A Translation Theory of Knowledge Transfer

"A Translation Theory of Knowledge Transfer is a real tour de force through the knowledge transfer field. The book masterfully surveys decades of research and provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of this field of study. Professor Røvik deftly shows the limits of the prevailing ways of thinking about knowledge transfer, and he offers an alternative in the metaphor and theory of translation. A must read for anyone with an interest in knowledge transfer. * Joep Cornelissen, Professor Rotterdam Business School, Erasmus University and University of Liverpool * Knowledge transfer is a phenomenon taken for granted in global economy. But how does it happen, and where and why doesn't it happen? Kjell-Arne Røvik asked this tremendously important question and looked for answers in an impressive array of literature, containing both theoretical models and empirical studies. The resulting theory is convincing and amply documented. This book will become a necessary lecture for students, professors, consultants, and managers alike. * Barbara Czarniawska, Senior Professor of Management Studies, University of Gothenburg, Sweden * A Translation Theory of Knowledge Transfer: Learning Across Organizational Borders is an absolute ""must read"" for all scholars interested in how ideas are translated into practice. Kjell Arne Røvik provides a thoughtful, comprehensive, and provocative examination of the processes of knowledge translation by setting out a robust framework for understanding research to date, as well as establishing a groundbreaking pathway for future work. * Trish Reay, Professor and Telus Chair in Management, University of Alberta, and Distinguished Research Professor, Warwick Business School * The lucid exposition of the translation perspective and the varied array of empirical cases make this book an invaluable contribution to the growing field of organizational translation. It should be required reading not only for those interested in innovation and knowledge transfer but also for the broader community of researchers and practitioners engaged in understanding the complexities of organizational learning and change. * Eleanor Westney, Sloan Fellows Professor Emerita, MIT Sloan School of Management Professor Emerita, Schulich School of Business, York University *"