Exploring the Dynamics of Knowledge Integration

This article investigates knowledge integration in product development projects. While much previous literature draws attention to the need for clearly specified goals, extensive knowledge sharing and close face-to-face interaction for activity and knowledge integration, alternative explanations are offered. The findings highlight the integrative capacity of individuals’ experience and tacit foreknowledge of the stacker artefact, as well as the complementary role of meetings and ad hoc problem solving. The article proposes an iterative model of the individual/collective dynamics involved and calls attention to its economizing potential. More generally, it provides an example of how the issue of knowledge integration may be reformulated into a dynamic perspective, recognizing the intergenerational learning benefits that accrue. The conclusions extend the argument of Zollo and Winter by showing how different task-related learning mechanisms may be combined and obtain their integrative capacity within an iterative process.

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