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Structural issues and knowledge management in transnational education partnerships

John S. Walton (Business School, London Metropolitan University, London, UK)
Gisèle Guarisco (Business School, London Metropolitan University, London, UK)

Journal of European Industrial Training

ISSN: 0309-0590

Article publication date: 12 June 2007

2097

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to analyse knowledge flows within a transnational educational partnership and to use social network analysis to map out structural differences between the two partners and the evolution of these differences over time.

Design/methodology/approach

A single longitudinal case study social network analysis is undertaken over a ten‐year period based on semi‐structured interviews with key informants supported by observational and archival data.

Findings

The investigation identifies feedback, feed‐forward and feed‐across knowledge transfer processes resulting in shared personal learning within the network zone and increasing institutionalisation of acquired knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based on a single case study setting and further research with similar partnerships needs to be undertaken to establish points of comparison.

Practical implications

How diagrammatic representation can be used to capture key structural issues that underpin the knowledge management process in loosely formed organisational settings.

Originality/value

The paper presents a new diagnostic‐enabling knowledge management model that helps address issues of how knowledge flows/transfer can be analysed and identified between partners at individual, group and organisational level. This model also identifies the inter‐organisational space that bounds the social network under discussion.

Keywords

Citation

Walton, J.S. and Guarisco, G. (2007), "Structural issues and knowledge management in transnational education partnerships", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 31 No. 5, pp. 358-376. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090590710756800

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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