BEYOND BOUNDARY SPANNERS: THE 'COLLECTIVE BRIDGE' AS AN EFFICIENT INTERUNIT STRUCTURE FOR TRANSFERRING COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Zhao, Zheng Jane; Anand, Jaideep
• 署名单位: University of Kansas; University System of Ohio; Ohio State University
• 刊物名称: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0143-2095
• DOI: 10.1002/smj.2080
• 发表日期: 2013
• 页码: 1513-1530
• 关键词: knowledge transfer; collective knowledge; complexity; BOUNDARY SPANNERS; collective bridge; organizational structures

摘要

This research introduces a framework for selecting efficient interunit structures in facilitating the transfer of knowledge with different levels of complexity. We argue that while the boundary spanner structure is efficient for transferring discrete knowledge, it is inadequate for transferring collectively held complex knowledge. We propose that the transfer of such knowledge requires a more decentralized interunit structurecollective bridge, which is a set of direct interunit ties connecting the members of the source and the recipient units, with the configuration of the interunit ties matching the complexity of knowledge to be transferred. We suggest that while a collective bridge is inefficient in transferring discrete knowledge relative to a boundary spanner structure, it is more efficient for transferring collective knowledge. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.