Knowledge and information sharing in a closed information environment

Purpose – The objectives of this research are to ascertain the current status of, and barriers to, knowledge and information sharing; to elicit suggestions for improvement; and to determine whether the situation is different from that experienced by organizations operating in an average business environment.Design/methodology/approach – The approach adopted was a survey conducted within the New Zealand Defence Force, for the purpose of obtaining a deeper understanding.Findings – It was found that much similarity existed between the two types of organizations except that the organization operating in a closed information environment presented as an extreme example of an average organization. In particular, the requirement to maintain high security yet encourage the free flow of knowledge and information presents a considerable challenge.Originality/value – The paper presents some insights into an area about which very little is known and which is, by its nature, difficult to research. It shows how closed i...