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Knowledge Sharing in an Emerging Network of Practice:: The Role of a Knowledge Portal

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  • van Baalen, Peter
  • Bloemhof-Ruwaard, Jacqueline
  • van Heck, Eric

Abstract

This article addresses the emergence of networks of practice and the role of knowledge sharing via knowledge portals. Its focus is on factors that stimulate the successful emergence of networks of practice. Literature on knowledge management and communities of practice suggest the pre-existence of shared knowledge or a shared belief system as a condition sine qua non for the networks of practice to emerge. We challenge this assumption and argue and demonstrate that common knowledge and belief systems are rather a result of knowledge sharing rather than a pre-condition. The central question is how a knowledge portal facilitates the diffusion of knowledge among rather loosely coupled and often disconnected innovation projects. Research is carried out in the agricultural industry in The Netherlands. In this industry there is a need to change from a product-oriented to a problem-oriented innovation structure. The set up of a platform and knowledge portal around agro-logistics - crossing different product-oriented production clusters - was therefore a logical result. It gave the opportunity to analyze what the impact of a knowledge portal is in a situation where people and projects come from different organizations and do not know each other. Do they start to share knowledge and what are the conditions? With regard to the case study of the knowledge portal in the agricultural industry we conclude that a knowledge portal will have an impact on how projects are sharing knowledge and on the emergence of a network of practice. The results show that pre-conditions for the emergence of a network of practice are a sense of urgency and fragmented awareness. These results also indicate the important role of a knowledge broker. The developed knowledge portal seems to lead to overcoming structural holes and a closer cognitive distance among the projects. However, we did not find a direct effect of the knowledge portal on sharing tacit knowledge. In the initial phase of a network of practice the knowledge exchange seems to focus on general, non-project specific and explicit knowledge. There was also no direct effect of the knowledge portal on the reciprocity of knowledge exchange among the projects. However, knowledge was shared between the project level and the platform and public level. Conclusions and directions for future research are formulated.

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  • van Baalen, Peter & Bloemhof-Ruwaard, Jacqueline & van Heck, Eric, 2005. "Knowledge Sharing in an Emerging Network of Practice:: The Role of a Knowledge Portal," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 300-314, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eurman:v:23:y:2005:i:3:p:300-314
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    1. Eric von Hippel, 1994. ""Sticky Information" and the Locus of Problem Solving: Implications for Innovation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 40(4), pages 429-439, April.
    2. Bart Nooteboom, 2000. "Learning by Interaction: Absorptive Capacity, Cognitive Distance and Governance," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 4(1), pages 69-92, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kirchner, Alexander & Labusch, Nils & Lopez Cordoba, Adriana & Sartor, Sebastian & Tumbas, Sanja & Villalon, Enrique & Wiethoff, Sebastian, 2011. "Network e-Volution," ERCIS Working Papers 11, University of Münster, European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS).
    2. Laurens Klerkx & Andy Hall & Cees Leeuwis, 2009. "Strengthening agricultural innovation capacity: are innovation brokers the answer?," International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 8(5/6), pages 409-438.
    3. Katharine A. Robb & Michelle LaPointe & Kathryn Hemsing & Grant Anderson & James Anderson & Jorrit de Jong, 2023. "Inter‐city collaboration: Why and how cities work, learn and advocate together," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 14(5), pages 663-675, November.
    4. Bouncken, Ricarda B. & Aslam, Muhammad Mahmood & Gantert, Till Marius & Kallmuenzer, Andreas, 2023. "New work design for knowledge creation and sustainability: An empirical study of coworking-spaces," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    5. James Hopple & Emrah Orhun, 2006. "Knowledge Sharing in a Community of Practice," Papers of the Annual IUE-SUNY Cortland Conference in Economics, in: Oguz Esen & Ayla Ogus (ed.), Proceedings of the Conference on Human and Economic Resources, pages 316-326, Izmir University of Economics.
    6. repec:dau:papers:123456789/2557 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Chen, Hsing Hung & Lee, Amy H.I. & Chen, Silu, 2014. "Strategic policy to select suitable intermediaries for innovation to promote PV solar energy industry in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 429-437.
    8. Klerkx, Laurens & Leeuwis, Cees, 2008. "Matching demand and supply in the agricultural knowledge infrastructure: Experiences with innovation intermediaries," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 260-276, June.
    9. Pratiwi, Santi & Juerges, Nataly, 2022. "Digital advocacy at the science-policy interface: Resolving land-use conflicts in conservation forests," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    10. Bloemhof-Ruwaard, J.M. & van Nunen, J.A.E.E., 2005. "Integration of Environmental Management and SCM," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2005-030-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agro-logistics Innovation projects Knowledge portal Knowledge sharing Network of practice Social networks;

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • L15 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Information and Product Quality
    • M - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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