Antecedents and outcomes of inter-organizational knowledge transfer: meta-analysis and critique

Purpose This research aims to disentangle conflicting findings about the relationship between inter-organizational knowledge transfer and its antecedents and outcomes. Design/methodology/approach A meta-analysis of 93 independent samples was conducted to investigate the relationships among inter-organizational knowledge transfer, its antecedents and outcomes. Findings The antecedents of inter-organizational knowledge transfer can be grouped into knowledge characteristics, organizational characteristics and inter-organizational relationship characteristics, all of which show significant positive effects. The outcomes are classified into innovation and performance, both positively associated with knowledge transfer. This study also finds that the positive effects of trust in emerging economies and tie strength in China on inter-organizational knowledge transfer are relatively weak; the outcomes of inter-organizational knowledge transfer are influenced by economic development level, region, knowledge intensity and data nature. Originality/value This study develops an integrative framework that conceptualizes inter-organizational knowledge transfer as shaped by knowledge-interface, absorptive-transformation and relational-governance mechanisms, the last of which is especially important once knowledge crosses organizational boundaries. Meta-analytic evidence further shows that these mechanisms facilitate knowledge transfer, which in turn promotes innovation and performance, while the strength of these relationships varies systematically across contextual and measurement conditions.