On the challenges of inter-organisational data in real estate: The role of knowledge sharing

Purpose: To take full advantage of new technologies (e.g. machine learning), a consistent and more comprehensive knowledge sharing across organisational boundaries is required. The real estate industry often faces this challenge as well. The paper aims to approach this circumstance by analysing the real estate supply chain (RESC) and aims to identify ways to achieve a more disruption-free flow of information. Design/methodology/approach: To answer the research question, a cross-sectional study was conducted using a standardised online questionnaire and structural equation modelling. The majority of the study participants came from German-speaking countries. The structural equation model was used to examine the relationships between the factors inter-organisational relationship, knowledge sharing skills and knowledge sharing. Findings: The authors found that inter-organisational relationship has a significant influence on knowledge sharing and thus on the occurrence of information flow disruptions. Aligning shared goals of parties plays a major role to improve inter-organisational relationship. Control and supervision does not show any significant effect. Knowledge sharing skills in turn have an influence on knowledge sharing. Practical implications: The alignment of interests and the creation of trust should be established in the future as core elements within the framework of contract negotiations, the lived contract and the contract itself, in order to reduce disruptions in the flow of information. Originality/value: From the perspective of knowledge sharing, this study attempts to identify necessities within the framework of contractual design options that simplify and promote the inter-organisational use of algorithms to increase transactional efficiency.