The competitive factor in knowledge sharing networks

This paper discusses the competitive factor in knowledge sharing networks. Organisations are dependent on other, often even competing organisations for their knowledge. When competing organisations co-operate in alliances to be able to learn from and with each other it becomes likely that they meet an interorganisational learning dilemma (Larsson, Bengtsson, Henriksson & Sparks, 1998); will each organisation put their own learning goals above the mutual learning goals by risking the success of the interorganisational alliance? In this paper we argue that knowledge processes and learning in (competitive) alliances should not only be considered or analysed at the interorganisational but (also) at the interpersonal level. At this latter level it might be that the interorganisational learning dilemma and competition are perceived differently. One interpersonal setting in which knowledge can flow between different organisations is in knowledge sharing networks. These are interpersonal networks or groups that are longterm oriented, with a purpose to exchange, acquire and create knowledge around a certain ‘practice’. The group consists of individuals with a shared identity, although coming from different competing organisations. These knowledge sharing networks are important settings for knowledge sharing or creation and learning activities among individuals. This interpersonal learning can become an input for (inter) organisational learning (Inkpen & Crossan, 1995). Based on insights from literature and two examples from casestudies in The Netherlands we argue the following: while most literature mainly concerns analysis at the interorganisational level, providing insights in factors and reasons for co-operation in alliances, the actual (success of) learning and knowledge processes largely depends on interpersonal factors. The results are preliminary, since the PhD-research is still in progress, nevertheless, some lessons could be learnt from these practical illustrations about conditions for successful learning in interpersonal networks where interorganisational competition is an important factor.