Organization of knowledge transfer in clusters: A knowledge-based view

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a knowledge-based view on the organization of knowledge transfer in clusters. Starting from the information richness theory, we argue that tacitness of the partners’ knowledge determines the information richness of the knowledge transfer mechanisms in clusters. We examine the following hypotheses: (a) If the cluster partners’ knowledge is characterized by a low degree of tacitness, knowledge transfer mechanisms with a lower degree of information richness (e.g. email, intranet, documents, newsgroups) are used; (b) if the cluster partners’ knowledge is characterized by a high degree of tacitness, knowledge transfer mechanisms with a higher degree of information richness (e.g. seminars, workshops, formal meetings) are used. We test these hypotheses by using data from the Green Building Cluster of Lower Austria. Using complexity, teachability and codifiability as measures for tacitness of the cluster partners’ knowledge, the empirical results from Green Building Cluster in Austria partly support these hypotheses. Our results indicate that an increase in teachable knowledge results in the use of more knowledge transfer mechanisms with a lower degree of information richness, and an increase in complex, but articulable knowledge results in the use of more knowledge transfer mechanisms with a higher degree of information richness. In addition, we show that trust positively influences the use of all modes of knowledge transfer.