Reframing Knowledge Transfer as Acts of Translations

Abstract

AbstractAs outlined in Chapter 1, the core of the translation theory is expressed in three propositions. This chapter focuses on proposition 1: “Knowledge transfer between organizational sources and recipients can be conceptualized and understood as acts of translations.” The chapter develops a model of knowledge transfer as acts of translations based on two key processes. The first is de-contextualization; that is, translating an identified organizational practice in an organization and its appurtenant knowledge base into an abstract representation (images, texts, pictures, etc.). The second is contextualization, which translates a representation of a desired source practice to a new practice in a target organization. The model conceptualizes and defines the key de-contextualization and contextualization processes and theorizes and shows how they can relate in concrete knowledge transfers, and thereby increase chances for certain outcomes.