| Knowledge creation, transfer, and assimilation have become critical to new product development in the volatile environment of high-technology organizations. This exploratory study focused on three successful and three unsuccessful case studies situated within the new product development process. The underlying purpose of this project was to build an understanding and commitment to address the dynamic and ongoing process that occurs between sender and receiver knowledge workers and communities during knowledge transfer and assimilation. This research focused on the complexities and interdependencies of knowledge forms and communication modes.; The results of this study illustrated that successful knowledge creation, transfer and assimilation: (1) Depends both on an active learning context in which there are few “gaps” between actual and formal patterns of use and communication flowing along new as well as established practices within the organization. (2) Requires a collaborative context throughout the sensemaking process involving the values, belief systems, skill, and knowledge of workers and communities. (3) Depends on the perception of credibility and trustworthiness between sender and receiver workers and communities. Collaborative decision-making involves both experiential learning and the ability of knowledge workers to negotiate with and bring together experts and communities to focus on specific tasks or problems.; The results of this research emphasized the alignment between the organizational context and the success of the creation, transfer, and assimilation of knowledge contained by relationships within the innovation process. This research provided detail on the case studies through the focus of sensemaking, knowledge attributes, and categories as well as communication. |
