D.B.A.  Baker College (Michigan), 2017.
Specialization:  Business administration

The barriers of knowledge transfer in global financial services
105 pages. UMI #: 10623244
Citation, Abstract & Full text in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Database

Financial advisors tend not to share valuable tacit knowledge with other financial advisors who could benefit the firm’s clients and prospective clients. The purpose of this research was to identify barriers that exist in knowledge management sharing practices within global financial services firms that affect the transfer of tacit knowledge. Nonaka and Takeuchi’s theory of knowledge creation supported research into the transfer of tacit knowledge with an organization. The theory involves the concept of a knowledge spiral that develops through interactions of tacit and explicit knowledge inside an organization. The target population in this qualitative exploratory case study was all employees of ABC global financial services firm. The sample (N = 16) consisted of the top 8 producing financial advisors from a local population, along with the client service associate of each financial advisor. Research questions focused on effective time management, technology, and culture. Data were gathered, analyzed, and synthesized through interviewing employees at the global financial services firm and analyzed with the aid of ATLAS.ti. Findings suggested that the sharing of tacit knowledge was admittedly valuable to enhance client service and team development, tacit knowledge was not shared freely because of time and geographic constraints, the efficiency of e-mail promoted its use however verbal transfer of tacit knowledge was preferred, while e-mail was used a more sophisticated platform was suggested to enhance the transfer of tacit knowledge, difficulty using the current technology affected the culture of the organizations ability to spend time with clients was presented and, the value of promoting knowledge transfer was most experienced at club trip meetings.

• Bernice Folz, Ph.D., Chair
• Peggy Houghton, Ph.D.
• Helen Bojarczyk, Ph.D.