PurposeThis paper aims to identify the pertinent factors for tacit knowledge transfer within a major state‐owned Brazilian oil company – Petrobras.Design/methodology/approachThe research analyses the literature concerning tacit knowledge transfer within organisations and, using a quantitative approach based on exploratory factorial analysis, seeks to collect facts in order to identify relevant factors for tacit knowledge transfer within the organisation in question.FindingsIt is seen that idiosyncratic factors, the knowledge management strategy adopted by the company, and its organisational structure are relevant elements for the success of tacit knowledge transfer within the organisation.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted just in the Sales and Marketing division of Petrobras. Therefore, its external validity cannot be tested and any attempt to make a statistical generalisation would be flawed. Another limitation is related to the acuity of perception of the employees involved in relation to tacit knowledge transfer. These limitations are related to the possibility of many varied interpretations of reality given by the respondents, in their attempt – not necessarily conscious – to paint a good picture of the company, to limitations of information available while they answer the questionnaire, to the epistemological model of the respondent, and to the very fact that they work in a state‐owned, rather than in a public oil company.Originality/valueThree propositions arising from the results obtained are consolidated and presented in order that they may be tested in a future explanatory study.