Knowledge Acquisition and Transfer in Developing Countries: The Experience of the Egyptian Software Industry

Abstract

This investigation explored knowledge acquisition and transfer practice in Egyptian software firms. It used a combination of a cross-sectional field survey of 38 firms and an in-depth qualitative analysis of 14 firms. Although most of the firms in the sample recognize the importance of knowledge, their idiosyncrasies appear to affect the way knowledge is acquired and transferred. The firms were found to have a limited use of their software developers’ initiatives, R&D, and the academic and research institutions as sources for knowledge acquisition. They also were found to have limited capabilities in transferring and sharing knowledge. The Egyptian culture is rich in social and emotional capital, which can play an important role in building relationships, facilitating the exchange of knowledge, and sharing experience. The Egyptian software firms should develop and implement KM strategies that attract expert software developers, capitalize on trust and social relationships, and build IT-based KM systems in order to enable knowledge acquisition and transfer.