Collective knowledge brokering in social enterprises: developing an immersion-based model using Schein’s organisational cone

ABSTRACT

Knowledge acquisition and integration across boundaries is essential for developing innovative solutions in social enterprises (SEs). The vital role of knowledge brokers in this process has been sparsely discussed. This study examined knowledge brokering roles for effective solution development in SEs. We qualitatively analysed four Indian SEs using analytical techniques of grounded theory and the Gioia method. Brokering emerged as a collective process involving multiple agents who spanned for, translated and integrated two knowledge sets: expert and contextual. Correspondingly, two brokering roles emerged: boundary spanners and translators, which were further subdivided into primary and secondary. SEs displayed varying brokering configurations, which we explain by developing one of the first models of collective knowledge brokering using Schein’s organisational cone (1971) and immersion. SEs can employ our model to identify and groom agents into specific brokering roles, and develop beneficial brokering configurations, for enhanced effectiveness.

KEYWORDS:

• Collective knowledge brokering
• brokering roles
• immersion
• social enterprise
• middle managers
• Schein’s organisational cone

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Declaration

The researchers followed ethical guidelines of research during this study. Participants involved in this study were adults who were cognitively capable of making decisions. Informed consent was sought from participating organisations before starting the study. Informed consent was also taken from each participant before they were interviewed. All participants were informed about the purpose and academic usage of the data. The research followed the ICJME guidelines on protection of research participants, the Belmont Report and the Helsinki declaration revised in 2013 in terms of the maintaining the ethics of the research process, informed consent and confidentiality. Further, the findings were discussed at the organisational level and not at the individual level. It was not medical research, did not involve interventions of any kind and did not attempt to modify behaviour. Therefore, clauses from these guidelines related to medical and behavioural intervention research were not applicable for this study.

Notes

1. This study was part of a larger qualitative study on organisational learning in social enterprises from which multiple key themes emerged. In this paper, we discuss one: knowledge brokering, as the central theme.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.