The role of the project management office in knowledge transfer in a matrix-structured organisation : a case study

Abstract

The knowledge transfer role of a project management office in a matrix-structured telecommunication organisation was investigated by means of focus groups and interviews, and the results were analysed with ATLAS.ti software. The results confirmed the key role that the project management office plays in knowledge transfer. Corporate culture was found to have a greater effect on knowledge transfer than the type of organisational structure. Conflicts and other challenges typical of matrix structures did not necessarily hinder knowledge transfer, and even contributed to it. The knowledge transfer roles of the project management office were primarily perceived as a moderator of the transfer of technical information and a mediator of project and business knowledge.

Die rol van ʼn projekbestuurkantoor ten opsigte van kennisoordrag in ʼn telekommunikasie organisasie met ʼn matriks-struktuur is ondersoek met behulp van fokusgroepe en onderhoude. Die resultate is met ATLAS.ti sagteware ontleed. Die resultate bevestig die sleutelrol wat die projekbestuurskantoor in kennisoordrag speel. Organisasiekultuur het ʼn groter rol as organisasiestruktuur gespeel, terwyl konflikte en ander probleme wat tipies met matriks-strukture geassosieer word nie noodwendig kennisoordrag benadeel nie, en selfs kennisoordrag bevorder. Die rol van die projekbestuur-kantoor in kennisoordrag is hoofsaaklik beskou as ʼn moderator van oordrag van tegniese kennis en ʼn mediator in die geval van projek- en besigheidskennis.