Acknowledging Knowledge Sharing

Abstract Title: “Acknowledging knowledge sharing - A Case Study of Knowledge Sharing in a Company in the Wind Turbine Manufacturing Industry.” Seminar date: 4th of June 2010 Course: BUSM Master thesis in Managing knowledge, people and change, 15 ECTS Author: Mikkel Kolstrup Supervisor: Sara Louise Muhr Key words: Tacit knowledge, Explicit knowledge, Knowledge sharing, Wind turbine industry, Rapid growth. Purpose: The purpose of the thesis is to increase the understanding of which types of knowledge is being shared; and further more to increase the understanding of what kind of impact the knowledge sharing has on a company in the wind turbine manufacturing industry. Methodology: This study is an abductive qualitative case study based on semi structured interviews with 12 co-workers of the organization being researched. The data is analyzed through a hermeneutic approach. Theoretical perspectives: The theory is based on knowledge types such as tacit and explicit knowledge and concepts of knowledge and knowledge sharing such as tacit and explicit knowledge and knowledge transfer within the subject of Business Administration. The theoretical perspectives are mainly built on the areas: organizational culture, knowledge management and organizational development. Conclusions: Different kinds of knowledge types have been identified and due to the difference both in the people’s knowledge and their seniority a more structured approach towards knowledge sharing could be applied to secure the sharing of both tacit and explicit knowledge at the right time. This becomes important since the company is experiencing hyper growth.