Research streams

The KIN research group conducts research in two main areas of interest, namely a) Knowledge & Organization and b) Information Management. Below you will find a description of our current research. All research streams are echoed in our master's specialization Information & Knowledge Management.

Knowledge and Organization

1) Knowledge Sharing in Interfirm Networks

This stream of research studies how actors within knowledge networks negotiate and contribute to the development and diffusion of new expertise and practices. Aim of the research is to develop an integrated framework, based on recent theoretical work and on empirical research on decentralized innovation processes. This research contributes to theory development in the field of decentralized or open innovation, regional communities, mergers and acquisitions, knowledge networks, coopetition and the process of inter-organizational learning and institutionalizing innovation.

2) Networks of Practice

Research within this stream looks at processes of learning and problem solving within geographically dispersed networks, often supported by electronic networks. Geographically dispersed organizations or 'globalized firms' face the need to learn from dispersed knowledge. There is a tendency to introduce electronic networks or online communities to support these learning processes. This research analyzes under what circumstances distributed organizational members use electronic networks, how various forms of networks 'interact' and how these networks contribute to organizational learning. The research studies online communities within several internationally operating firms and open source software networks.

3) Knowledge Management (KM)

This research stream studies how organizations use different strategies to manage knowledge. The research takes a critical stance and is aimed at unravelling when, why and how knowledge sharing is supported (socially, managerial and technological) and how organizations cope with various KM dilemmas. A recurrent theme in this research is the balance between emergent knowledge sharing practices supported by social capital and initiatives engineered by management (the 'knowledge management' initiatives). Also, the strategic dilemma between authority based on hierarchy and authority based on expertise is one that faces more and more organizations and needs to be understood in more detail. In addition, the stream studies how KM can be applied to other business processes, such as managing mergers and acquisitions.

Information Management

1) Online Interaction in Virtual Worlds

This stream of research addresses the motives and underlying processes of user behavior in virtual worlds. Insights can contribute to the design and development of the technologies that allow for successful participation and for the development of mechanisms that enable successful business transactions (conversion, marketing, etc.). Especially when it comes to the implementation of business functions (e.g. online banking) in electronic environments that are primarily subject to extrinsic motives (“useful”), it might be crucial to explore and assess the role of intrinsic motives (“enjoyment”, “entertainment”, “learning”) in a virtual world context and might also be an important determinant for the development of successful marketing strategies. Furthermore, research focuses on the possible role of virtual worlds in organizational learning and knowledge exploration.

2) Online Decision Making Processes

The study of online decision-making is one of the research pillars of the IS section. In particular, this research focuses on the impact of system characteristics on online purchase decision-making. Systems that have been subject to study include electronic marketplaces and online stores. This research  relies heavily on behavioral decision-making in general, and on cognitive information processing in particular. Studies on more impulsive decision making behavior have been planned for the near future. 

3) Web-Based Decision Support Systems

Building upon Decision Support System literature, this research addresses and assesses the impact of particular system characteristics on the successful completion of decision tasks such as the online purchase of a good or service. Moreover, relying on behavioral decision-making theories, the research addresses decision support in an organizational context. Characteristics of the system as supportive decision-making environment, the decision task and the decision-maker(s) are combined into an integrative approach. The scope of this research is not limited to web-based systems but also includes decision-making in virtual environments.