The Italian validation of the Knowledge Transfer Scale by Wilkesmann et al. (2009). A multi-sample study
Description
The rise of the Knowledge Economy stresses the organizational importance of knowledge transfer (KT) to retain corporate know-how. Given the absence of a validated scale in Italian measuring KT in organizational contexts, the objective of this multi-study is to validate the Italian version of the Knowledge Transfer Scale by Wilkesmann et al. (2009). To this aim, two studies were carried out on Italian employees. In study 1, through a cross-sectional design (N = 256), an exploratory factor analysis was performed. In Study 2 (N = 338), through a time-lagged design, confirmatory factor analyses were performed to verify construct validity, measurement invariance over time (over four months) was tested, and zero-order correlations were calculated to verify convergent (measure: sharing and receiving knowledge) and predictive validity (measures: job satisfaction; realized absorptive capacity; occupational self-efficacy). Study 1 confirmed the monodimensionality of the scale and a satisfactory level of reliability. Study 2 showed a second-order factorial solution (with two sub-factors) as the best fitting one. The configural, metric, and scalar invariances of the factorial structure were also verified. Finally, zero-order correlations confirmed its convergent and predictive validity. The practical implications, suggestions for future research, and the limitations of the study are discussed.