Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Boer, N.I. Author-Name-Last: Boer Author-Name-First: Niels Author-Name: van Baalen, P.J. Author-Name-Last: van Baalen Author-Name-First: Peter Author-Name: Kumar, K. Author-Name-Last: Kumar Author-Name-First: Kuldeep Title: The Importance of Sociality for Understanding Knowledge Sharing Processes in Organizational Contexts Abstract: This paper explores how different models of sociality can contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of knowledge sharing within different organizational settings. It is asserted that the dynamics of knowledge sharing is organized according to a mix of four relational models distinguished by the relation models theory (Fiske, 1991). It is described how each of these models (communal sharing, authority ranking, equality matching and market pricing) have their own implications for understanding and supporting the knowledge sharing process. What model of social relations is in use, is influenced by cultural implementation rules, the kind of activity with its division of labor and the characteristics of knowledge being shared and technologies being used. By knowing according to what relational model(s) knowledge is being shared, one can better understand and consequently better facilitate the organizational and technical conditions for sharing knowledge (and vice versa). Creation-Date: 2002-03-08 File-URL: https://repub.eur.nl/pub/179/erimrs20020308162214.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Series: RePEc:ems:eureri Number: ERS-2002-05-LIS Classification-JEL: M, M11, M19, R14 Keywords: infoculture, knowledge sharing, organizational settings, relation models theory, sociality Handle: RePEc:ems:eureri:179