Factors affecting inter-organizational knowledge sharing through IOS

Abstract

In this dissertation, we study the factors that affect organizationsa?? predisposition to share knowledge with their trading partners through inter-organizational systems (IOS) by using a mix method research strategy. In the qualitative study, we found that it is the socio-political factors that affect firmsa?? knowledge sharing practice. Based on such findings, we conducted experimental study to test the effects of socio-political factors a?? trust, power, and magnitude of interdependence - on organizationsa?? predisposition to share knowledge with one of their customers through IOS. The result reveals that all these socio-political factors are positively related with the quality of knowledge the firm intends to share. Also, trust and power are positively related with the quantity of knowledge the firm intends to share. Moreover, trust affects the perceived information power and thereby has indirect effect on the dependent variables.