IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/infosf/v17y2015i1d10.1007_s10796-014-9516-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Knowledge transfer planning and execution in offshore outsourcing: An applied approach

Author

Listed:
  • Sabine Madsen

    (IT University of Copenhagen, Games & Interaction Design)

  • Keld Bødker

    (Roskilde University)

  • Thomas Tøth

    (Copenhagen Business School, Department of Intercultural Communication and Management)

Abstract

In this paper, we report from a longitudinal project about knowledge transfer conducted in a major financial company headquartered in Denmark and an offshore development center located in Bangalore, India. We identify the main knowledge transfer challenges experienced by the case company. The challenges inform the conceptual design of a systematic five-step approach to the company’s knowledge transfer. Our main contribution is to illustrate how extant research can be applied to understand and solve the knowledge transfer challenges of a particular company in a way that fits with the outsourcing setup and the company culture. We also draw attention to the fact that client side managers play a crucial role in determining how and with what priority knowledge transfer can take place. Our research indicates that a first, important step towards ensuring successful knowledge transfer in outsourcing is to focus on the training and support of client side managers.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabine Madsen & Keld Bødker & Thomas Tøth, 2015. "Knowledge transfer planning and execution in offshore outsourcing: An applied approach," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 67-77, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:17:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1007_s10796-014-9516-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10796-014-9516-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10796-014-9516-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10796-014-9516-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mark Easterby‐Smith & Marjorie A. Lyles & Eric W. K. Tsang, 2008. "Inter‐Organizational Knowledge Transfer: Current Themes and Future Prospects," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(4), pages 677-690, June.
    2. Alessia Sammarra & Lucio Biggiero, 2008. "Heterogeneity and Specificity of Inter‐Firm Knowledge Flows in Innovation Networks," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(4), pages 800-829, June.
    3. Ikujiro Nonaka, 1994. "A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 5(1), pages 14-37, February.
    4. Wanda J. Orlikowski, 1992. "The Duality of Technology: Rethinking the Concept of Technology in Organizations," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 3(3), pages 398-427, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yogesh K. Dwivedi & David Wastell & Helle Zinner Henriksen & Rahul De’, 2015. "Guest editorial: Grand successes and failures in IT: Private and public sectors," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 11-14, February.
    2. Noronha, Ernesto & D'Cruz, Premilla, 2020. "The Indian IT industry: A global production network perspective," IPE Working Papers 134/2020, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Institute for International Political Economy (IPE).
    3. Sukruth Suresh & T. Ravichandran, 2022. "Value Gains in Business Process Outsourcing: The Vendor Perspective," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 677-690, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zihanxin Li & Guilong Zhu, 2021. "Knowledge Transfer Performance of Industry-University-Research Institute Collaboration in China: The Moderating Effect of Partner Difference," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Graciela Corral de Zubielqui & Noel Lindsay & Wendy Lindsay & Janice Jones, 2019. "Knowledge quality, innovation and firm performance: a study of knowledge transfer in SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 145-164, June.
    3. Chengli Shu & Cuijuan Liu & Shanxing Gao & Mark Shanley, 2014. "The Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship in Alliances," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 38(4), pages 913-940, July.
    4. Henk W. Volberda & Nicolai J. Foss & Marjorie A. Lyles, 2010. "PERSPECTIVE---Absorbing the Concept of Absorptive Capacity: How to Realize Its Potential in the Organization Field," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 931-951, August.
    5. M.-L. Goury & A. Spalanzani, 2009. "Le rôle de l'outil de gestion des connaissances pour les communautés de pratique : le cas d'une chambre de commerce et d'industrie," Post-Print halshs-00540281, HAL.
    6. Al-Tal Mohammad Jaber Yousef & Emeagwali Okechukwu Lawrence, 2019. "Knowledge-based HR Practices and Innovation in SMEs," Organizacija, Sciendo, vol. 52(1), pages 6-21, February.
    7. Rachel Bocquet & Caroline Mothe, 2015. "Can a governance structure foster cluster ambidexterity through knowledge management? An empirical study of two French SME clusters," Knowledge Management Research & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 329-343, August.
    8. Park, Chansoo & Vertinsky, Ilan & Becerra, Manuel, 2015. "Transfers of tacit vs. explicit knowledge and performance in international joint ventures: The role of age," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 89-101.
    9. Jiang, Xu & Li, Yuan, 2009. "An empirical investigation of knowledge management and innovative performance: The case of alliances," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 358-368, March.
    10. Amitabh Anand & Louise Brøns Kringelum & Charlotte Øland Madsen & Louisa Selivanovskikh, 2020. "Interorganizational learning: a bibliometric review and research agenda," Post-Print hal-02870017, HAL.
    11. Corinne Janicot & Sophie Mignon & Elisabeth Walliser, 2016. "Information Process and Value Creation: an Experimental Study," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 7(1), pages 276-291, March.
    12. Balboni, Bernardo & Marchi, Gianluca & Vignola, Marina, 2017. "Knowledge transfer in the context of buyer–supplier relationship: An analysis of a supplier's customer portfolio," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 277-287.
    13. Martin-Rios, Carlos, 2014. "Why do firms seek to share human resource management knowledge? The importance of inter-firm networks," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 190-199.
    14. Majuri, Matti, 2022. "Inter-firm knowledge transfer in R&D project networks: A multiple case study," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    15. Gnyawali, Devi R. & Singal, Manisha & Mu, Shaohua Carolyn, 2009. "Knowledge ties among subsidiaries in MNCs: A multi-level conceptual model," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 387-400, December.
    16. Fiona Kun Yao & Kaifeng Jiang & Danielle R. Combs & Song Chang, 2022. "Informal institutions and absorptive capacity: A cross-country meta-analytic study," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(6), pages 1091-1109, August.
    17. Li, Shenxue & Clark, Timothy & Sillince, John, 2018. "Constructing a strategy on the creation of core competencies for African companies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 204-213.
    18. Stefano Ghinoi & Riccardo Vita & Bodo Steiner & Alessandro Sinatra, 2024. "Family firm network strategies in regional clusters: evidence from Italy," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 87-103, January.
    19. José A. Belso-Martínez, 2015. "Resources, Governance, and Knowledge Transfer in Spanish Footwear Clusters," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 38(2), pages 202-231, April.
    20. van Baalen, P.J. & van Fenema, P.C., 2005. "Strategies for Dealing with Drift during Implementation of ERP Systems," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2005-043-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:17:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1007_s10796-014-9516-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.