Enabling knowledge sharing: a multi-theory perspective on knowledge sharing in new product development consortia

Promotie: mw. M. Smit-Bakker, 13.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen
Proefschrift: Enabling knowledge sharing: a multi-theory perspective on knowledge sharing in new product development consortia
Promotor(s): prof.dr. R.T.A.J. Leenders, prof.dr. J.M.L. Engelen, prof.dr. J. Kratzer
Faculteit: Economie en Bedrijfskunde
Contact: Marloes Smit-Bakker, tel. 06 306 333 72, e-mail: marloes.smit@atosorigin.com

Knowledge sharing in product development consortia

Making optimal use and combine specialized knowledge of the participating organizations and combine it into a new product is a great challenge for new product development consortia. Currently, insight into the way knowledge sharing is enabled lacks both in practice and literature. In this thesis we adopted a multi-theory social network analysis perspective to study knowledge sharing in NPD consortia. The study explores how several variables (possible enablers) effect knowledge sharing in new product development consortia. Moreover, adopting a multi-theory perspective allowed us to study the explanatory value of three social theories for knowledge sharing in instrument consortia. The empirical study is conducted in two large NPD consortia in the field of space science. Analyses showed that the enablers have different effects within teams and between teams. Findings also indicate that the explanatory value of the theories differ at for the intra-team and inter-team level.