The Impact of Team Selection on Inter-Project Knowledge Transfer : A qualitative approach in a project-based IT company

Inter-project knowledge transfer has been identified as a success factor for organizations as project-based structures become more prevalent in the IT sector. This thesis examines how team selection affects inter-project knowledge transfer within an IT company where projects are the major working entity and fills the gap in research on configuration of human capital vis-à-vis knowledge management. Drawing from Team Composition Theory, Transactive Memory System (TMS) Theory, and the SECI model, the study looks into how selection criteria such as technical skills, availability, and cultural fit influence knowledge flow across projects. The study conducted twelve qualitative interviews with CTOs, project managers, and developers working under different project types (autonomous, intra-organizational, and matrix). Findings reveal that teams purposely established with inter-project knowledge sharing in mind, particularly those with senior developers who could pass down knowledge through mentoring and documenting processes, reinforced inter-project onboarding, continuity, and inter-team learning. On the other hand, teams largely based on short-term availability or rigid skill-matching faced challenges in fragmented knowledge and an inconsistent mode of handover. Findings suggest that organizational structure also has a significant moderating effect: autonomous projects enjoy agility, but this comes with an increased risk of becoming isolated; matrix projects, despite the formalized nature of coordination, have coordination problems. It is further stated in the conclusions that team selection should not be viewed as only a question of staffing but as a strategic mechanism supporting long-term organizational learning growth. Practical suggestions concern the embedding of knowledge-transfer roles, the standardization of onboarding, and finding a healthy balance between autonomy and shared infrastructure.