Question 5

Does the framework presented in the collaborative advantage article suggest anything useful for the Hallmark Cards' knowledge community? Explain your answer.

The collaborative advantage article shared many of the same topical areas as the Hallmark Cards' knowledge community article, with a different focus of application. With Hallmark, their primary example of effective community is the relationship that they established with their customers, and the way that they were able to connect with the end-user of their product. The MIT article seems to discuss the value and means of collaboration with the focus on inter-unit collaboration. Regardless of these differences, I feel like the concepts in the MIT article could be useful within the scope of Hallmark's knowledge community.

The value of this collaboration is seen in cost savings through the transfer of best practices, better decision making as a result of subsidiary advice, increased revenue through shared expertise and products, innovation through the cross-pollination of ideas, and enhanced capacity for collective action and company swiftness. These are all values that Hallmark would surely embrace. The concept of barrier removal within the company is the focus of the MIT article. Hallmark could apply this concept in their communities by making expertise available and fostering their communities to encourage members to work together and share knowledge.