A SOCIOTECHNICAL MODEL FOR UNDERSTANDING ORGANIZATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER
Keywords:
Knowledge Transfer, Technology Transfer, Knowledge Absorption, Organizational Learning, Sociotechnical System, Knowledge Sharing, Technology SharingAbstract
Traditional technology transfer strategies tend to focus on physical organizational assets. However, these strategies tend to ignore essential social aspects of technology transfer which are key for organizations to harness the full benefits of these valuable yet usually underperforming partnerships. This paper will introduce a sociotechnical model for understanding technology transfer as an emergent result of key interactions between social and technical elements of both organizations involved. Applying a sociotechnical framework to technology transfer will allow for the application of sociotechnical concepts and tools with the potential of improving the learning quality of technology transfer efforts in which both parties will be able to learn from the other within a sociotechnical context. The paper will begin with a discussion of sociotechnical concepts within the context of knowledge and technology transfer. Recommendations for using the information in this paper to improve organizational technology transfer and absorption will be offered towards the end of the paper. This paper is mainly aimed at managers and knowledge management professionals although academics interested in technology and knowledge transfer within a sociotechnical context would also benefit from this paper.
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