Information technology and interorganizational learning: An investigation of knowledge exploration and exploitation processes

• We model an interorganizational learning to examine the implications of IT.
• A framework is developed to select appropriate knowledge management strategies.
• The size of a firm is important in determining its learning mechanism and strategy.
• Fast learning from partners is beneficial when a firm's internal learning is slow.

In this paper, we study the impact of IT-enabled learning mechanisms and learning strategies on the long-term knowledge outcomes of a firm in an interorganizational setting. Consistent with prior research in this area, we use a computational simulation model to study four IT-enabled learning mechanisms: internal electronic communication networks, external communication networks, company knowledge repositories and portals, and interorganizational knowledge repositories and portals. We also explore the interactions between a firm's internal and external learning strategies and these learning mechanisms under three different scenarios of partner size symmetry.