Knowledge Diffusion in a Global Supply Network: A Network of Practice View

Marques, Leonardo; Yan, Tingting; Matthews, Lee

Abstract

This study investigates how knowledge diffusion occurs in a globally dispersed supply network, wherein buying firms and suppliers often do not have strong relationships and competitive tensions prevail. We elaborate the Network of Practice (NoP) view by examining a global supply network in the food sector that is as an exemplar of high global dispersion. This paper provides several novel insights into global knowledge diffusion. We introduce the NoP concept of homophily into the field of supply chain management to explain knowledge diffusion within global supply networks. We take a longitudinal perspective to show that although prior contractual ties (relational homophily) and co-location (location homophily) initially drive knowledge diffusion, in the long-term, shared practices (practice homophily) are the principal driver of knowledge diffusion. First, Second, we demonstrate that buying firms' assurance of procedural justice, together with the predominance of geographically dispersed suppliers and the emergence of nexus members, can help dampen supplier resistance to knowledge diffusion. The study shows that knowledge diffusion in a global supply NoP occurs in two complementary forms of knowledge diffusion-broadcasting forums and action groups-which vary in breadth, depth, and tie diversity. Ultimately, we present vertical (buyer-supplier), horizontal (supplier-supplier), and diagonal (non-competitive) relationships as important refinements of the NoP view that characterize a global supply NoP. Overall, our findings offer a pathfor buying firms to establish adequate online infrastructureto support the emergence of decentralized and self-organized knowledge diffusion in a globally dispersed supply network.

Citation

Marques, L., Yan, T., & Matthews, L. (2020). Knowledge Diffusion in a Global Supply Network: A Network of Practice View. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 56(1), 33-53. https://doi.org/10.1111/jscm.12214

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 2, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Oct 30, 2019
• Publication Date: Jan 31, 2020
• Deposit Date: Oct 14, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 31, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Supply Chain Management
• Print ISSN: 1523-2409
• Electronic ISSN: 1745-493X
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 56
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 33-53
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jscm.12214
• Keywords: Global supply network; Knowledge diffusion; Network of practice; Homophily
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2825694
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jscm.12214
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Marques, L., Yan, T. and Matthews, L. (2020), Knowledge Diffusion in a Global Supply Network: A Network of Practice View. J Supply Chain Manag, 56: 33-53. doi:10.1111/jscm.12214, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jscm.12214. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
• Contract Date: Oct 14, 2019