Knowledge Sharing and Protection: a Study Carried Out in a Innovation Company of the Sugar-energy Sector

Abstract The literature specialized in knowledge management prioritizes a sharing perspective and also, a protection perspective in a lower content. But these dimensions have been treated in a fragmented way. In this context, a bibliographic production gap has been identified. In management practice this reality is also observed, and constitutes a dilemma for managers. The objective of the study is to analyze the sharing and protection knowledge in a innovation company of sugar-energy division. This is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study. The data collection was built with semi-structured and individual interview. It was applied to a group of managers of research development departmentall human resources department the intellectual property and information management of the company. Documentary analysis, direct observation and participant observation were also used. The study has showed that managers use a variety of tools and practices to protect and share knowledge without the support of organizational policy that guides decisions about what to share and protect. In this reality, the existence of managerial dilemma was confirmed, as managers recognize a fragility in which case one is exposed to one of the most critical of organizational competitive advantage, the knowledge.

摘要 专注于知识管理（Knowledge Management）领域的研究文献多侧重于知识共享视角，对知识保护视角的探讨占比相对偏低，且二者的研究维度常被割裂对待。在此背景下，本研究识别出一处文献研究空白。在管理实践中，此类现状同样存在，并成为管理者面临的两难困境。本研究旨在分析糖业能源分部某创新企业的知识共享与保护现状。本研究属于质性、描述性与探索性研究。数据收集采用半结构化个人访谈法，访谈对象涵盖公司研发部、人力资源部以及知识产权与信息管理部门的多位管理者。此外，本研究还采用了文献分析法、直接观察法与参与式观察法。研究结果表明，管理者在缺乏用以指导知识共享与保护决策的组织政策的情况下，仍会运用多种工具与实践手段开展相关工作。在此现实情境下，本研究证实了管理者面临的两难困境：管理者们坦言当前存在管理脆弱性，而这一脆弱性会使组织暴露于其核心竞争优势之一——知识——的风险之中。