Title: Enabling processes for sharing knowledge in virtual business relationships

Authors: Violina Ratcheva

Addresses: Institute for Enterprise and Innovation, The University of Nottingham Business School, The University of Nottingham, Wollaton Road Nottingham, NG8 1BB, UK

Abstract: The potential advantages of forming virtual teams are well known although many barriers exist which obstruct their realisation. The uniqueness of virtual teamwork is in its potential to integrate different bodies of knowledge into a new synergy. The paper argues that unravelling the mystery of knowledge creation processes in virtual partnerships requires an in-depth understanding of the complex interaction processes involved in forming computer-mediated business relationships. The focus, therefore, is on the process of collective ||knowing||, defined as a team|s actions and interactions embedded in unique social activities in virtual teams rather than on knowledge being a pre-given resource possessed by the team members. The paper presents the preliminary results of a qualitative research study on seven virtual partnerships and proposes an initial conceptual framework of the knowledge creative processes taking place in virtual business relationships.

Keywords: virtual teams; knowledge creation; interactions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIEM.2003.003904

International Journal of Internet and Enterprise Management, 2003 Vol.1 No.4, pp.360 - 372

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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