Knowledge sharing in cross-boundary information system development in the public sector

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The success of information system development involving multi-organizational collaboration can depend heavily on effective knowledge sharing across boundaries. This paper reports on a comparative examination of knowledge sharing in two separate networks of public sector organizations participating in information technology innovation projects in New York State. As is typical of innovations resulting from recent government reforms, the knowledge sharing in these cases is a critical component of the information system development, involving a mix of tacit, explicit, and interactional forms of sharing across organizational boundaries. In one case the sharing is among state agencies and in the other across state and local government agencies. Using interviews, observations and document analysis, the longitudinal case studies follow knowledge sharing and other interactions in the interorganizational networks of these two distinct settings. Results confirm the difficulty of sharing knowledge across agencies, and further reveal the influences of several relevant factors-incentives, risks and barriers for sharing, and trust-on the effectiveness of knowledge sharing. The results contribute to theory on knowledge sharing processes in multi-organizational public sector settings and provide practice guidance for developing effective sharing relationships in collaborative cross-boundary information system initiatives. © Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2006.

Publication Title

Information Technology and Management

Publication Date

12-1-2006

Volume

7

Issue

4

First Page

293

Last Page

313

ISSN

1385-951X

DOI

10.1007/s10799-006-0278-6

Keywords

communities of practice, inter organizational information systems, knowledge sharing, public sector, technology innovation

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