Network learning and trust: A case study of a benchmarking network
Corresponding Author
Lars G. Dietrichson
Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Correspondence
Lars G. Dietrichson, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Fuglesangs Allé 4, DK-8210 Aarhus, Denmark.
Email: ldietrichson@econ.au.dk
Search for more papers by this authorPer Nikolaj Bukh
Department of Business and Management, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Lars G. Dietrichson
Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Correspondence
Lars G. Dietrichson, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Fuglesangs Allé 4, DK-8210 Aarhus, Denmark.
Email: ldietrichson@econ.au.dk
Search for more papers by this authorPer Nikolaj Bukh
Department of Business and Management, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
When organizations engage in learning from each other through self-governed networks, they may encounter challenges regarding confidentiality. This is particularly true if external accountability needs of the network participants conflict with internal accountability among participants and/or network-level objectives. This study shows how important it is to have specific agreements about not using findings for accountability outside the network. Empirical evidence comes from a longitudinal case study of a benchmarking project involving six independent public sector companies. Based on reciprocal trust among the participants, the promise of confidentiality was made up front and enforced throughout the network collaboration by the participants themselves.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data is not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
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