Advice Networks in an Inter-Organisational Knowledge Transfer Environment: A Social Network Analysis Approach

This research in progress paper reports on an investigation into the nature of inter-organisational knowledge transfer among people working in the New Zealand R&D sector. Knowledge transfer structures, in the form of advice giving and seeking, as well as individual learning preferences were explored. This paper presents results of a study using a mixed method approach of case research and social network analysis. The strength of inter-organisational relationships, measured by contact frequency for giving advice to and seeking advice from peers at the workplace is described, as well as types of knowledge transferred and their relations to each other. From these findings, ICT based knowledge services could be identified with the aim to improve existing knowledge transfer through learning