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A perspective on practice in interunit knowledge sharing

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  • Tagliaventi, Maria Rita
  • Bertolotti, Fabiola
  • Macrì, Diego Maria

Abstract

Summary Interunit knowledge flows provide opportunities for mutual learning, favour the running of local and global operations, and foster innovation processes. This paper investigates the social processes that underlie interunit knowledge flows as spontaneous practice sharing among peers belonging to different subunits. We explore how practice-based flows develop between individuals who are affiliated with different subunits of a given organization, and how such flows coexist with vertical structures, such as the headquarters. Through a field study employing semi-structured interviews and social network analysis in an Italian multiunit company running operations worldwide, we show how headquarters and practice-based flows respond to different organizational and individual needs, thereby laying the premises for their likely coexistence. In particular, we highlight how individuals' practice sharing is enrooted in the need to affirm a positive professional identity, while also benefiting the overall organizational coordination. We then discuss theoretical and practical implications of our findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Tagliaventi, Maria Rita & Bertolotti, Fabiola & Macrì, Diego Maria, 2010. "A perspective on practice in interunit knowledge sharing," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 331-345, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eurman:v:28:y:2010:i:5:p:331-345
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Lefebvre, Virginie Marie & Sorenson, Douglas & Henchion, Maeve & Gellynck, Xavier, 2016. "Social capital and knowledge sharing performance of learning networks," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 570-579.
    2. Mueller, Julia, 2014. "A specific knowledge culture: Cultural antecedents for knowledge sharing between project teams," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 190-202.
    3. Vincenzo Formisano & Francesco Caputo & Raffaele D?amore, 2015. "Tratti evolutivi della societ? della conoscenza: il contributo degli studi sulle reti nella prospettiva sistemica," ESPERIENZE D'IMPRESA, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2015(2), pages 73-94.
    4. Mazzucchelli, Alice & Chierici, Roberto & Tortora, Debora & Fontana, Stefano, 2021. "Innovation capability in geographically dispersed R&D teams: The role of social capital and IT support," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 742-751.
    5. Ma, Danni, 2023. "How does the negotiation between “me” and “we” in professional identity influence interpersonal horizontal knowledge sharing in multinational enterprises: A conceptual model," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    6. Najam ul zia & Ladislav Burita & Yumei Yang, 2023. "Inter-organizational social capital of firms in developing economies and industry 4.0 readiness: the role of innovative capability and absorptive capacity," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 661-682, February.

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