| Yhteenveto: | This study aimed at describing and understanding the dynamics of knowledge transfer within teams in the context of work. The study focused on teams where the working language of the team is Finnish, but not all team members share Finnish language as their first language. The objective was to understand the role of different first languages in the process of transferring knowledge.
The study was conducted by an online questionnaire which included both open-ended and multichoice questions. The questionnaire was sent to the respondents by email, and it was anonymous. In total, 30 respondents answered the questionnaire. The target group of the study is hospital cleaners and their supervisors. All respondents worked in a large multiservice company that operates in the municipal sector in Finland. The data was analyzed by thematic analysis and four themes were recognized: preferences concerning language use, unspoken assumptions related to knowledge transfer, preferences and practices concerning communication, and non-verbal practices of language use.
The study found that most of the respondents thought that knowledge transfers well between team members and that all team members have all the necessary information to do their work tasks. However, most respondents thought that language differences have a negative effect on knowledge transfer within teams and that there are misunderstandings occasionally because of varying language skills. A division between Finnish-speaking and non-Finnish-speaking respondents was found. Non-Finnish-speaking respondents thought more positively about the success of knowledge transfer and the effects of different languages on knowledge transfer within teams. In addition, non-Finnish-speaking respondents thought that supervisors have the responsibility to transfer knowledge within team while Finnish-speaking respondents thought it is everyone’s responsibility. Teams facilitate knowledge transfer in several ways. Most respondents thought that verbal communication is the most effective way to transfer knowledge. In addition, they mentioned meetings, email, Signal messages, notepads and meeting notes. Respondents also use English language, plain language and simple wording to facilitate transferring knowledge when interlocutor do not speak Finnish as their first language.
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