Some design agencies retain certain corporate accounts for a long time and they execute many subsequent innovation processes for that client (e.g. redesigning and revamping packaging for a certain brand). I'm exploring whether anyone has done research on the knowledge management between such design agencies and their clients, with a focus on dealing with tacit knowledge.
Not exactly the topic you want, but a PhD student of mine, who is just coming up to her final examination later this year, has been looking at knowledge transfer when creative designers work with small businesses. I think if there were published KM work about larger clients she'd have found it when doing the literature review..
Have any publication come out from this PhD work yet? It sounds quite relevant!
We are writing journal articles at the moment. There is one "work in progress" paper but it isn't appropriate to release that too widely - we could send it to interested individuals though.
I have a little research exposure to such practices, but very generic in nature.
The KM practice between a design agency and its client is mostly done in a closed loop, secured/ limited access environment.
However, research findings show that the successful KM in the entire product-life-cycle is capable of bringing better results than doing it in a particular segment of the supply-chain.
I would suggest you contact the co-founder of IDEO, David Kelley. http://www.IDEO.com