Collaboration: more than the Exchange of Information

Collaboration – more than the Collaboration – more than the Collaboration – more than the Collaboration – more than the Collaboration – more than the exchange of information exchange of information exchange of information exchange of information exchange of information the data and information upon which that knowledge is based " [14] p4 1 According to Porter and Millar [36], ICTs, by facilitating the capture, manipulation and transmission of information, enable products and services to be more precisely tailored to the specific requirements of individual customers. [39]) argues that once the movement of information extends beyond the confines of a single organisation it is possible to envisage changes not only to the organisation of activities but also to their distribution. The introduction of novel and intensified flows of information between companies is held to be key to the reor-ganisation of production. As such the specific manifestation of computer networks of interest here is the inter-organisational network (ION). Piore and Sabel [34], Malone, Yates and Benjamin [25] and Dosi et al [11] suggest that IONs are precipitating the emergence of a 'postindustrial' era of economic activity with collaboration replacing vertical integration and firms concentrating more precisely on those activities in which they have a competitive advantage. An influential strand of economic theory ([7], [40], [41]) argues that integrated production structures initially arose because the existence of uncertainty and the consequent risk of opportunistic behaviour by trading partners made the marketplace an expensive coordinator of production. Increasing communication can reduce uncertainty and make collaboration more appropriate ([5], [37]). The facilitator in this process is held to be common knowledge. According to Cremer [8] common knowledge functions as a conduit between distinct organisational information sets. By facilitating the effective integration of routines and processes across organisations it enables the comprehensive exploitation of distinctive competencies without leakage at organisational boundaries. Historically companies have developed their own modes of working and limitations in communications media