An assessment of the constraining factors to knowledge transfer in an aerospace engineering organization.

摘要

This research project assessed knowledge-sharing activity between more experienced engineers and less experienced engineers at two distinct sites of an aerospace engineering organization using the Motivation, Opportunity, and Ability (MOA) framework and the Constraining Factor Meta-Model (CFM). The study sought to identify which of the three factors, if any, among the MOA variables could be acting as a constraining factor and therefore could be impeding knowledge sharing in the organization. The study also sought to identify the influence of culture if there were differences in knowledge-sharing activity between the two culturally distinct sites of the aerospace engineering organization in Canada.;The study employed the focus group interview methodology for data collection. Five groups of five employees each were interviewed at each site of the organization. Two of the groups were comprised of less experienced engineers and the remaining three were comprised of the more experienced engineers. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative data analysis techniques and software. The study found that although the experienced engineers were motivated to share or transfer their knowledge and the less experienced engineers sought opportunities to learn and to grow, the organization had limited formalized systems to encourage knowledge sharing and transfer. Even in cases in which employees had tried to create knowledge transfer opportunities, many of them were too busy and therefore had no opportunity to transfer or absorb new knowledge.;The study concluded that Opportunity was a constraining factor for knowledge transfer in the organization. Regular interactions between the less experienced and the more experienced engineers that include working and solving problems together, mentoring, and creating other situations in which the less experienced engineers can observe and absorb new knowledge from the more experienced workers could significantly improve knowledge transfer between the groups.