Coopetitive knowledge sharing in cross-functional software development teams

Abstract

The phenomenon of knowledge sharing in multi-party software development projects is not easily understood, and this is mainly due to the complexity of interactions between various specialists and stakeholders. This study integrates Social Interdependence Theory and the Coopetitive Model of Knowledge Sharing to postulate and operationalise a model that explains the forces behind high-quality knowledge sharing in cross-functional software development teams. A two-step mixed sequential research design is employed to test the proposed model in the context of cross-functional software development teams. The first step, triangulation step, acts as a pilot study by providing an initial evaluation of the proposed model and its instrument. The triangulation step consists of two qualitative and quantitative pilot studies, and compares the results from semi-structured-interviews and an online survey. The second step of the research design examines the proposed conceptual model and its instrument by incorporating data collected from an online survey. The survey results confirmed the positive impact of cooperative behaviours on driving high-quality knowledge sharing, whereas competition was found to have complex consequences. Consistent with the organisational politics and the coopetition literature, the results demonstrated the mixed impacts of two facets of competition for tangible & intangible resources on high-quality knowledge sharing. Competition for tangible resources was found to positively generate cooperative communication, but to inhibit sharing high-quality knowledge. Competition for intangible resources was shown to negatively affect interpersonal relationships and the cooperative task orientation of individuals, but to enhance high-quality knowledge sharing. The results confirmed the significant impact of (i) positive outcome, means and boundary interdependencies on enhancing cooperative behaviours and (ii) negative outcome and boundary interdependencies on generating competitive behaviours. The findings help toward an understanding of the forces underlying high-quality knowledge sharing in multiparty software development teams. The multi-dimensional conceptualisation of cross-functional cooperation and competition provides a better understanding of the details of the relation between simultaneous cooperation & competition and knowledge sharing behaviours. This study adds to the emerging contingency perspective pertaining to the study of cooperation and competition in software development teams. The findings contribute to advancing the recent emphasis on understanding coopetition at intra-organisational levels.