knowledge transfer

Intermediate 👥 Human Resources

Definition

The process of documenting and sharing expertise from one employee to others, typically when someone leaves. It's the scramble to extract 20 years of wisdom into a PowerPoint deck during someone's last two weeks.

Example Usage

We have three days for knowledge transfer before Susan retires, so we're basically doomed.

Origin

Emerged from knowledge management theory in the 1990s

Fun Fact

Studies show that up to 80% of critical knowledge is never formally documented, existing only in employees' heads until they leave and everyone panics.

Source: Knowledge management and organizational learning literature

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