Knowledge transfer office (KTO) personnel play a crucial role in the success of knowledge transfer processes through their motivation and other individual-level dimensions.
Individual-level dimensions have been mostly overlooked when exploring the performance of KTOs.
In this paper, we use a person-organization fit (P-OF) lens to explore the supplementary and complementary fit between employees and KTOs.
We conducted a comparative case study of six KTOs in Italy with different performance levels.
Our findings challenge the positive relationship between P-OF and performance by showing that the existence of P-OF is a necessary condition for performance but is insufficient to make it occur.
Indeed, the nature of goals and values (i.e., motivational or hygiene) at the basis of P-OF represents an important aspect in establishing success.
Our findings contribute to the knowledge transfer literature by shedding light on the overlooked relationship between P-OF and KTO performance.