{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,23]],"date-time":"2026-01-23T08:41:46Z","timestamp":1769157706773,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2010,6,1]],"date-time":"2010-06-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1275350400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2010,6,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>Firms at the center of an organizational network may benefit from educating and building up competencies of their partners. For that reason, centers often seek to transfer knowledge from the center to partner firms. They even set up systems of inter\u2010organizational knowledge transfer to plan, to coordinate, and to control such transfers on a firm level instead of managing single knowledge transfer projects individually. However, little systematic attention has yet been paid to such systems on a firm level. This paper seeks to analyze the managerial mechanism to decide what knowledge to transfer to what partners.<\/jats:italic><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>To address this gap, data were gathered on nine leading multinational center firms. An explorative approach was adopted using case study research to look at the characteristics of network centers, network partners, knowledge, transfer channels, and programmes.<\/jats:italic><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>It was found that center firms offered knowledge transfer products to partners and set up portfolios of knowledge transfer programmes targeted at specific partner groups. There is further elaboration on fundamental decisions on the programmes' design, communication, access, and pricing.<\/jats:italic><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>The research contributes to shed light on how center firms manage knowledge transfer activities from the center to partners on the firm level and how they structure it in the form of programmes. Therefore, the paper does not focus on the management of knowledge transfer in particular partnerships or networks, but also considers interdependencies between individual knowledge transfer initiatives.<\/jats:italic><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/13673271011050148","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2010,6,5]],"date-time":"2010-06-05T07:07:30Z","timestamp":1275721650000},"page":"428-448","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":49,"title":["Knowledge transfer to partners: a firm level perspective"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Thomas","family":"Hutzschenreuter","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Julian","family":"Horstkotte","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Andrews, K. and Delahaye, B. (2000), \u201cInfluences on knowledge transfer processes in organizational learning: the psychological filter\u201d, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 37 No. 6, pp. 797\u2010810.","DOI":"10.1111\/1467-6486.00204"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bates, A.W. (2005), Technology, E\u2010learning and Distance Education, Routledge, London.","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203463772"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Becerra, M., Lunnan, R. and Huemer, L. (2008), \u201cTrustworthiness, risk, and the transfer of tacit and explicit knowledge between alliance partners\u201d, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 45 No. 4, pp. 691\u2010713.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-6486.2008.00766.x"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Changchit, C. (2003), \u201cAn investigation into the feasibility of using an internet\u2010based intelligent system to facilitate knowledge transfer\u201d, Journal of Computer Information Systems, Vol. 43 No. 4, pp. 91\u20109.","DOI":"10.1080\/08874417.2003.11647538"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chen, C.\u2010J. (2004a), \u201cThe determinants of knowledge transfer through strategic alliances\u201d, Academy of Management Proceedings, pp. H1\u2010H6.","DOI":"10.5465\/ambpp.2004.13857556"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chen, C.\u2010J. (2004b), \u201cThe effects of knowledge attributes, alliance characteristics, and absorptive capacity on knowledge transfer performance\u201d, R&D Management, Vol. 34 No. 3, pp. 311\u201021.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-9310.2004.00341.x"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chen, S., Duan, Y., Edwards, J.S. and Lehaney, B. (2006), \u201cToward understanding inter\u2010organizational knowledge transfer needs in SMEs: insight from a UK investigation\u201d, Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 6\u201023.","DOI":"10.1108\/13673270610670821"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Contractor, F.J. (2005), \u201cAlliance structure and process: will the two research streams ever meet in alliance research?\u201d, European Management Review, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 123\u20109.","DOI":"10.1057\/palgrave.emr.1500036"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dirks, K. and Ferrin, D. (2001), \u201cThe role of trust in organizational settings\u201d, Organization Science, Vol. 12 No. 4, pp. 450\u201067.","DOI":"10.1287\/orsc.12.4.450.10640"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dyer, J.H. and Hatch, N.W. (2006), \u201cRelation\u2010specific capabilities and barriers to knowledge transfers: creating advantage through network relationships\u201d, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 27 No. 8, pp. 701\u201019.","DOI":"10.1002\/smj.543"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dyer, J.H. and Singh, H. (1998), \u201cThe relational view: cooperative strategy and sources of interorganizational competitive advantage\u201d, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 660\u201079.","DOI":"10.5465\/amr.1998.1255632"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Eisenhardt, K.M. (1989), \u201cBuilding theories from case study research\u201d, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 14 No. 4, pp. 532\u201050.","DOI":"10.5465\/amr.1989.4308385"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"English, T. (2001), \u201cTension analysis in international organizations: a tool for breaking down communication barriers\u201d, International Journal of Organizational Analysis, Vol. 9 No. 1, pp. 58\u201083.","DOI":"10.1108\/eb028928"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Grant, R.M. and Baden\u2010Fuller, C. (1995), \u201cA knowledge\u2010based theory of inter\u2010firm collaboration\u201d, Academy