Knowledge transfer in supply chain partnership: what makes it to be unique

Despite the increasing emphasis on supply chain partnership as conduit of interfirm knowledge transfer, previous research appears to give limited clarifications on characteristics of supply chain partnership, and hence the particular characteristics of supply chain knowledge transfer. This paper intends to explore the unique characteristics of knowledge transfer in supply chain partnership and the likely factors that affect the effectiveness of interfirm knowledge transfer. It is commented that supply chain partnership is different from other types of interfirm alliances, which make supply chain knowledge transfer to have unique characteristics. Specifically, supply chain partnership take place due to the vertical complementarities between partners; it is non-targeted and less guaranteed; there are more concerns of network based knowledge spill-over; it is better to be understood as a multiple-stage process. Based on the understanding of these characteristics, a number of propositions were developed regarding relationship attributes more likely to affect knowledge transfer in supply chain partnership. Moreover, case study of an electronics manufacturer’s supply chain was conducted to demonstrate the empirical validity of propositions.