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Knowledge exchange in networked organizations: does place matter?
Author(s) -
Mabey Chris,
Wong Amy L. Y.,
Hsieh Linda
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
randd management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.253
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1467-9310
pISSN - 0033-6807
DOI - 10.1111/radm.12099
Subject(s) - knowledge management , sociocultural evolution , face (sociological concept) , knowledge transfer , information exchange , public relations , organizational learning , government (linguistics) , modalities , business , sociology , political science , social science , engineering , computer science , telecommunications , linguistics , philosophy , anthropology
While many studies of knowledge exchange have been undertaken in private and service organizations, government and R & D enterprises, few have studied scientific inter‐organizational collaborations. Furthermore, in the literature on international networks there has been a tendency to assume that knowledge exchange will be inevitably enhanced by global dispersion. Two linked dynamics deserving further study are the role of geographic proximity and the role of information and communication technologies in facilitating knowledge flow across international networks. Studies of intra‐ and inter‐firm knowledge transfer, managerial work values and cultural norms all point to C hina as being a fascinating counterpoint for the way knowledge exchange might occur in E urope. So in this study of the ATLAS collaboration, a ‘big science’ global network of 3,500 physicists, we explore the perceptions of two subgroups: UK physicists working in E urope and C hinese scientists based in B eijing and H e F ei. Findings from 24 interviews and non‐participant observation reveal that face‐to‐face working at European Organization for Nuclear Research ( G eneva) is not without its difficulties, but for a variety of sociocultural reasons, it is primarily the C hinese scientists who perceive themselves to be inhibited from full participation in effective knowledge exchange.