Exploring Intergenerational Knowledge Sharing in Organizations - Potentials and Limitations of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

This thesis deals with an interdisciplinary approach of intergenerational knowledge sharing (IKS) from an information scientific perspective. As part of the KNOWISH project the research is embedded in an international cooperation of University of Hildesheim and the Åbo Academy in Turku, Finland. It aims at answering the questions: How does IKS unfold? Which systems are used in its context and how suitable are they? Two case studies have been conducted in two medium-sized German companies. At the same time, an additional study has been conducted by two Finnish students. Semistructured interviews and a qualitative content analysis of the data considered generational aspects, knowledge sharing as well as ICT. This study finds that experience and work environment atmosphere are important influencing factors. Both, young and old employees can be knowledge carriers who share knowledge mutually. Another important outcome shows that Organizational Generations of Knowledge exist within the companies. These are defined by chronological and professional age.