Integration of Knowledge and Hybrid Institutional Logic in a Startup Development Stage — An Online Collaboration Case

Abstract

The study in this paper investigates the strategies used by collaborators in an effort to integrate knowledge in the context of a multi-institutional environment. By approaching a startup engaged in the digital marketplace, this study aims to provide empirical evidence on the adoption of virtual workplace in the context of competing institutional logics. The theoretical model is built using the perspective of institutional logic and knowledge approach. Our findings suggest that collaborators in an effort to integrate their colleagues’ knowledge use hybrid strategies — segmentation and combination. The level of skill in segmentation and combination strategies depends on the level of experience and knowledge of collaborators outside of their specialty. The study in this paper contributes in two directions. First, collaborative networks through online collaboration resulted in knowledge integration can be developed with hybrid actor roles and skills. Second, this paper provides empirical evidence on the vertical relationship between institutions, organisations, and individuals in institutional theory and the emphasis on the micro-institutional level.