The Problem of Mobilizing Expertise at a Distance

Abstract

This chapter conceptualizes knowledge management within a trade-off between organizational coherence and geographical expansion. It focuses on an extensive corporate case study of a globally distributed medium-sized technology service company in order to explore the relational architecture of interpersonal knowledge transfer among all employees and across all global locations. A social network analysis is used to illustrate the network of knowledge flow, assess its vulnerability, and investigate the effect that different management programs have on global knowledge exchange. Although geographical separation is a key barrier to knowledge exchange, expatriation programs are found to be the most effective driver of international interpersonal knowledge transfer.