This article illustrates a qualitative interview study into transfer of product creation knowledge by German industrial goods manufacturers within their multi-firm engineering networks. Emphasis is put on identifying knowledge types relevant in such knowledge transfer situations. A contextual approach to dealing with the distinction of data, information and knowledge for inter-firm knowledge transfer situations is established. Product creation knowledge entities derived from interviewing 25 engineers working for eight different companies were assigned to knowledge taxonomies derived from literatures on the context of engineering design and education. Analysis resulted in distributions of knowledge content types and knowledge carriers that are presented alongside with statements regarding the interviewed persons’ perception of their ability and will to protect certain knowledge elements from being transferred. Our research aims at providing a basis for further research into improving companies’ behaviour regarding desired and undesired inter-firm knowledge transfer within multi-firm product development, manufacturing and sales networks.     «

This article illustrates a qualitative interview study into transfer of product creation knowledge by German industrial goods manufacturers within their multi-firm engineering networks. Emphasis is put on identifying knowledge types relevant in such knowledge transfer situations. A contextual approach to dealing with the distinction of data, information and knowledge for inter-firm knowledge transfer situations is established. Product creation knowledge entities derived from interviewing 25 engi...     »