Paper Info
Title
Interorganisational partnerships and knowledge sharing: the perspective of non-profit organisations (NPOs).
Abstract
Purpose - This paper aims first to identify key interorganisational partnership types among non-profit organisations (NPOs) and second to determine how knowledge sharing takes place within each type of partnership. Results explore the value of social media specifically in facilitating external relationships between NPOs, firms and the communities they serve. Design/methodology/approach - Empirical qualitative analysis of exploratory interviews with 16 Canadian NPOs generates a non-exhaustive classification of partnership types emerging from these organisations, and their defining characteristics in the context of interorganisational knowledge sharing. Findings - Overall eight categories of partnerships from the sampled NPOs emerged from the analysis of the data. These include business partnerships, sector partnerships, community partnerships, government partnerships, expert partnerships, endorsement partnerships, charter partnerships and hybrid partnerships. Using examples from interviews, the sharing of knowledge within each of these partnerships is defined uniquely in terms of directionality (i.e. uni-directional, bi-directional, multi-directional knowledge sharing) and formality (i.e. informal, semi-formal or formal knowledge sharing). Specific practices within these relationships also arise from examples, in particular, the use of social media to support informal and community-driven collaborations. Twitter, as a popular social networking tool, emerges as a preferred medium that supports interorganisational partnerships relevant to NPOs. Originality/value - This research is valuable in identifying the knowledge management practices unique to NPOs. By examining and discussing specific examples of partnerships encountered among NPOs, this paper contributes original findings about the implications of interorganisational knowledge sharing, as well as the impact of emerging social technologies on same.
Year
DOI
Venue
2014
10.1108/JKM-06-2014-0256
JOURNAL OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
Keywords
Field
DocType
Knowledge management,Knowledge sharing,Non-profit organisations (NPOs),Qualitative analysis,Interorganisational,Partnerships,Collaboration,Community,Social media,Twitter,Facebook
Social media,Knowledge sharing,Computer science,Public relations,Charter,Knowledge management,General partnership,Government
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
18
SP5
1367-3270
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
8
0.55
20
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Dinesh Rathi1788.10
Lisa M. Given213814.19
Eric Forcier3142.66