Knowledge and Innovation in Networks: A Conceptual Framework

Abstract

Increasingly, innovation na longer takes place within individual firms, but within networks of organizations. An important requirement tor such network-based innovations to come to fruition is that knowledge flows across organizational boundaries. Yet, it is not self-evident or easy to create and sustain knowledge flows within and across companies. This chapter present a framework for studying knowledge management in alliance network. This ramework is used in subsequent chapters to analyse five case studies of knowledge sharing and innovation in networks. This chapter starts with a brief review of existing literature on alliance network and knowledge management, Ieading to a conceptual model for studying knowledge management in networks. his conceptual model incorporates knowledgesharing problem solution to those problems, and the contingent effects of network and knowledge type. The chapter conclude with a short introduction to the five case studies.