Managing requirements knowledge in business networks: a case study

Abstract

In the last two decades, research on knowledge management (KM) has shifted its focus to understanding the role of knowledge management tools in achieving business objectives. However, KM initiatives often remain dispersed, especially in highly distributed organizational settings, such as business networks. Existing research on cross-organizational knowledge management focuses primarily on efficiencies through shared services while neglecting a knowledge sharing and creation perspective. Here we take a knowledge maturing perspective to propose a model for requirements knowledge which - instead of looking at single activities of retrieval -- considers a continuous cycle where the knowledge intensive processes and requirements shape each other. We develop the model using the insight from a case study of a European business network. Our findings for meeting innovation requirements reflect that the selective access to communication platforms due to the less formal network structure needs to be substituted by process based roles and tasks of employees. Considering efficiency requirements diverse data sources result in the need to capture and incorporate the semantics of concepts for elimination of duplicated process related effort. Regarding quality requirements the guidance role of matured knowledge, such as standards, best practices, controls etc. needs to be integrated.