Document Type

Capstone Project

Publication Date

4-2016

Keywords

Stevenson Center, Inter-Organizational Knowledge Transfer, Peace Corps, Youth Leadership, Macedonia, Knowledge Transfer, Project Knowledge, GLOW, Girls Leading Our World

Abstract

This article presents a case study on inter-organizational knowledge transfer. The organizations involved are Peace Corps Macedonia and YMCA Bitola. The specific knowledge being transferred is project knowledge of youth leadership camps. Literature regarding factors that affect inter-organizational knowledge transfer is reviewed and a model of inter-organizational project knowledge transfer proposed by Easterby-Smith et al. (2008) is adopted. An analysis of the case finds factors that may have a negative impact on successful knowledge transfer include motivation discrepancies of key actor groups. The analysis also finds unique methods being employed as part of the knowledge transfer design may have a positive effect on inter-organizational knowledge transfer. These include the placement of a Peace Corps volunteer with the project receiving organization, and the gradual transfer of knowledge design which takes place over multiple cycles of the same projects. Recommendations for Peace Corps Macedonia and YMCA Bitola include ensuring motivation alignment among local Macedonian volunteers and Peace Corps volunteers. Recommendations for similar projects include the placement of a Peace Corps volunteer with the project receiving organization and consideration of a gradual transfer of knowledge design. Limitations of this study include the lack of generalizability of this study, the lack of knowledge transfer literature focusing on public sector inter-organizational knowledge transfer, and issues related to analyzing an in-progress knowledge transfer. Suggested areas for future research include factors that affect inter-organizational knowledge transfer in the public sector and further exploration of the effects of the knowledge transfer design employed in this case study.

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