A Dynamic Model for Knowledge Transfer and Alliance Learning in Cross-border Strategic Alliances of Software Companies

Abstract

The thesis at hand examines knowledge transfer in cross-border strategic alliances of software companies. The purpose of the thesis is to provide theoretical foundations for a proposed cluster initiative (Asia Software Competence Project) and a software system innovation, ANIS (Alliance Network Information System). The first part of the thesis describes the strategic management context and the following three chapters the dimensions of epistemology, ontology and culture as relevant to this thesis. Epistemology is concerned about how knowledge is acquired and processed while the ontological dimension is here used to refer to the different levels of social interaction in an organizational setting (individual, team, organization and interorganizational levels). The third dimension, culture, is a significant source of ambiguity in knowledge transfer in cross-border context. The core contribution of the thesis is the conceptual development through describing the 4-Tier Tube -model as the model of knowledge transfer and alliance learning in cross-border strategic alliance context.

Key words: strategic alliances, knowledge transfer, absorptive capacity, transparency, trust, tacit knowledge, interorganizational knowledge creation, alliance learning, alliance innovation, complementary competences, 4-Tier Tube, Innovation Tube, Knowledge Bus, Knowledge Pool, Skein of Alliance Learning, Alliance Learning Synchronicity (ALS)