Challenges and solutions for knowledge sharing in inter-organizational teams : first experimental results on the positive impact of visualization

As pointed out by several scholars, inter-organizational collaboration is an important vehicle for knowledge creation. But the process of integrating knowledge across organizational boundaries entails great complexity. In this paper, we argue that visualizing knowledge in interorganizational meetings is a conduit of knowledge sharing, and enables innovative recombinations of organizational competences. We propose an experimental design to uncover the advantages and possible disadvantages of using visual techniques as a support for interorganizational knowledge sharing. In particular, we compare the process and the outcome of knowledge sharing in inter-organizational teams supported with 1) software-based visualization, 2) poster-based visualization, and 3) text-based methods. The first results of our experiments suggest that software-supported teams outperform the control groups in knowledge-sharing tasks, and exhibit greater satisfaction with teamwork process and outcome. After discussing relevant implications for both researchers and practitioners, we point out limitations of our study and suggest directions for future research. -- Knowledge sharing ; knowledge development ; knowledge visualization ; inter-organizational teams ; inter-organizational innovation ; experimental research