This study seeks to understand knowledge transfer practices within the Muslim business community in Edinburgh. It investigates how knowledge transfer practices are managed on a day to day basis, examines the route of development and justification for these practices into meaningful knowledge transfer processes, and explores the underlying perspective of knowledge from the knowledge transfer practitioners view of knowledge transfer practices in a business context. In particular, the study seeks explanations for such practices with reference to both a knowledge-based and a resource-based view of the firm.
Due to the multifarious phenomena of knowledge transfer, and to allow a scope necessary to establish epistemological and empirical evidence from literature, a two stage literature review process was adopted. The majority of literature expounds an argument in which knowledge and knowledge transfer processes in a business context are embedded within a set of real world dimensions, based on causal relationships. Literature determines that it is overcoming difficulties with this framework which is critical for a businesses ability to manage, utilise and extract value from multiple internal and external sources of knowledge. Four broad themes were identified, from which most literature supported this argument: Psychological, Organisational, Philosophical and Cultural.
Data collection and analysis were carried out in two phases. Phase one was based on ethnographic participant observation which proved unsuccessful due to an underestimation of the complexity of the participants personal perspective and researcher bias. Phase two was informed by the difficulties encountered in phase one and proved successful in capturing meaningful data. Following a thematic logic, themes were carefully unpacked in an iterative process, so that an understanding of knowledge transfer experiences within the Muslim business community in Edinburgh became clear.
In summary, the study provides a deep understanding of the knowledge transfer practices in the Muslim business community in Edinburgh. Through the systematic and dialectic analysis of knowledge transfer participants daily practices, the details and dynamisms underpinning knowledge transfer processes are revealed.
Table of Contents
- INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY.
- BACKGROUND.
- RATIONALE
- AIM AND OBJECTIVES..
- Overview
- Linking Broad research questions to Aim And Objective.
- STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS..
- Overview
- Structure
- PHILOSOPHY& KNOWLEDGE: Literature Review Part I...
- INTRODUCTION.
- Literature Review Scope.
- PHILOSOPHY AND KNOWLEDGE ANTICENDANCE.
- Aristotelian underpinning.
- Knowledge definition.
- TAXONOMY.
- Classification.
- Explicit and Tacit Knowledge.
- Explicit vs Tacit.
- Complex knowledge.
- PHILOSOPHICAL IMPORTANCE of COMMUNICATION.
- Communicative Position related to knowledge.
- Communication and Transfer
- Chapter 2: CONCLUSION.
- KNOWLEDGE AND BUSINESS INTERACTION: Literature Review Part II:
- INTRODUCTION.
- Literature review Scope.........
- EVOLUTION OF KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER MANAGEMENT.
- Practice and Process Overviews.
- Infrastructure.
- Mechanisms.
- Analogical mapping
- Strategies (Replication and adaptation).
- Replication
- Adaptation..
- THEORETICAL DYNAMICS.
- Conceptual relevance of theoretical modelling
- Communication
- Knowledge Learning
- Knowledge Management.
- PROBLEMATIC EPISTEME.
- Barriers
- Stickiness.
- Transfer Efficiency.
- BUSINESS SUCCESS and COMPETITVE ADVANTAGE
- Resource and knowledge based views..
- Competitive Advantage..
- SUMMARY OF CHAPTERS 2 & 3
- Literature themes.
- Chapter 3: CONCLUSION.
- RESEARCH DESIGN and METHODS.
- INTRODUCTION.
- OVERVIEW of APPROACH and METHODS..
- Paradigm Adopted.
- Participation areas
- Participant group
- Sampling.
- Demographics.
- Qualitative Approach
- Interpretivism...
- Phenomenology
- Collection considerations
- Participant Observation...
- Qualitative Interview
- Data Analysis Considerations..
- Reliability of the data..
- Reflexivity.
- Ethical Conduct of the Research...
- Chapter 4: CONCLUSION.
