The challenge of stickiness in knowledge transfer among ICT firms in Malaysian Technology Parks
The study examines knowledge transfer between firms by using the concept of stickiness to conceptualise problems with knowledge transfer. The concept of stickiness is sub-divided into “macro” and “micro” levels stickiness. As for “macro” level stickiness, the study uses literature in the field of...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2010
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/22669/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/22669/1/The_Challenge_of_Stickiness_in_Knowledge_Transfer_among_ICT_Firms.pdf |
| Summary: | The study examines knowledge transfer between firms by using the concept of stickiness to
conceptualise problems with knowledge transfer. The concept of stickiness is sub-divided into “macro”
and “micro” levels stickiness. As for “macro” level stickiness, the study uses literature in the field of
innovation studies, in which governments have been identified as major contributors to macro level
stickiness. The study uses literature in the economics of knowledge and evolutionary economics to
develop the concept of “micro” level stickiness, which refers to firms‟ contributions to stickiness. Four
factors are used to examine micro stickiness: transfer mechanisms, types of transfer, knowledge barriers,
and transfer contexts. After explaining the concept of stickiness and providing a background to
technology parks policy, the study examines the perceptions of a variety of informants of stickiness in
knowledge transfer among ICT firms in Malaysian technology parks. The study approached seven (out of
eleven) Malaysian technology parks, over a period of three months in 2005 (May-July 2005) and a month
in 2007 (August 2007). It interviewed fifty (50) informants, who included policy makers, government
officers, and executives of ICT firms in Malaysian technology parks. With respect to “macro” level
stickiness, policy makers and government confirmed that the government cannot exclude previous policy
documents that contained three major elements: national unity, foreign direct investment and sound
economic growth to formulate policy for Malaysian technology parks, which does not solely encourage
knowledge transfer because the policy documents permitted short term profit taking by ICT firms. With
respect to “micro” level stickiness, the results suggest that transfer mechanisms, types of transfer,
knowledge barriers, and transfer contexts are costly; thus, impede ICT firms from participating actively in
knowledge transfer between ICT firms. This study suggests that the government and ICT firms should
work closely to facilitate knowledge transfer between ICT firms in Malaysian technology parks. |
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