Knowledge Management Processes in International Joint Ventures: A Case of an Airport Operator Firm

The aim of this paper is to explore the knowledge management processes in terms of the nature, direction, level and type of knowledge transfer, in an international joint venture (IJV) operating an airport terminal in Turkey, where aviation and related sectors like airport terminal management have experienced a rapid growth during recent years. The gap in literature concerning knowledge management in the context of IJV's in aviation and airport terminal management motivated this study. The method used in investigating the IJV was qualitative case study. In depth interviews were conducted with the general manager and three managers of the company. Data collected from the interviews and relevant documents were analyzed to summarize findings concerning the specific features of knowledge management in and between the IJV and the parent companies. Findings of the study indicate the impact of context on knowledge management processes. In the case of airport terminal management which is strictly regulated by international and national institutions, explicit knowledge sharing was found to be prominent over tacit knowledge sharing between partners and the IJV. Besides, the foreign parent which possesses greater experience and know-how than the domestic partner in the field of airport management was the party which transferred more information, technology and know-how to the IJV.