We examine the productivity implications of external knowledge flows obtained through an Internet-enabled discussion forum in which IT professionals help one another solve problems related to the implementation and use of enterprise software. Consistent with the absorptive capacity framework...

Knowledge integration, which facilitates interactions between R&D and other functions within a firm value chain, and patenting are both reckoned to increase the returns to R&D and firm performance. However, the combined effect of a joint use is in many ways ambiguous since those strategies...