Knowledge transferring and conversion in the early stage of collaborative product design by entrepreneurial teams

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of the study is to discover a model of knowledge conversion and knowledge transferring/sharing barriers in an entrepreneurial team (ET) working with innovative users at the early and fuzzy front end (FFE) stage of collaborative product design (Co-PD) process. Design/methodology/approach The exploratory research framework included sampling, data collection and data analysis, through sequential levels of categorizations, undertaken jointly with constant comparative analysis. The sample frame is the pool of ETs/startups from university business accelerators that carry out Co-PD at the FFE stage. The research survey is based on observations of the collaborative ETs activities, questionnaires and in-depth interviews with them. The research was conducted on individual and team levels when Co-PD process and ET activities were in progress. Findings This study identified specific set of concepts of knowledge conversion and transferring/sharing and their barriers that reflect specificity of Co-PD processes at the FFE stage in collaborative ETs. The discovered conversion process is represented by the socialization, externalization and internalization, three-mode knowledge conversion model. The significance of barriers and frequency of their occurrence were measured in knowledge transferring/sharing in collaborative ETs on individual and team levels. Originality/value This study shows novel insights into how knowledge transfers/shares and converts in the context of ET working with innovative users in Co-PD process at the FFE stage.