Knowledge transfer process

Knowledge transfer can be done in a variety of ways.

While the specifics may differ between situations, the general Knowledge Transfer Process (PDF, 104KB) has four phases:

1. Identify
2. Prioritize
3. Capture and transfer
4. Share and store

Phase 1: Identify

This phase involves identifying what knowledge needs to be transferred.

• Understanding the knowledge required to do the work
• Identifying knowledge of value that should be transferred. Is the knowledge tacit or explicit?

Phase 2: Prioritize

This phase involves prioritizing the knowledge that needs to be transferred based on factors, such as importance, availability, and frequency.

• Assessing the risk of losing knowledge
• Prioritizing knowledge to be captured and transferred
• Using the Knowledge Transfer Inventory Template (PDF, 58KB) to help with the prioritization process

Phase 3: Capture and transfer

This phase involves using different approaches to capture and transfer the knowledge. Often knowledge transfer occurs during the capture process.

• Determining the best approaches to capture and transfer the knowledge
• Capturing and transfer the knowledge using a variety of approaches
• Following information security and privacy guidelines

Phase 4: Share and store

This phase is essential to ensuring that the work done in the previous two phases provides ongoing value and support to your team.

• Keeping information up to date
• Organizing information so it's easily found and readily available
• Sharing information broadly while ensuring information meets security and privacy requirements