Sharing knowledge in knowledge-intensive firms

Knowledge-intensive firms need to share knowledge held by employees if they are to gain the most from their intellectual capital and compete effectively in the marketplace. Sharing and integrating knowledge within the organisation depends partly on building social capital. However, there are obstacles to this integration because knowledge is often distributed throughout the organisation. This article draws on a detailed study of a single case to examine the ways in which HR policies and processes contribute to overcoming these barriers to sharing knowledge. We highlight the role of HR policies and processes as facilitators of the social capital that interconnects knowledge by focusing on the needs of knowledge workers. Contact: Juani Swart, Work and Employment Research Centre (WERC), School of Management, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY