The role and implications of knowledge sharing in complex resource organizations

Abstract

Over the next ten years many petroleum corporations will face a knowledge loss closely related to the retirement of half of their workforce in addition to the relentless pursuit of higher production efficiency from existing resources and seeking new sources of oil in remote and more dangerous locations. In this environment significant value may be generated for an organization by the collective knowledge of its existing employees to eliminate mistakes, re-work and avoid the need for new learning caused by a failure to engage in formalised, knowledge sharing. A review of the literature does not explain how complex resource organizations are managing change to overcome the prospect of knowledge loss. This conceptual paper explores the dimensions of knowledge sharing and its relationship to knowledge management, knowledge transfer and the management of change and its ability to provide “forward momentum in turbulent times”.