article

The role of inter-unit coordination mechanisms in knowledge sharing: a case study of a British MNC

Authors:

Harry ScarbroughAuthors Info & Claims

Journal of Information Science, Volume 32, Issue 6

Pages 539 - 561

https://doi.org/10.1177/0165551506067128

Published: 01 December 2006 Publication History

Abstract

Valuable knowledge in organizations is too often 'locked in' within one unit. The contribution of this paper is to provide insights into the knowledge-sharing effect of inter-unit coordination mechanisms. This topic has not yet received in-depth study. We fill this gap with a case study of a UK-based multinational, in which we explore knowledge sharing between business units. Data was collected using a questionnaire and interviews. The findings from our study highlight that formal coordination is preferable. Informal networking as an inter-unit coordination mechanism was not perceived as beneficial for knowledge sharing. The knowledge-sharing enablers, trust and knowledge complexity, largely dominated the possibilities for inter-unit knowledge sharing whatever coordination was used. Especially, the perceived knowledge complexity caused problems that could not be fully compensated for by any type of coordination mechanism. The study also highlights the unexpectedly minor role of common knowledge and the only indirect effect of coordination through values.

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Cited By

Olfman LYuan XYi J(2018)How Do Institution-Based Trust and Interpersonal Trust Affect Interdepartmental Knowledge Sharing?Information Resources Management Journal10.4018/IRMJ.201601010229:1(15-38)Online publication date: 28-Dec-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/IRMJ.2016010102
Li C(2012)Knowledge stickiness in the buyer-supplier knowledge transfer processExpert Systems with Applications: An International Journal10.1016/j.eswa.2011.11.04539:5(5396-5408)Online publication date: 1-Apr-2012
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.eswa.2011.11.045

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cover image Journal of Information Science

Journal of Information Science Volume 32, Issue 6

December 2006

98 pages

ISSN:0165-5515

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Sage Publications, Inc.

United States

Publication History

Published: 01 December 2006

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Cited By

Olfman LYuan XYi J(2018)How Do Institution-Based Trust and Interpersonal Trust Affect Interdepartmental Knowledge Sharing?Information Resources Management Journal10.4018/IRMJ.201601010229:1(15-38)Online publication date: 28-Dec-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/IRMJ.2016010102
Li C(2012)Knowledge stickiness in the buyer-supplier knowledge transfer processExpert Systems with Applications: An International Journal10.1016/j.eswa.2011.11.04539:5(5396-5408)Online publication date: 1-Apr-2012
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.eswa.2011.11.045

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