The Flow and Use of Knowledge in Networks of Electric Mobility

Abstract

UID/SOC/04647/2013 The paper discusses the main drivers of the flow and use of knowledge in decision networks of sustainable electric mobility. Electric mobility can have a significant impact in a transition to a more sustainable mobility system. There are reasons to believe that this transition can be knowledge–dependent. Examples suggest that the use of bits and concealed tacit knowledge in decision networks are significantly relevant to this transition. Literature shows that transfers of tacit knowledge occur in networks with developed individual social capital and are conditioned by earlier personal interactions. Social capital can provide centrality and power to actors in networks. It can be enhanced by developing trust and displaying and/or implying possession of knowledge relevant for present or future action. Tacit knowledge in technology innovation decisions, in particular, is thought to be significantly valued, because innovation is permeated by strong elements of uncertainty and complexity that drive actors to seek for non–explicit forms of knowledge in networks of near–peers. The paper concludes that the urge for knowledge in situations where not much can be found may drive decision–makers to over rely on partial and partisan knowledge during decision–making. The paper ends with a discussion about the need for more research concerning knowledge in emergent decision networks of electric mobility. publishersversion published

Original document

The different versions of the original document can be found in:

• http://www.stsitalia.org/conferences/STSITALIA_2016/STS-Trento-Proceedings.pdf