Orchestrating Knowledge Networks: Alter-Oriented Brokering

In knowledge networks, such as best-practice industry forums, and professional communities, members of different organizations exchange for mutual individual benefit. When properly managed, networks enable time- resource-constrained individuals to engage across organizational boundaries. Such often involve deliberate orchestration by a hub actor (individual, team, or organization), referred the orchestrator. Orchestration in network is essentially form brokering behavior. While most previous studies brokerage have adopted broker-centric perspective, present study advances an alter-oriented account how behavior influences relationships create knowledge-related benefits members. Drawing on interviews with 51 Belgian focusing best practices research development, this explores orchestrator's ensuing Based these findings, describes integrative model processes that modify, intermediate, maintain among alters orchestrated networks. The contributes conceptualizing alter-orientation distinct behavior, unpacking microfoundations orchestration, demonstrating dynamics between social dimensions orchestration.