Individual and organizational learning from inter‐firm knowledge sharing: A framework integrating inter‐firm and intra‐firm knowledge sharing and learning

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/cjas.1517
• Date: 01 December 2019
• Author: Malik Imran Ahmad,Muhammad Usman,John Burgoyne
• Published date: 01 December 2019

Individual and organizational learning from inter-

firm knowledge sharing: A framework integrating

inter-firm and intra-firm knowledge sharing and

learning

Muhammad Usman*

COMSAT University

Malik Imran Ahmad

Warwick Business School

John Burgoyne

Lancaster University

Abstract

Literature has highlighted but not explored links between

knowledge sharing and learning at inter-f‌irm and intra-

f‌irm levels. Using the single case of an aviation refuelling

company as the basis for our research methodology and

collecting data through 34 semi-structured interviews, we

develop a framework that integrates knowledge sharing

and learning at inter-f‌irm and intra-f‌irm levels. We show

that intra-f‌irm knowledge sharing capabilities facilitate the

diffusion of inter-f‌irm learning within organizations. More-

over, inter-f‌irm trust manifests in different forms that affect

individual and organizational learning. The purpose of col-

laboration determines what a f‌irm learns or discards. The

f‌indings are important for organizations facing a shortage

of skills. © 2018 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons,

Ltd.

Keywords: inter-f‌irm knowledge sharing, intra-f‌irm knowl-

edge sharing, individual learning, organizational learning,

inter-f‌irm trust, collaboration purpose

Résumé

Dans les travaux existants, on met en évidence les liens entre

le partage des connaissances et l’apprentissage aux niveaux

interentreprises et intraentreprise, mais sans les explorer. En

utilisant le cas unique d’une entreprise de ravitaillement

d’avions en carburant comme base de notre méthodologie

de recherche et en recueillant des données par l’entremise

de trente-quatre entrevues semi-structurées, nous

développons un cadre qui intègre le partage des

connaissances et l’apprentissage aux niveaux inter - et

intraentreprise. Nous montrons que les capacités de partage

des connaissances au sein de l’entreprise facilitent la diffu-

sion de l’apprentissage interentreprise. En outre, la

conf‌iance entre les entreprises se manifeste sous différentes

formes qui inf‌luent sur l’apprentissage individuel et

organisationnel. Le but de la collaboration détermine ce

qu’une entreprise apprend ou rejette. Les résultats sont im-

portants pour les organisations qui font face à une pénurie

de compétences. © 2018 ASAC. Published by John Wiley

& Sons, Ltd.

Mots-clés: Partage des connaissances interentreprises,

partage des connaissances interentreprises, apprentissage

individuel, apprentissage organisationnel, conf‌iance entre

entreprises, but de la collaboration

Introduction

As a result of economic and trade reforms of varying

magnitude, emerging economies have witnessed an inf‌lux

of multinational companies from developed countries

(MNCs henceforth). However, there is an obvious gap in

skills, resources, technology, knowledge, and capabilities

between the MNCs and f‌irms from emerging economies

(Chung, Yang, & Huang, 2015). Consequently, the f‌irms

from emerging economies face serious challenges to

*Please address correspondence to: Muhammad Usman, Assistant professor, Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Lahore

Campus, 1.5 KM Defence Road, off Raiwind Road, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: hmusman10@yahoo.com

Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences

Revue canadienne des sciences de l’administration

Published online 20 November 2018 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/CJAS.1517

36: 484–497 (2019)

Can J Adm Sci

© 2018 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 36(4), 484–497 (2019)484