The influence of flexible management practices on the sharing of experiential knowledge in the workplace: a case study of food service helpers.
Previous studies have shown that the job knowledge and prudent knowledge of experienced workers constitute a wealth that needs to be shared in workplaces to promote worker integration, job retention and occupational health and safety. It appears, however, that certain management practices undermine this knowledge sharing process. This case study of food service helpers in institutional food service departments is part of a research project aimed at comparing the impact of different work organization methods on knowledge sharing in the workplace on the basis of case studies carried out in several organizations. The results of this case study reveal that by destabilizing and weakening the work teams, flexible management practices create an environment that is not conducive to experiential knowledge sharing.
Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et sécurité du travail, 505 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, Canada, H3A 3C2.
Elise
E
Ledoux
Esther
E
Cloutier
Pierre-Sébastien
PS
Fournier
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019649:Food Industry; D006801:Humans; D058436:Knowledge Management; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000379:methods*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D011361:Professional Competence