- DATA COLLECTION and ANALYSIS
- INTRODUCTION:.
- PHASE 1
- Overview
- COLLECTION and ANALYSIS.
- Itinerary.
- Structure..
- Notes.
- Protocols....
- Observations
- Data analysis
- Coding...
- Key Observations
- SUMMARY of phase 1
- PHASE 2
- Overview
- COLLECTION and ANALYSIS.
- Itinerary.
- Transspective associations..
- Data analysis
- Transcription..
- Interpretation....
- Thematic
- Codes and themes
- Semantic or latent
- Data Clustering and Mapping.
- PHASE 2 SUMMARY..
- Chapter 5: CONCLUSION.
- DISCUSSION of EMERGENT THEMES AND TRANSCRIPTS.
- INTRODUCTION.
- EMERGENT THEMES.
- Thematic Data
- Data Items
- Key Points.
- Clusters...
- Relationship.
- TRANSCRIPT EXTRACTS.
- Approach
- Extracts.
- Chapter 6: CONCLUSION.
- THESIS CONCLUSION.
- RECAP.
- Aim and Objectives Review.
- Objective 1.....
- Objective 2.
- Objective 3.
- Objective 4.
- SUMMARY OF THE MAIN FINDINGS.
- Finding 1:
- Finding 2:
- Finding 3:
- Finding 4:
- CONTRIBUTIONS..
- Theoretical Contribution Overview.
- Practical Contribution Overview.
- Methodological Contribution Overview.
- LIMITATIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH..
Objectives and Key Themes
The study aims to investigate the knowledge transfer practices within the Muslim business community in Edinburgh. It seeks to understand how these practices are managed on a daily basis, examine their development and justification as meaningful knowledge transfer processes, and explore the underlying perspective of knowledge held by practitioners. The research investigates these practices with reference to both a knowledge-based and a resource-based view of the firm.
- Knowledge transfer practices within the Muslim business community.
- The role of religion and Islamic principles in knowledge transfer.
- The impact of cultural and philosophical perspectives on knowledge transfer.
- The relationship between knowledge transfer and business success.
- The use of qualitative research methods to understand the perspectives of knowledge transfer practitioners.
Chapter Summaries
- Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study - This chapter introduces the research topic, providing background information and outlining the rationale for the study. It also sets forth the aim and objectives of the research, as well as the structure of the thesis.
- Chapter 2: Philosophy & Knowledge: Literature Review Part I - This chapter delves into the philosophical underpinnings of knowledge, exploring the definition and classification of knowledge, including explicit and tacit knowledge. It also discusses the importance of communication and transfer of knowledge.
- Chapter 3: Knowledge and Business Interaction: Literature Review Part II - This chapter examines the evolution of knowledge transfer management within business contexts, exploring practices, processes, infrastructure, and mechanisms. It also analyzes the theoretical dynamics of knowledge generation, learning, and management, highlighting the problematic aspects of knowledge transfer, such as barriers and stickiness.
- Chapter 4: Research Design and Methods - This chapter outlines the research design and methods employed in the study, including the adopted paradigm, qualitative approach, participant groups, and data collection and analysis considerations. It also addresses the ethical conduct of the research.
- Chapter 5: Data Collection and Analysis - This chapter presents the data collection and analysis process, including two phases of research. It describes the methods employed, such as participant observation and interviews, and the analysis of data through coding and thematic analysis.
- Chapter 6: Discussion of Emergent Themes and Transcripts - This chapter discusses the emergent themes identified through the data analysis, providing key points and clusters related to the findings. It also presents selected transcript extracts to illustrate the themes.
Keywords
The main keywords and focus topics of this study are: knowledge transfer, Muslim business community, Edinburgh, Islam, cultural perspectives, knowledge-based view, resource-based view, qualitative research, interpretivism, participant observation, interviews, thematic analysis.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Michael Fascia (Autor:in), 2013, An investigation of knowledge transfer practices within the Muslim business community in Edinburgh, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/418325
