Inter- and intra-organizational knowledge transfer : a meta-analytic review and assessment of its antecedents and consequences

Van Wijk, Raymond and Jansen, Justin J. P. and Lyles, Marjorie (2008) Inter- and intra-organizational knowledge transfer : a meta-analytic review and assessment of its antecedents and consequences. Journal of Management Studies, 45 (4). pp. 830-853. ISSN 0022-2380

Abstract

Research on organizational knowledge transfer is burgeoning, and yet our understanding of its antecedents and consequences remains rather unclear. Although conceptual and qualitative reviews of the organizational knowledge transfer literature have emerged, no study has attempted to summarize previous quantitative empirical findings. As a first step towards that goal, we use meta-analytic techniques to examine how knowledge, organization and network level antecedents differentially impact organizational knowledge transfer. Additionally, we consolidate research on the relationship between knowledge transfer and its consequences. We also demonstrate how the intra- and inter-organizational context, the directionality of knowledge transfers, and measurement characteristics moderate the relationships studied. By aggregating and consolidating existing research, our study not only reveals new insights into the levers and outcomes of organizational knowledge transfer, but also provides meaningful directions for future research.