Knowledge Management and Trust in E-Networks

Abstract

This chapter focuses on trust issues relating to knowledge management. Knowledge management is increasingly reliant on information systems to identify, collect, and disperse information and knowledge. Moreover, such systems are stretching across the borders of the firm to include collaborators and their knowledge assets in e-networks. This scenario has important implications for trust between the organization and individuals who contribute to and/or use knowledge management systems. Organization-to-organization trust issues are also apparent as valuable, proprietary information and knowledge are shared across the borders of firms. The authors hope that with an increased awareness of the trust issues implicit in the burgeoning field of knowledge management, executives and managers will be better prepared to employ some of our suggestions for dealing with this complex problem.