Conditions of project knowledge transfer events: A qualitative exploration of configurations

Cornelis Cristo van Waveren, Leon Oerlemans & Tinus Pretorius

Abstract
Transferring project knowledge is challenging due to the temporary nature of projects and the intense focus on meeting technical demands and milestones. Therefore, project participants must carefully determine which circumstances support or obstruct the transfer. This exploratory study aims to advance our understanding of whether specific conditions exist that hinder or facilitate project knowledge transfer, and whether different configurations of these conditions can support the project knowledge transfer event. From the analysis, a range of conditions could be identified. Furthermore, three configurations, labelled as formalistic, authoritative, and interactive configurations, were observed that supported the project knowledge transfer events. Each configuration combines specific features of actor relationships, transfer tools and techniques, and facilitators such as co-location in distinct ways, all leading to the acceptance of the transferred knowledge.

The paper contributes to the further development of configurational thinking on project-level knowledge transfer and learning. It concludes with several implications for practitioners and policymakers.

Keywords: projects; project knowledge transfer; conditions; configurations of conditions

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business 1–27