Knowledge Flows Barriers: An Exploratory Study in the IT Industry

Abstract

Although invisible to the individual, knowledge flows are found within any team or department within the organization, whether or not they are used intentionally. Thus, in an organization with an emphasis on knowledge, knowledge flows become the main mechanism for the success of the organization. However, various barriers to knowledge flows often emerge that can make these flows difficult or even stop from their natural course through the organization, often directly affecting the intellectual capital of the organization. For this reason, many organizations are unable to reach their full potential despite efforts to manage knowledge flows effectively. This study aims to outline the main factors hindering the knowledge flows within IT organizations operating in Iasi (Romania) and to analyze statistical links between these factors. For this purpose, a quantitative method was selected, using descriptive analysis, factor analysis, correlation coefficients, and a regression model. The results obtained by this study show that factors acting as barriers to knowledge flows found in the literature cannot be generalized across all organizations. Thus, the way these factors are affecting knowledge flows varies from one organization to another depending on the industry in which they operate.