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The Cumbersome Route from Research Data to Knowledge Use
Author(s) -
Grønhaug Kjell,
Haukedal Willy
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
creativity and innovation management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.148
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1467-8691
pISSN - 0963-1690
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8691.00063
Subject(s) - elaboration , perspective (graphical) , process (computing) , knowledge management , cognition , metaphor , interpretation (philosophy) , business , psychology , computer science , philosophy , linguistics , artificial intelligence , neuroscience , humanities , programming language , operating system
Why do some firms within an industry make use of commissioned research while others don't? To answer this important, but far from understood research question a guiding perspective borrowing from the “two‐community‐metaphor”, cognitive psychology, and studies on knowledge use was developed. A quasi‐experiment was conducted among two groups each one consisting of four firms from the hotel industry. Semi‐structured, longitudinal personal interviews were conducted with top manager and assistant managers in each firm. The findings showed that utilization of research data may be cumbersome, requiring considerable cognitive efforts and elaboration to become useful knowledge applicable for practical purposes. It was also demonstrated that knowledge utilization involves innovative activities, including the construction of new routes of actions. During this process the initial research data were transformed, diffused and elaborated among organization members. It was also observed that when substantial “language” barriers exist between research providers and users, competent personal assistance in interpretation and further elaboration of the research data may facilitate knowledge use. Theoretical and managerial implications are highlighted.