Study on the inter-organizational tacit knowledge transfer network

Abstract

Analyzed individual's main role in tacit knowledge transfer between organizations. Based on social network theory and method, the relationships of tacit knowledge transfer among members of different organizations were taken as a social network. Tacit knowledge transfer network of UIC as an example is analyzed from both qualitative and quantitative perspective, the network's structure and characteristics were measured and analyzed, then the effect of network's formal and informal transfer channels on tacit knowledge transfer was revealed. Obtained conclusions that inter-organizational tacit knowledge transfer network has the features of social network and obvious hierarchy, the degree of close contact within the organization is greater than that between organizations, network which has both formal and informal channels in the dependence of intermediary role is far below than the one which has only informal channel, formal transfer channel can increase network centralization and improve transfer efficiency, while informal channel reduces network intermediary and vulnerability.