Abstract
Transfer and shearing of knowledge is a key factor for competitiveness of businesses that provide goods and/or services of highly standardized quality to a widespread area. However, it is often difficult to promote the utilization of such systems. The present work uses data on utilization of a knowledge transfer system introduced in the Distribution Department of Kyushu Electric Power Company to analyze problems that hinder effective use of the system. Examination of factors that determine utilization of the system by the supply and demand sides of knowledge revealed that conditions for accumulation of knowledge, such as long career and job experience, can increase the cost of knowledge transfer, which consists principally of the time needed to use the system. The cost is not symmetrically distributed on the supply and demand sides: the suppliers of knowledge have to pay more than receivers. This may limit transfer of knowledge of a person to the few people around him/her. The paper is concluded with discussion of possible solutions of this problem.
