Classic Knowledge Transfer Approaches: Mentoring, Apprenticeship, and Partnerships with In-House Training

How do organizations identify, capture, and transfer critical knowledge? APQC has conducted three large-scale best practices studies to unlock the answers, and the research shows that variety is essential. Best-practice organizations leverage a range of knowledge transfer approaches designed to fit specific business scenarios and their distinctive cultures. This article describes two classic approaches for knowledge retention and transfer—mentoring and apprenticeship programs and partnerships with in-house training organizations—using examples from the following organizations: The Aerospace Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc., Fluor Corporation, Kraft Foods Group Inc., National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Praxair Inc.