The importance given to knowledge in relation to business success has never been so great as it is today and there is a substantive amount of important and informed studies reflecting this. Nonetheless, informed approaches by prominent authors generally focus on knowledge transfer mechanisms and the efficiency of these mechanisms to support and deliver competitive advantage. An overarching objective of understanding efficient knowledge transfer is therefore a central caveat for businesses wishing to achieve success and maintain competitive advantage since it is clear that any significant degradation of efficiency will directly affect this objective. Many studies do recognise the creation of knowledge as a significant factor in determining how effectively a business develops, and knowledge creation is used as a baseline for numerous historic and current studies.
To date, however, there have been few studies which denote the affect of socio-cultural or religious phenomena within a transfer scenario as significant, and how this interaction may affect the outcome of the knowledge shared or exchanged in a business context. This paper therefore examines how, in a business context, knowledge transfer is influenced by perspectives given to the knowledge. This rational is deliberate since the transfer of knowledge is rarely a simple unproblematic event. In this regard, we look at a significant amount of literature and research which has been constructed in a bid to understand both the problematic nature surrounding the mechanics of the transfer sequence and definition of the term ‘knowledge’ to support the establishment of meaningful baselines. The paper then summarises these theoretical baselines into segmented contexts with deliberate intention.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION.
2. PHILOSOPHY:
2.1 KNOWLEDGE OF KNOWLEDGE.
3. ORGANISATIONAL:
3.1 RELATIVE PERSPECTIVE
4. PSYCHOLOGICAL:
4.1 SOCIO FACTORS AND NETWORKS.
5. CULTURE:
5.1 PHENOMENA AND NUMENA.
6. CONCLUSION
7. FUTURE RESEARCH
Objectives and Core Topics
This paper examines how knowledge transfer in a business context is influenced by the perspectives applied to that knowledge, arguing that current research often overlooks the role of socio-cultural and religious phenomena in shaping these interactions.
- Theoretical examination of knowledge transfer mechanisms
- Critique of existing empirical research on knowledge exchange
- Integration of philosophical perspectives (Kant, Hegel) into organizational knowledge
- Analysis of socio-cultural and religious experience as fundamental to knowledge interpretation
- Evaluation of the mediating role of trust and social networks
Excerpt from the Book
PHENOMENA AND NUMENA.
Hanson (1983) explains that religion, by its nature, is embedded into the very fabric of society and therefore knowledge and knowledge experience derive from it. Religion is acknowledged as part of our fundamental education and a process for development into further education and subsequent personal development (Hanson, 1983). Kant defines this phenomenon as a plausible starting point for education, critical consciousness, morality and judgment. Different kinds of experiences and practices are generally accepted as though they are universal and applicable to all societies and cultures at all periods of our educational and personal development. Moore and Habel (1982) proposed dealing with religious material in the classroom through a mixture of cognitive and non-cognitive methods, which again leads us to the conclusion of religious education being a contributing factor of experience justification. In the definitions given by these explanations there is no clarification of how this education is justified as a contributing factor and to what extent the educational experience influences preceding and proceeding knowledge experiences. Bonhoeffer (1931) expands on Kant’s theory of knowledge and its connection with God, critical consciousness, morality and judgment He regards God, or religious belief as fundamental to the construction of a truth or knowledge.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION.: This chapter establishes the necessity of re-evaluating knowledge transfer, highlighting the gap between current empirical approaches and the subjective, socio-cultural nature of knowledge interpretation.
PHILOSOPHY:: Explores the philosophical foundations of knowledge, specifically utilizing Kantian and Hegelian thought to define how reality is perceived and how this affects organizational knowledge.
ORGANISATIONAL:: Discusses how relative perspectives within organizations impact knowledge management and questions the limitations of treating knowledge merely as a transferable commodity.
PSYCHOLOGICAL:: Investigates the role of social networks, trust, and social identity in shaping how information flows and is received between individuals.
CULTURE:: Examines the profound influence of religious experience and belief systems on the fundamental construction of truth and actionable knowledge.
CONCLUSION: Argues that knowledge is not a simple commodity and asserts that religious experience is a critical, often neglected factor in the successful interpretation of transferred knowledge.
FUTURE RESEARCH: Calls for further investigation into how religious and socio-cultural experiences fundamentally shape knowledge transfer processes in real-world business interactions.
Keywords
Knowledge, Knowledge transfer, Success, Competitive advantage, Socio-cultural phenomena, Religious experience, Epistemology, Organizational learning, Trust, Social networks, Tacit knowledge, Phenomenology, Philosophy of knowledge
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work investigates the role of religious and socio-cultural experience in the process of organizational knowledge transfer, arguing that these factors are essential to understanding how knowledge is interpreted and shared.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The main themes include the limitations of current knowledge transfer theories, the philosophical roots of knowledge, the importance of social networks, and the influence of cultural/religious perspectives on organizational behavior.
What is the main objective of the research?
The primary objective is to highlight the problematic nature of treating knowledge as a simple commodity and to suggest that religious experience is a fundamental, yet under-researched, variable in knowledge exchange.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs a theoretical and literature-based review approach, deconstructing established management models through philosophical and sociological lenses.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body spans from an introduction to existing literature to an in-depth analysis of philosophical, organizational, psychological, and cultural factors affecting knowledge transfer.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include knowledge transfer, religious experience, competitive advantage, epistemology, and organizational learning.
How does the author define knowledge transfer in an organizational context?
Borrowing from Argote and Ingram (2000), it is described as a process where one unit of an organization is affected by the experience of another, though the author expands this to include deep-seated cultural and religious significance.
Why does the author argue that "knowledge as a commodity" is a misnomer?
The author contends that because knowledge is inextricably linked to human experience and interpretation, it cannot be transferred like a standard commercial good without undergoing significant change in the process.
What role does trust play in the author's analysis?
Trust is analyzed as a mediating factor that influences the effectiveness of knowledge flows, particularly through competence- and benevolence-based links between individuals.
- Citar trabajo
- Michael Fascia (Autor), 2005, The role of religious experience in the knowledge transfer process, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/418323
