How do organizations share knowledge and information? - Intro

I'm continuing my journey through academia, this time, though, applying it to our very own business ventures.  What I am interesting in is how organizations, groups of people, businesses, etc. share information.  What are the best ways that this can happen?  How does it benefit the group?  How can this be motivated and encouraged (assuming the outcome is desirable)?

I'll be attempting to answer these questions using the intellectual brute of academic literature.

I'll be sharing my findings--what I find interesting and relevant to our venture--and documenting my progress and learning process through a series of posts.