Knowledge Collaboration Among Professionals Protecting National Security: Role of Transactive Memories in Ego-Centered Knowledge Networks

OrganizationScience, Vol. 19, No. 2, March–April 2008, pp. 260–276

17 Pages Posted: 11 Dec 2014

See all articles by Sirkka Jarvenpaa

Sirkka Jarvenpaa

University of Texas at Austin - Red McCombs School of Business

Ann Majchrzak

University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business

Date Written: December 10, 2014

Abstract

Current social cognition models of knowledge coordination based on transactive memory systems (TMS) theory have not generally considered conditions in which goals among partners are incongruent, and that those with specialized knowledge will not necessarily act to share their knowledge. As expected from previous literature, when facing a problem requiring inputs from others, an individual will draw on her personal or ego-centered network using the knowledge of her network’s TMS; however, we theorize that the mixed motives within her network will cause the individual to also take into account her perception of the level of distrust within the network when combining the received knowledge from others in the network. Moreover, an individual’s view of her network’s TMS will be shaped not by specific policies or enforcement mechanisms, but by semistructures for how knowledge is disseminated, owned, and discussed. Our theory is supported based on a survey of security professionals responding to national security threats. The findings encourage a reexamination of certain assumptions of TMS theory, as well as extending theories of ego-centered networks and social-cognitive information processing to include how individuals manage the knowledge-sharing/protection tension in interorganizational collaborations.

Keywords: interorganizational collaboration; transactive memories; security management; ego-centered network

Suggested Citation

Jarvenpaa, Sirkka and Majchrzak, Ann, Knowledge Collaboration Among Professionals Protecting National Security: Role of Transactive Memories in Ego-Centered Knowledge Networks (December 10, 2014). OrganizationScience, Vol. 19, No. 2, March–April 2008, pp. 260–276, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2536509

Sirkka Jarvenpaa

University of Texas at Austin - Red McCombs School of Business ( email )

Austin, TX 78712
United States

Ann Majchrzak (Contact Author)

University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business ( email )

701 Exposition Blvd
Los Angeles, CA California 90089
United States

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