INTRA-ORGANISATIONAL KNOWLEDGE DRIVERS IN THE INPD PROCESS: THE CASE OF WATTYL LIMITED

While several frameworks have attempted to incorporate knowledge management within the principles of innovation, there is still scant evidence of the influence of key drivers that facilitate intra-organisational knowledge transfers to improve international new product development (INPD) processes. We draw on three related literature streams focusing on parts of the organisation, innovation and knowledge management literature and present a conceptualisation of drivers that tend to influence knowledge flows between R&D centres in three international locations. Our results are based on R&D and product managers' experiences and perceptions at Wattyl Limited, a multinational Australian manufacturer of paint and coating products. The findings demonstrate that a value-creating innovation depends on a number of internal knowledge drivers that facilitate the INPD process. They also add to further clarifying some conceptual issues in the extant literature. We also draw attention to specific messages for R&D and product managers involved in INPD processes.