Differentiating knowledge transfer and technology transfer

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the conceptualization of knowledge transfer and technology transfer to seek answers to the question: Why should an organizational manager need to know the difference between knowledge transfer (KT) and technology transfer (TT)? Design/methodology/approach An extensive literature review method was used to identify and analyze relevant international publications. The literature sources are categorized as follows: literature on KT only, literature on TT only and literature on comparative analysis on KT and TT. The conceptualization of KT and TT is based on signaling theory. Findings The authors identified differences between KT and TT based on six dimensions, namely knowledge versus technology characteristics, usage of KT and TT in national development, sender versus receiver, intra-firm versus inter-firm transfer, foreign direct investment (FDI) and workers’ mobility. Research limitations/implications This is a conceptual analysis that should contribute to the existing literature by comprehensively reviewing the processes of KT and TT based on selected research conducted worldwide as well as suggest practical guidelines to organizational managers in managing KT and TT. Originality/value This review could shed new insights for future researchers to validate and examine the identified differences between KT and TT so that managers could make use of the findings to manage KT and TT successfully in their organizations.

FDI, technology & knowledge transfer from Nordic to Baltic countries

“…Therefore, 'the search for universal relationship is futile' (Smeets, 2008). Some authors (for example, Taglioni & Winkler, 2016;Ismail et al, 2018) see a difference in technology and knowledge transfer concerning many characteristics, including their channels. Knowledge transfer is more likely related to management (together with the sufficient ownership of a local firm by a foreign parent company), while technology is embodied in the capital that a hosting firm imports.…”

Insights on Foreign Direct Investments, and the Transfer of Technology and Knowledge from Nordics to Baltics

“…Technology transfer is treated as the flow between the owner / owner of the technology and the buyer / user of the technology (Ismail et al, 2018). This allows you to bridge the access gap to a specific technology in a variety of ways: by purchasing, lending, renting, and/or franchising.…”

“…Additional aspects studied by scientists include the processes of learning, knowledge creation and transfer. The transfer of knowledge can be treated as process and during it branches share experience among them (Ismail et al, 2018). Although the transfer of knowledge, it management and learning phases were recognized, the application in business is still lacking.…”

Technology Transfer, Anthropotechnology and Sustainable Development: How Do the Themes Relate?

“…The technology transfer terminology has several definitions, according to Table 1. Reddy and Zhao (1990) Transfer of know-how between two organizations Souder, Nashar and Padmanabhan (1990) Management process of transfer from one part to another Winebrake (1992) Process in which technology, information and/or knowledge, developed in an organization, by a specific institution, guided by the parties' objectives, is applied and used in another organization Buratti and Penco (2001) Unidirectional process, which goes from a donor to a recipient, in which the receiving company receives a technology (hardware or physical product) that it has not developed through contracts, patents, licenses and other modes Rogers et al (2001) Process of moving technological innovations, through some transfer mechanism channel, from an individual or organization to another Günsel (2015) Flow of technology from one organization to another, which can be between companies, universities, and organizations, from one country to another Yoon and Han (2017) The transfer of a technology developed by a specific group or institution, to another group or institution, and may refer to the commercialization of technologies, comprising the movement of tangible and intangible assets Ismail, Hamzah and Bebenroth (2018) Process of distributing technologies from their place of origin to more people and places, being influenced by the characteristics of the information Source: Authors (2021)…”

“…Technology transfer is a process of diffusing technologies and knowledge between two parts, whether industries, institutions, individuals (da Silva et al, 2018), that is, from the developer to a recipient. The process takes place guided by the objectives of the parties (Ismail et al, 2018). However, according to Corsi et al (2020;2021a;2021b), for the transfer process to promote sustainable development, it must align both its objectives, such as flow and technology, with the objectives of sustainable development.…”