The uncertain relevance of newness: Organizational learning and knowledge flows

This study explores how organizational learning in subunits affects outflow s of knowledge to other subunits. Three learning processes are explored: Co llecting new knowledge, codifying knowledge, and combining old knowledge. T he results suggest that collecting new knowledge intensifies vertical flows , of knowledge, that codifying knowledge facilitates horizontal and vertica l flows, and that combining old knowledge mainly affects horizontal flows. More generally, the study suggests that uncertainties about the relevance o f new knowledge are resolved via vertical flows, which (compared to horizon tal flows) expose new knowledge faster to a wider range of remote and diffe rent knowledge and thereby facilitate faster, more comprehensive discovery of its relevance.