Examining Knowledge Exchange in an Organization: A Game Theory Perspective

Cooperative work, if it is by a team of engineers, or by a group of experts, requires coordination by sharing common knowledge. We focus on knowledge exchange game as the methodology of sharing knowledge. Knowledge exchange processes are formulated as knowledge exchanging games among selfish agents. Each agent has idiosyncratic utility function defined over his private knowledge and common knowledge. Each agent exchanges his knowledge with others in order to improve his own utility. In this paper, we focus on heterogeneity of agents. Agent decide whether trade or not in terms of cost and value of new knowledge. The way to decide is different from each agent. We investigate what characteristics of an organization promote knowledge exchanging or discourage sharing common knowledge.