Inter-Organizational Knowledge Sharing Networks: A Study on a Business Network

The research intends to identify and characterize the existing knowledge sharing network within a formal and closed inter-organizational cooperative network - the business network of the central region of Portugal, which involves a total of six districts, specifically Aveiro, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Guarda, Leiria, and Viseu. The research is a cross-sectional study and involved collection of social network data from top managers through survey method. The sample is made up of 483 organizations belonging and integrating the business network under study, which is divided on three institutional levels, namely chamber of commerce and industry, business associations, and associated companies. Statistical techniques from social network analysis were applied, considering whole network characterization, subgroup analyses and prominence of network members. Social network analysis showed a knowledge sharing network with a low density level, being fragmented in two components. Overall, chamber of commerce and industry and the business associations are the most active and important actors for cohesion of the knowledge sharing network. Structural characteristics reveal that the knowledge sharing network configuration is deeply dependent on the formal governance structures of the business network, represented by its first and second institutional levels. Although this network is formally designed around the benefits and profits for the associated companies, they maintain a low level of knowledge sharing ties between them and they are mostly the less active and important actors within the knowledge sharing network. Considering research limitations, we should state that it is focused on a single business network operating within Portuguese territory. As a result, the research conclusions may have some limitations in their application to other kinds of inter-organizational networks. Additionally, it uses a cross-sectional design, which does not capture the continuous and dynamic structural changes underlying the network phenomenon.