Using Modes Of Collaboration To Share Project Knowledge

For many practitioners, knowledge management (KM) can be used to support collaboration. This paper asks the reverse question, does collaboration support successful knowledge sharing? Based on the case study of a long-term development team, stages associated with collaboration are compared to an individual's cognitive modes during a complex task. These modes are then used to define team-based, information-seeking aspects of knowledge management. The researcher uses cognitive analysis of qualitative data to verify patterns in group behavior on a specific project and, thus, enhance previous studies of knowledge management as part of organizational learning. The case study analyzes activities of a successful, academic team completing a grant-funded digital library project and providing data about knowledge discovery. Based on field observations and follow-up interviews, the data analysis suggests that organizational learning experiences in the context of collaboration relate to the style or mode used for sharing knowledge and the effectiveness of group work. The findings are intended to provide knowledge management with a cognitive framework for collaborative behavior.