How do you share knowledge in your innovation network?

1 What is an innovation network?

An innovation network is a group of individuals or organizations that collaborate and exchange knowledge to generate, develop, and implement innovative solutions. Innovation networks can be formal or informal, local or global, open or closed, and can involve different types of actors, such as researchers, entrepreneurs, customers, suppliers, competitors, regulators, and intermediaries. Innovation networks can help you access diverse perspectives, resources, and capabilities, as well as reduce risks and uncertainties associated with innovation.

2 Why is knowledge sharing important?

Knowledge sharing is the process of transferring, disseminating, or co-creating knowledge among the members of an innovation network. Knowledge sharing can enhance the quality and quantity of innovation outputs, as well as the learning and performance of the network participants. Knowledge sharing can also foster trust, commitment, and reciprocity among the network members, which can facilitate collaboration and coordination. Knowledge sharing can be challenging, however, due to factors such as knowledge complexity, tacitness, heterogeneity, and protection.

3 How to share explicit knowledge?

Explicit knowledge is the type of knowledge that can be easily codified, documented, and transmitted. Examples of explicit knowledge are patents, publications, reports, manuals, databases, and code. To share explicit knowledge effectively, you need to use appropriate platforms and formats that can store, organize, and distribute the knowledge to the relevant network members. Some examples of platforms and formats are wikis, blogs, podcasts, webinars, newsletters, and online repositories. You also need to ensure that the explicit knowledge is clear, accurate, and accessible.

4 How to share tacit knowledge?

Tacit knowledge is the type of knowledge that is embedded in the experience, skills, and intuition of the network members. Examples of tacit knowledge are insights, know-how, best practices, and lessons learned. To share tacit knowledge effectively, you need to use interactive and social methods that can elicit, capture, and transfer the knowledge through dialogue and feedback. Some examples of methods are mentoring, coaching, storytelling, peer review, brainstorming, and communities of practice. You also need to foster a culture of trust, openness, and curiosity among the network members.

5 How to share knowledge across boundaries?

Knowledge sharing across boundaries refers to the exchange of knowledge among network members who have different backgrounds, disciplines, domains, cultures, or locations. Knowledge sharing across boundaries can enhance the creativity and diversity of the innovation network, as well as the alignment and integration of the innovation activities. However, knowledge sharing across boundaries can also entail challenges such as communication barriers, cognitive gaps, and conflicts of interest. To overcome these challenges, you need to use boundary-spanning mechanisms that can bridge, translate, and coordinate the knowledge across the network. Some examples of boundary-spanning mechanisms are boundary objects, brokers, teams, and networks.

6 How to measure and improve knowledge sharing?

Knowledge sharing is not a one-time event, but a continuous and dynamic process that requires monitoring and evaluation. To measure and improve knowledge sharing, you need to use indicators and metrics that can capture the inputs, outputs, and outcomes of the knowledge sharing practices. Some examples of indicators and metrics are knowledge sources, channels, flows, quality, use, and impact. You also need to use feedback and learning loops that can identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the knowledge sharing process, and implement actions to improve it.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?