External KnowledgeA review of the literature addressing the roleof external knowledge and expertise at key stagesof business growth and development

A significant part of the activity of the UK Department Of Trade and Industry (DTI) is concerned with enhancingbusiness access to, and use of, external sources of knowledge and expertise. In March 2005 the DTI, recognising theneed for a synthesis of available evidence, conceived and commissioned a literature review around the theme of therole of external knowledge and expertise at key stages of business growth and development. The review considers theextent to which business performance trajectories require and can be influenced by external knowledge inputs andthe contingencies in terms of business lifecycle positioning that affect the requirements for and impact of knowledgeinputs.[...]