Knowledge transfer in organizations: Learning from the experience of others

In the introduction to this special issue of Organizational Behavior and Hu man Decision Processes on the psychological foundations of knowledge transf er in organizations, we argue that knowledge transfer is becoming increasin gly important in organizations, Organizations that are able to transfer kno wledge effectively from one unit to another are more productive and more li kely to survive than those that are less adept at knowledge transfer, Altho ugh organizations are able to realize remarkable increases in performance t hrough knowledge transfer, successful knowledge transfer is difficult to ac hieve, The articles in this special issue identify factors affecting knowle dge transfer in organizations. These articles provide empirical evidence ab out effective mechanisms for transferring knowledge as well as about barrie rs to and facilitators of knowledge transfer. By focusing on the psychologi cal processes that underlie knowledge transfer within a unit and between un its within a firm, this special issue complements work in cognitive psychol ogy on knowledge transfer at the individual level of analysis as well as wo rk in strategy and organizational theory on knowledge transfer at the firm or industry levels of analysis. This special issue opens up the "black box" of knowledge transfer in organizations by providing new theory and empiric al evidence on the psychological processes that are the foundations for kno wledge transfer in organizations. (C) 2000 Academic Press.