Building bridges, not silos: How distributed knowledge communities can transform supply chains

Sharing knowledge across a global supply chain has always been a challenge. But as more people work remotely, it has become even harder. Leading companies are responding by creating “distributed knowledge communities,” which use digital tools and intentional management practices to foster voluntary knowledge exchange and collaborative problem-solving.

Key takeaways:
- Hybrid work environments and global supply chain teams are having companies rethink how they share knowledge and support collaboration.
- The concept of “distributed knowledge communities” involves leveraging digital tools and intentionally creating a sense of community to foster the sharing of information and expertise.
- The six building blocks of distributed knowledge communities are: pro-sharing norms, information need fulfillment, knowledge contribution, absorptive capacity, distributive capabilities, and collaborative engagement.