategies of workers.