Lifelong learning: The power of networks: Supporting knowledge transfer with Social Network Analysis: A case study of a Hungarian university

Absztrakt (kivonat)

Knowledge transfer within organizations, and the knowledge-based view has gotten broad attention among scientists and practicing managers as well. This paper investigates the knowledge transfer in higher education institutions and it seeks to address the following question: what are the obstacles of knowledge transfer in universities based on Social Network Analysis. This paper follows a case study design, with in-depth analysis of the informal social network of a Hungarian university. The units of observation are the faculties. The paper uses basic network visualisation and Exponential Random Graph Models on the university’s informal social network to find the structural factors which determine knowledge transfer. The paper shows that formal hierarchy shapes the network in a way, that everyone tends to connect informally to higher hierarchy levels. On the employment level members connect to each other satisfactorily, also at the top of the hierarchy, deans and vice deans have relatively close connections. However, horizontal connections are poor at the institute director and head of department level. The research shows that on top of the hierarchy, deans from different faculties connect to each other through weak ties, thus there is some kind of informal communication among faculties. Also, the level of deans and vice deans are isolated from the other layers of hierarchy, which can be a barrier for knowledge transfer. At the end of the paper, the authors suggest policy implications in the light of the results.