SHARING WHAT YOU KNOW, BUILDING EXPERTISE - Information Sharing between Generations in a Business Organization

Maarit Virta, Gunilla Widén

2011

Abstract

This paper explores the processes connected to information and knowledge sharing in the context of expert work in an organization undergoing technical succession. The qualitative empirical research was conducted among six senior-junior pairs participating in the technical succession in the studied company. According to the results, factors affecting knowledge sharing between generations are interaction, expectations, dispositions and circumstances which includes time for sharing and proximity. Knowledge sharing, which may include both transfer and building, happens in eight phases. Informal interaction is of high importance underlining an open information culture between generations and constitutes a prerequisite for sharing experts’ work related knowledge. Further, the novices in this study have high trust in the experienced employees knowledge and skills–though not necessarily in them as persons which, according to the results, can prevent knowledge sharing even when the circumstances for sharing are favourable. An important aspect in the study is how influential the novices’ conception of the work task is on knowledge sharing. Depending on whether they define their work as development or maintenance work determines the nature of knowledge shared and how it is shared.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Virta M. and Widén G. (2011). SHARING WHAT YOU KNOW, BUILDING EXPERTISE - Information Sharing between Generations in a Business Organization . In Proceedings of the International Conference on Knowledge Management and Information Sharing - Volume 1: KMIS, (IC3K 2011) ISBN 978-989-8425-81-2, pages 129-135. DOI: 10.5220/0003626101290135

in Bibtex Style

@conference{kmis11,
author={Maarit Virta and Gunilla Widén},
title={SHARING WHAT YOU KNOW, BUILDING EXPERTISE - Information Sharing between Generations in a Business Organization},
booktitle={Proceedings of the International Conference on Knowledge Management and Information Sharing - Volume 1: KMIS, (IC3K 2011)},
year={2011},
pages={129-135},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0003626101290135},
isbn={978-989-8425-81-2},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the International Conference on Knowledge Management and Information Sharing - Volume 1: KMIS, (IC3K 2011)
TI - SHARING WHAT YOU KNOW, BUILDING EXPERTISE - Information Sharing between Generations in a Business Organization
SN - 978-989-8425-81-2
AU - Virta M.
AU - Widén G.
PY - 2011
SP - 129
EP - 135
DO - 10.5220/0003626101290135