Critical Knowledge Transfer

"Addressing the critical issue of knowledge transfer within an organization, this book offers practical advice on how to structure the transition of documented information and the even more valuable non-documented knowledge that outgoing staffers have-before it leaves with them. Whether a result of a retirement, an acquisition, promotions, transfers, or layoffs-all organizations have lost what these authors call "deep smarts" when workers leave. Now, Dorothy Leonard and Walter Swap, coauthors of the popular Deep Smarts, and their coauthor Gavin Barton offer a solution. The trio has constructed a new approach that not only helps organizations put in place the structures and practices to pass along knowledge from expert to successor, but also identifies tacit knowledge-knowledge that is largely undocumented and lives inside of people's heads. Based on theory and research, this book offers a variety of examples, tools, and templates to take action before essential knowledge disappears"--

Deep smarts are the engine of any organization as well as the essential value that individuals build throughout their careers. Distinct from IQ, this type of expertise consists of practical wisdom: accumulated knowledge, know-how, and intuition gained through extensive experience. How do such smarts develop? And what happens when people with deep smarts leave a particular job or the organization? Can any of their smarts be transferred? Should they be? Basing their conclusions on a multi-year research project, Dorothy Leonard and Walter Swap argue that cultivating and managing deep smarts are critical parts of any leader's job. The authors draw on examples from firms of all sizes and types to illustrate the connection between deep smarts and organizational viability and continuous innovation. Leonard and Swap describe the origins and limits of deep smarts and outline processes for cultivating and leveraging them across the organization. Developing an experience repertoire and receiving strategic guidance from wise coaches can help individuals move up the ladder of expertise from novice to master. Addressing a topic of increasing importance as the Boomer generation retires, Deep Smarts challenges leaders to take a hands-on approach to managing the experience-based knowledge shaping the future of their organizations.

How to transfer your organization's most important knowledge-before it walks out the doorWhen highly skilled subject matter experts, engineers, and managers leave their organizations, they take with them years of hard-earned, experience-based knowledge-much of it undocumented and irreplaceable. Organizations can thereby lose a good part of their competitive advantage. The tsunami of "boomer" retirements has created the most visible, urgent need to transfer such knowledge to the next generation. But there is also an ongoing torrent of acquisitions, layoffs, and successions-not to mention common.

The ways in which codified and tacit knowledge are sourced, transferred, and combined are critical in furthering open innovation. When used effectively, knowledge sharing and organizational success are significantly increased, improving products and services. The Role of Knowledge Transfer in Open Innovation is a collection of innovative research on a set of analyses, reflections, and recommendations within the framework of knowledge transfer practices in different areas of knowledge and in various industries. While highlighting topics including tacit knowledge, organizational culture, and knowledge representation, this book is ideally designed for professionals, academicians, and researchers seeking current research on the best practices for transfer of knowledge as an intermediate open innovation.

This book demonstrates how managers can use and transfer knowledge more effectively to stimulate innovation in their organization in order to increase their competitive advantage. Jones and Mahon draw on their discussions with combat Veterans, whose very survival relies on their skill in transferring crucial knowledge and information quickly, effectively and efficiently. They note that in today’s competitive and fast-paced business world, these skills translate into continual innovation, metamorphosis,and ultimately success. The authors have built a conceptual framework that demonstrates to the reader how to develop the same underlying skills and to use them effectively in the business environment. With rich and lively examples throughout, Knowledge Transfer and Innovation equips students and practitioners of knowledge management, innovation, leadership and strategy with the skills, tools and strategies to succeed in today’s fast-paced business environment.

This introductory level textbook critically reviews and analyses the key themes underpinning knowledge management in organisations. It presents the key debates in this area, including coverage of epistemologies of knowledge, managing and sharing knowledge, and learning and innovation.

Breakthrough Knowledge Transfer Techniques for Every Professional! No matter where you work there are people with experience teaching people who need to learn. Everyone is part of this exchange yet few people know how to do it well. Now, there’s a comprehensive how-to manual for effective knowledge transfer: Teach What You Know. Steve Trautman introduces simple, practical mentoring techniques he created for engineers at Microsoft, and has proven in many diverse organizations ranging from Nike to Boeing. This is real-world, get-it done advice, organized into a framework you can use no matter what you need to teach. Trautman provides common-sense tools to successfully pass along years or even decades of experiences: easy-to- use checklists, sample training plans, lists of questions, step-by-step procedures, and a start-to finish case study. Teach What You Know will help you orient new employees, support transitions to new assignments and promotions, prepare for employee retirements, build teams, roll out new technologies, and even move forward after reorganizations and mergers.

The Politics of Feminist Knowledge Transfer draws together analytical work on gender training and gender expertise. Its chapters critically reflect on the politics of feminist knowledge transfer, understood as an inherently political, dynamic and contested process, the overall aim of which is to transform gendered power relations in pursuit of more equal societies, workplaces, and policies. At its core, the work explores the relationship between gender expertise, gender training, and broader processes of feminist transformation arising from knowledge transfer activities. Examining these in a reflective way, the book brings a primarily practice-based debate into the academic arena. With contributions from authors of diverse backgrounds, including academics, practitioners and representatives of gender training institutions, the editors combine a focus on gender expertise and gender training, with more theory-focused chapters.