An explanatory model of success factors for inter-organizational knowledge sharing systems in horizontally-linked organizations: Knowledge workers' perspective

The deployment of inter-organizational knowledge sharing systems (IOKSS) in a specific domain/sector is very valuable and critical for effective social and economic development of any nation, especially in the service-based and knowledge-based sectors. However, inter-organizational knowledge networks and collaborations may incur costs, challenges and risks to organizations and their individuals. To build up stable and sustained inter-organizational networks and interorganizational electronic knowledge sharing, these obstacles must be overcome. Most prior theoretical and empirical research on knowledge sharing has focused on the within-firm context. Most theoretical studies on inter-organizational systems (IOS) have focused on organizational adoption, and most empirical studies have mainly focused on supply-chain organizations, those that are vertically-linked. The objective of this research is to develop a model of the key antecedents of knowledge workers' adoption of IOKSS in organizations that are horizontally-linked. Based on KM and IOS literature, these factors include the characteristics of the knowledge workers, their relationships with peers, the organization, the proposed IOKSS system and the sector/industry.