Skip to main content
Contribution to Book
The Role of Ambiguity in the Transfer of Knowledge Within Multi-Organizational Networks
Faculty Articles
  • Jennifer L. Priestley, Kennesaw State University
  • Subhashish Samaddar, Georgia State University
Department
Statistics and Analytical Sciences
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
1-1-2006
Abstract

Organizations join multi-organizational networks in part to mitigate environmental uncertainties and to access knowledge. However, the transfer of knowledge cannot be assumed simply as a function of network membership. Researchers in the area of knowledge management have identified several factors that have been found to affect the transfer of knowledge within, between, and among organizations. This chapter investigates specifically how organizational ambiguity impacts the transfer of knowledge within multi-organizational networks. The authors explore the effects of casual ambiguity, defined as the ambiguity relateaad to imputs and factors, in a multi-organizational context, and discuss the existence of a previously undefined ambiguity, the ambiguity related to outcomes or "outcome ambiguity." The authors provide a discussion on why outcome ambiguity is particularly relevant when multiple organizations are engaged in a network, where the objective is access to knowledge.

Citation Information
Priestley, J. & Samaddar, S. (2006.) The role of ambiguity in the transfer of knowledge within multi-organizational networks. In: G. Putnik & M. Cunha (Eds.), Knowledge and Technology Management in Virtual Organizations: Issues, Trends, Opportunities and Solutions, pp. 211-218. Hershey, PA: IRM Press.