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Creativity techniques to enhance knowledge transfer within global virtual teams in the context of knowledge-intensive enterprises

Author

Listed:
  • Sylvaine Castellano

    (Paris School of Business, Chaire NewPic)

  • Philippe Davidson

    (Novadex Ratings, Inc.)

  • Insaf Khelladi

    (ICN Business School)

Abstract

This conceptual paper investigates the common concern among managers that the physical separation of workers within a global virtual team may hinder the transfer of knowledge amongst the team members that is required to carry out their work efficiently, especially in the context of knowledge-intensive enterprises. Workers and work teams in knowledge-intensive enterprises are often involved in creative tasks that are carried out jointly and involve team members with diversified competencies exchanging knowledge related to their projects and assignments to create innovative outcomes. We investigate some popular creativity-enhancing techniques in the perspective of their use as catalysts for knowledge transfer in this context. We assess whether the use of these techniques may alleviate the limitations imposed on global virtual team members by their use of telecommunications and collaborative work tools that might otherwise adversely affect the effectiveness of the knowledge transfer. These techniques are designed to be used individually, by groups or within a virtual community. The physical and temporal separation of the global virtual team members does not hinder the knowledge-intensive dimension of these enterprises when aided by creativity-stimulating techniques. Therefore, we suggest that global virtual teams making use of creativity-enhancing techniques may be more efficient in transferring complex knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Sylvaine Castellano & Philippe Davidson & Insaf Khelladi, 2017. "Creativity techniques to enhance knowledge transfer within global virtual teams in the context of knowledge-intensive enterprises," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(2), pages 253-266, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:42:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s10961-016-9509-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-016-9509-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Castellano, Sylvaine & Khelladi, Insaf & Sorio, Rossella & Orhan, Mehmet & Kalisz, David, 2021. "Exploring the microfoundations of nomadic dynamic capabilities: The example of flying winemakers," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    2. Hechang Cai & Zhijun Feng & Wen Zhou & Jinghan Chen & Zinan Chen, 2023. "Understanding the spatial polarization pattern of technology transfer network in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay area," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(1), pages 4-25, March.
    3. Zhen Han & Hao Ren & Shiyu Yang & Yuhang Han, 2021. "Human Resource Practice Management for Knowledge Intensive Team: IMPACT on Team Innovation Performance and Substitution Effect of Empowerment Leadership," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Anqi Zhang, 2022. "The application of virtual teams in the improvement of enterprise management capability from the perspective of knowledge transfer," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(3), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Marina Papanastassiou & Robert Pearce & Antonello Zanfei, 2020. "Changing perspectives on the internationalization of R&D and innovation by multinational enterprises: A review of the literature," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 623-664, June.
    6. Yang Liu, 2019. "Promoting cross-border knowledge transfer for new product development in MNCs: a process view," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 802-821, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Global; Virtual teams; Knowledge-intensive enterprises; Knowledge transfer; Creativity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • M15 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - IT Management
    • F60 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - General

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