Grounded Theory Approach to Describe Korean Organizational Members Transferring Knowledge

This paper presents the findings of an interpretive study into organizational members' experiences transferring knowledge over time. Using a grounded theory research approach, the study characterizes the organizational members' knowledge transfer experiences in terms of win-win type, caring we-group type, pursuing self-interests type, feeling dependent type, self-centered type, and indifferent avoidance type. These findings are used to develop a theoretical framework for conceptualizing the individual physical and psychological issues around the knowledge transfer-issues that have been largely missing from contemporary discussions of knowledge transfer. The paper thus has important implications for research and practice. Specifically, the framework and findings suggest that in order to account for the experiences and outcomes associated with knowledge transfer, researchers should consider we-ness, self-interests, and feeling state of individuals in organizations, and the diverse type of knowledge transfer such as partial and complete transfer as well as fast and slow knowledge transfer. Similarly, the paper suggests that practitioners will be better able to manage their organizational members' experiences with knowledge transfer.