of Management Proceedings, pp. 17\u201021.","DOI":"10.5465\/ambpp.1995.17536229"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hutzschenreuter, T. and Listner, F. (2007), \u201cA contingency view on knowledge transfer: empirical evidence from the software industry\u201d, Knowledge Management Research & Practice, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 136\u201050.","DOI":"10.1057\/palgrave.kmrp.8500136"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Inkpen, A.C. (1998), \u201cLearning and knowledge acquisition through international strategic alliances\u201d, Academy of Management Executive, Vol. 12 No. 4, pp. 69\u201080.","DOI":"10.5465\/ame.1998.1333953"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Inkpen, A.C. and Dinur, A. (1998), \u201cKnowledge management processes and international joint ventures\u201d, Organization Science, Vol. 9 No. 4, pp. 454\u201068.","DOI":"10.1287\/orsc.9.4.454"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Iyer, B., Lee, C.\u2010H. and Venkatraman, N. (2006), \u201cManaging in a \u2018small world ecosystem\u2019: lessons from the software sector\u201d, California Management Review, Vol. 48 No. 3, pp. 27\u201047.","DOI":"10.2307\/41166348"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Khamseh, H.M. and Jolly, D.R. (2008), \u201cKnowledge transfer in alliances: determinant factors\u201d, Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 37\u201050.","DOI":"10.1108\/13673270810852377"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Koza, M. and Lewin, A. (1998), \u201cThe co\u2010evolution of strategic alliances\u201d, Organization Science, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 255\u201064.","DOI":"10.1287\/orsc.9.3.255"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Koza, M. and Lewin, A. (2000), \u201cManaging partnerships and strategic alliances: raising the odds of success\u201d, European Management Journal, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 146\u201051.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0263-2373(99)00086-9"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Levin, D.Z. and Cross, R. (2004), \u201cThe strength of weak ties you can trust: the mediating role of trust in effective knowledge transfer\u201d, Management Science, Vol. 50 No. 11, pp. 1477\u201090.","DOI":"10.1287\/mnsc.1030.0136"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lorenzoni, G. and Baden\u2010Fuller, C. (1995), \u201cCreating a strategic center to manage a web of partners\u201d, California Management Review, Vol. 37 No. 3, pp. 146\u201063.","DOI":"10.2307\/41165803"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Markus, M.L. (2001), \u201cToward a theory of knowledge reuse: types of knowledge reuse situations and factors in reuse success\u201d, Journal of Management Information Systems, Vol. 18 No. 1, pp. 57\u201093.","DOI":"10.1080\/07421222.2001.11045671"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b25","unstructured":"Miles, M.B. and Huberman, A.M. (1994), Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA."},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mintzberg, H. (1979), \u201cAn emerging strategy of \u2018direct\u2019 research\u201d, Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 24 No. 4, pp. 582\u20109.","DOI":"10.2307\/2392364"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mowery, D.C., Oxley, J.E. and Silverman, B.S. (1996), \u201cStrategic alliances and interfirm knowledge transfer\u201d, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 17, special issue, pp. 77\u201091.","DOI":"10.1002\/smj.4250171108"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pettigrew, A.M. (1990), \u201cLongitudinal field research on change: theory and practice\u201d, Organization Science, Vol. 1 No. 3, pp. 267\u201092.","DOI":"10.1287\/orsc.1.3.267"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Spencer, J. (2003), \u201cFirms' knowledge\u2010sharing strategies in the global innovation system: empirical evidence from the flat panel display industry\u201d, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 24 No. 3, pp. 217\u201033.","DOI":"10.1002\/smj.290"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Teece, D. (2000), \u201cStrategies for managing knowledge assets: the role of firm structure and industrial context\u201d, Long Range Planning, Vol. 33 No. 1, pp. 35\u201054.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0024-6301(99)00117-X"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Uzzi, B. (1997), \u201cSocial structure and competition in interfirm networks: the paradox of embeddedness\u201d, Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 42 No. 1, pp. 35\u201067.","DOI":"10.2307\/2393808"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Van Wijk, R., Jansen, J.J.P. and Lyles, M.A. (2008), \u201cInter\u2010 and intra\u2010organizational knowledge transfer: a meta\u2010analytic review and assessment of its antecedents and consequences\u201d, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 45 No. 4, pp. 830\u201053.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-6486.2008.00771.x"},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b33","unstructured":"Yin, R.K. (2003), Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA."},{"key":"key2022031320264385200_b34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zander, U. and Kogut, B. (1995), \u201cKnowledge and the speed of the transfer and imitation of organizational capabilities: an empirical test\u201d, Organization Science, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 76\u201092.","DOI":"10.1287\/orsc.6.1.76"}],"container-title":["Journal of Knowledge Management"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emeraldinsight.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1108\/13673271011050148","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/13673271011050148\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/13673271011050148\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,25]],"date-time":"2025-07-25T00:11:46Z","timestamp":1753402306000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/jkm\/article\/14\/3\/428-448\/268419"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2010,6,1]]},"references-count":34,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2010,6,1]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/13673271011050148"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/13673271011050148","relation":{},"ISSN":["1367-3270"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1367-3270","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2010,6,1]]}}}