What truly creates competitive advantage when access to information is equal? In a world where data, analytics, and codified knowledge are widely available, the answer may lie less in what organizations know and more in how individuals apply what they know. This scholarly research presentation examines that question through a compelling natural experiment drawn from professional golf.
Kimberly Green, Tom Gainey, and Erich Bergiel of the University of West Georgia investigate how different forms of knowledge contribute to performance when standardized information is removed. The study leverages a rule change in professional golf that eliminated the use of greens reading books during tournaments. This shift created a rare opportunity to observe how competitors adapt when codified knowledge resources are suddenly unavailable.
Rather than treating knowledge as a single asset, the research distinguishes between individual knowledge, codified knowledge, and the skill required to interpret and apply codified knowledge effectively. When the greens reading books were removed, players could no longer rely on standardized visual guidance. Performance outcomes then reflected differences in personal experience, situational awareness, and the ability to interpret environmental cues under pressure.
The findings provide insight into how organizations build and sustain competitive advantage. While codified knowledge can improve consistency and scalability, it does not fully substitute for experiential learning and interpretive skill. Individuals who develop deeper tacit knowledge and adaptive capability may outperform peers when conditions shift or information constraints change.
From a strategic management perspective, this research highlights the importance of knowledge transferability and application. Competitive advantage may depend less on possession of information and more on the capability to adapt when informational advantages disappear. This has implications for training, talent development, and organizational knowledge management systems.
Authors and Affiliation
Kimberly Green, University of West Georgia
Tom Gainey, University of West Georgia
Erich Bergiel, University of West Georgia
Delivered virtually within the Organizational Studies track at the SAM International Business Conference, this session offers valuable insight for scholars and practitioners interested in corporate strategy, knowledge management, and performance dynamics. If you are exploring how organizations build resilience and competitive strength in environments where information is widely shared, this research provides a powerful framework. Learn more about this presentation and register to attend at www.samnational.org/conference.