Evaluating benefi ts and challenges of knowledge transfer across projects

Abstract

The complex and unpredictable nature of projects generates serious challenges for managers of projects and project-based organizations. Knowledge represents one of the key project capabilities that enables projects and project-based organizations to cope with these challenges. Knowledge transfer across projects moves knowledge from project sources of knowledge to project recipients with the goal of improving performance and capabilities. The goal of this study is to examine the associations between the level of knowledge transfer across project effort, the body of knowledge of projects obtained from other projects, and the project performance. A survey of 46 closed projects provided the data to test 3 hypotheses. The results show that the body of knowledge of projects obtained from other projects is positively associated with project performance. Other results demonstrate that the level of knowledge transfer across project effort is associated with an increase in the capabilities and performance of projects. Managers of projects and projectbased organizations can use the results of this investigation to further understand the benefi ts and challenges of knowledge transfer across projects. The results of this investigation can be used for further research and development in the areas of project management, knowledge management, and projects’ knowledge systems. © 2008 by the American Society for Engineering Management.