When and how trustworthiness matters: Knowledge transfer and the moderating effect of causal ambiguity

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Szulanski, G; Cappetta, R; Jensen, RJ
• 署名单位: INSEAD Business School; Bocconi University; Bocconi University; Brigham Young University
• 刊物名称: ORGANIZATION SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1047-7039
• DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1040.0096
• 发表日期: 2004
• 页码: 600-613
• 关键词: knowledge transfer; trust; trustworthiness; CAUSAL AMBIGUITY

摘要

The recognition that better use of existing internal knowledge could enhance survival chances of organizations has spawned substantial interest in the transferability of routinized, experiential learning to additional settings within the organization. Previous research has established that trustworthiness of the source enhances such knowledge transfer. More recent work, however, suggests that this may not always be the case. Yet, little systematic attention has been paid to moderating conditions. The major purpose of this paper is to identify a moderator, causal ambiguity, which delineates the conditions as to when and how a recipient's perception of the trustworthiness of a source affects the effectiveness of the transfer of organizational practices.