10 December 2007
The acquisition of tacit knowledge from a partner company is difficult, but frequently critical from the business point of view. The thesis study by Harri Nieminen, Master of Economic Sciences, indicates that in acquiring such knowledge, the character of the cooperation going on between the companies is in a pivotal position. Developing Competences through Inter-Organizational Knowledge Acquisition, a thesis study respective to the field of business economics and international business operations, shall be examined at Turku School of Economics on Saturday, 15 Dec. 2007.
In this thesis study, there is an analysis of how and under what circumstances a company can acquire knowledge from other businesses through developing its own know-how.
“In order to manage in a global operational environment, enterprises must not only develop their core expertise but also be able to obtain benefit from the know-how developed by their partners," Harri Nieminen says.
This study looks at what a learning process aimed at the acquisition of tacit knowledge is in character, and how the company’s skill in assimilating information can be developed. In this research, a search goes on for management tools within the relations between companies through which favourable prerequisites for knowledge acquisition can be established.
A case study introduced new information
For the acquisition of knowledge, what is pivotal is the mutual aim on the part of the enterprises concerned to obtain knowledge transfer, the openness of the partner company, and an awareness of the recipient firm’s learning capacity. The knowledge desired is frequently tacit in character, which makes the acquisition and assimilation of such information problematic. Tacit knowledge, bound to certain circumstances and operational environs, is experiential in origin and difficult to document.
The empirical section of the thesis study was realized in the form of four case studies with main partners Dekata Oy and TietoEnator Oyj. In the empirical section, the acquisition of knowledge was examined under various cooperation-based layouts. The goal was to create a model by which it is possible to analyze factors affecting the acquisition of knowledge.
The case studies generated new perspectives on obtaining such information within the context of cooperative relations.
“Acquiring and assimilating tacit knowledge from partners is challenging, but feasible under the right circumstances and frequently critical to the company’s business operations,” Mr Nieminen explains.
According to the study, the working methods involved are best for the acquisition of tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge is conveyed from the one company to the other more effectively when the business enterprises endeavour to understand the knowledge transferred in a manner similar to each other and develop, e.g., solutions together during the product development process.
From the perspective of the business management, clear operational models to manage cooperation and acquire knowledge can be developed, by means of which it is possible to function more rationally in the future with partners. The research conducted indicates that the changes occurring in the cooperation between the firms are also linked with the ability to assimilate and transfer knowledge. At the same time, new opportunities to advance know-how are frequently generated.
The doctoral thesis can be read at:
http://info.tse.fi/julkaisut/vk/Ae12_2007.pdf
Additional information:
Harri Nieminen
+358 50 588 2565
harri.nieminen(a)ambientia.fi