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Network learning and trust: A case study of a benchmarking network
Author(s) -
Dietrichson Lars G.,
Bukh Per Nikolaj
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
financial accountability and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.661
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1468-0408
pISSN - 0267-4424
DOI - 10.1111/faam.12239
Subject(s) - benchmarking , accountability , confidentiality , business , public relations , public sector , empirical research , network governance , accounting , marketing , political science , computer security , computer science , corporate governance , finance , law , philosophy , epistemology
When organizations engage in learning from each other through self‐governed networks, they may encounter challenges regarding confidentiality. This is particularly true if external accountability needs of the network participants conflict with internal accountability among participants and/or network‐level objectives. This study shows how important it is to have specific agreements about not using findings for accountability outside the network. Empirical evidence comes from a longitudinal case study of a benchmarking project involving six independent public sector companies. Based on reciprocal trust among the participants, the promise of confidentiality was made up front and enforced throughout the network collaboration by the participants themselves.