An Empirical Study On Cluster-project Team Knowledge Integration Mechanism Through Transactive Memory Approach

Nowadays, cluster projects are becoming increasingly common. Knowledge integration within teams is critical towards team performance. However, there has been little research in studying team knowledge integration in a cluster-project context. To fill the research gaps, an empirical study of team knowledge integration is conducted in the cluster-project context. Since partners in the cluster-project team are most likely to possess highly differentiated and specialized knowledge of some aspects of the project, a transactive memory view is adopted to empirically study the knowledge integration process within the team. This study shows how the specialized knowledge of partners for the project is integrated through transactive memoryto accomplish multiple tasks. Also, team cognition is viewed as another knowledge integration mechanism and brought to the study. A comprehensive model is developed and tested using a survey a data of 51 teams in China. Major findings include:(1)team heterogeneityis positively related to transactive memory within the team.(2) studies on the relationship between transactive memory and team knowledge integration indicate the positive influence of transactive memory in the context of cluster-project.(3) transactive memory plays role in mediating the relationship between team heterogeneity and team knowledge integration.(4) the formation of transactive memory facilitates team cognition.(5) team heterogeneityis significantly related to team cognition.(6) transactive memory prompts team cognition.(7) team cognition is positively related to team knowledge integration.(8) transactive memory plays mediating effect between team heterogeneity and team knowledge integration.Implications to research and practice are discussed in the latter parts of the paper. Despite some limitations, the results of this study provide important insight to the knowledge integration process in the context of cluster-project and offer some potentially valuable implications for cluster-project knowledge management practice.