Analysing knowledge awareness with critical incident technique

Abstract

The present research aims at providing new understandings about the awareness phase of the knowledge sharing process. <br><br>A case-study methodology known as the Critical Incident Technique has been chosen to lead this study. 15 Critical Incidents were collected through interviews in a French newspaper company. Their analysis suggests that the awareness process is constituted of four elements that have to be developed by individuals before initiating a transfer. It also reveals that metaknowledge accessed during the awareness stage can be separated into different categories according to the kind of information it provides to the knowledge seeker and according to the element constituting the awareness process that is influenced by this access.<br><br>Eventually, this research presents some limitations, related to the environmental factors effects, to the time consideration and to the relationships between the elements constituting the awareness process.