Organizational knowledge heterogeneity: Between conceptual nuances and the quest for a measure

Abstract

This paper is a survey of relevant empirical literature pertaining to knowledge heterogeneity. Its purpose focuses on highlighting issues surrounding its definition and measurement. First, it shows that knowledge heterogeneity is definitionally close to several other concepts, each measured in a certain way. Second, the same measures have been used indiscriminately for several of these concepts. Third, different measures have been used for the same concepts. The point being made is that comparable empirical results cannot be achieved if the same measures are used for different concepts. Research in knowledge management and innovation management centered around knowledge heterogeneity could be impeded if different emphases are put on different words while studying a concept that is defined similarly across studies yet measured differently, or that is measured similarly despite being defined differently. Results in future research are more likely to converge if knowledge heterogeneity is defined separately from similar concepts such as knowledge sharing and knowledge overlap, for example.