Inter‐firm sharing of process knowledge: exploring knowledge markets

Abstract

Markets and communities are two modalities of knowledge exchange between firms; and this study concludes with a model that addresses the tension between the two modalities. The model resulted from an exploratory study conducted under the umbrella of a national consortium, using the methodology of participatory action research. The study involved three large multinational firms, where one firm supplied knowledge of three different processes used in product development to two other non-competitive firms outside their supply chain. The knowledge was shared within the framework of an intervention that included the following: (1) individual work with process-related course materials via the web or compact disc, followed by (2) interactive group sessions supported by videoconference facilities and led by a process expert from the supplying firm. Empirical data were gathered by interviewing participants before and after the intervention, and by observing interactive group sessions. Findings from the empirical data describe rationales for inter-firm sharing of process knowledge, which illustrate a market modality of exchange; and describe practices for effective knowledge sharing, which illustrate aspects of a community modality of exchange. The model induced from these findings compares the situational setting, constellation of meanings and associated knowledge sharing practices for both modalities of exchange: market and community.

Inter-organizational networks for knowledge sharing and trading

“…reputation, or indirect financial equivalents, like the development of a new service in a joint venture. There exist several examples of these two types of networks which can be found in [6,19,20] and [23]. This distinction has several consequences on the organization and mechanisms employed by the knowledge exchange networks as it is shown in the following analysis in the paper.…”

“…In return, Knowledge Chains have allowed companies to share knowledge more effectively because they offer: deep collaboration between interacting parties; speed and flexibility for timely provision of critical, sensitive knowledge products; privacy and control for trusted relationships; and quality of service for customer satisfaction. Thus, by achieving knowledge sharing at the supply-chain level, companies enhance their own competitive advantage as well as the competitive advantage of the supply chain as a whole [6].…”

Towards a Knowledge Sharing Model for Small Businesses

“…Knowledge sharing promises to enhance competitive advantage 30 , but at costs. Because of resource scarcity, a small business may not have money on knowledge management initiatives 37 , and therefore cannot gain the competitive advantages, while some others have taken the first-mover advantage.…”

“…Moreover, a small business has to take an initiative in knowledge sharing when the partners adopt a knowledge sharing strategy. Specially, knowledge sharing within a supply chain has become common 30 .…”

Research on the Choice of Knowledge Trading Pattern among Enterprises in Online Innovation Environment

“…If we just depend on the inner power to research and develop the knowledge that we need, it may takes huge cost and long time, so enterprises always need to acquire knowledge from the outside [1 -4]. The knowledge trading between enterprises is an important way for enterprises to acquire outside knowledge [5][6]. We could divide the knowledge trading into traditional pattern (TP) and the E-commerce pattern (ECP) according to the medium of exchange.…”