Cultivating Workplace Innovation: Establishing a Common Technical Language for Knowledge Management in a Digital Transformation Perspective - A UK-Based Global Consulting Firm Case Study

This paper investigates the digital transformation process within Zenith, a globally recognized UK-based engineering consulting firm, focusing on the pivotal role of a common technical language in multidisciplinary project teams' collaboration. Drawing from Zuboff's [19] insights on automation and informatization, alongside Mitchell and Guile [13] the concept of fusion skills, this study highlights how digital transformation extends beyond the mere adoption of advanced technologies. Instead, the human element—specifically the ability to establish a shared technical understanding to facilitate the management and use of knowledge — becomes critical in effectively integrating digital tools within organizational workflows. The research emphasizes how Zenith's Computational Collective, a dedicated team supporting computational work, serves as a vital enabler of this transformation by fostering workplace learning, enhancing communication and knowledge management, which enable collaboration between experts with diverse technical expertise. The study also uses the concept of tacit learning, as proposed by Derrick [5], to reveal how innovation emerges through informal knowledge sharing facilitated by a common language. By situating the findings in a sociological framework, this paper contributes to the growing body of literature that examines the human and cultural dimensions of digital transformation. Ultimately, the paper argues that successful digital transformation depends not only on the technology itself but on how organizations cultivate communication, learning and knowledge management, to facilitate innovation across various domains of expertise.