The Impact of Virtual Technologies on Organizational Knowledge Creation: An Empirical Study

This study examines the processes of organizational knowledge creation in two highly virtualized teams, one involved in the design of a small city car and the second in the re-design of a small industrial vehicle. Using Nonaka´s model of organizational knowledge creation, we explore how the visualization of knowledge based processes, i.e. the intensive exploitation of ICTs in support of knowledge-based activities, has shaped new forms of knowledge creation both at individual and organizational level. In contrast with previous studies [1] that identified knowledge codification as the main contribution of ICTs, this study provides detailed micro-level evidence on the ability of virtual technologies to support the transfer and the creation of new knowledge both at explicit and tacit levels. Several implications for scholars and practitioners are presented.