Knowledge Integration in Virtual Teams: The Potential Role of KMS

Knowledge Integration in Virtual Teams: The Potential Role of KMS
Author(s): Alavi, Maryam and Tiwana, Amrit
Year: 2001
Paper Number: GBS-DIA-2001-001
Goizueta Department: Decision and Information Analysis

Abstract

Virtual teams are becoming a preferred mechanism for harnessing, integrating and applying knowledge that is distributed across organizations and in pockets of collaborative networks. In this paper, we recognize that knowledge application, among the three phases of knowledge management, has received little research attention. Paradoxically, this knowledge application phase contributes most to value creation. Extending communication theory, we identify four challenges to knowledge integration in virtual team environments: constraints on transactive memory, insufficient mutual understanding, failure in sharing and retaining contextual knowledge, and inflexibility of organizational ties. We then propose knowledge management system (KMS) solutions to meet these challenges. Finally, we identify promising avenues for future research in this area.