Showing papers in "Vine in 2009"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the factors and barriers that contribute to successful knowledge sharing among the university teaching staff and identified measures of knowledge sharing, such as nature of knowledge, working culture, staff attitudes, motivation to share and opportunities to share.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper seeks to examine the factors and barriers that contribute to successful knowledge sharing among the university teaching staff.Design/methodology/approach – Based on an extensive review of literature, measures of knowledge sharing are identified. These include such factors as nature of knowledge, working culture, staff attitudes, motivation to share and opportunities to share. A model is developed for the study and hypotheses are formulated. Primary data were collected through a survey from a sample of teaching staff from both public and private universities in Malaysia.Findings – Based on empirical research, the study shows some contrasting findings. As for the sample drawn from teaching staff belonging to public universities, there is a significant relationship between knowledge sharing and the independent factors mentioned earlier. Results from the sample from staff teaching in private universities do not show such relationships.Research limitations/implications – The sample size it...
228 citations
TL;DR: The proposed definition of KM success provides practitioners with four dimensions that can be used to construct organization‐specific measures for indicating when their KM initiative is successful as the literature does not provide a definition of when KM can be considered successful.
Abstract: – The purpose of this paper is to propose a definition of KMS success., – The paper uses a consensus‐building approach to derive the definition. An expert panel was used to generate a list of possible KM success definitions. A survey was used to identify a likely definition from this list. A second survey was used to further refine the proposed KM success definition. Finally, analysis of the survey comments was used to finalize the proposed definition., – KM success is a multidimensional concept. It is defined by capturing the right knowledge, getting the right knowledge to the right user, and using this knowledge to improve organizational and/or individual performance. KM success is measured by means of the dimensions: impact on business processes, impact on strategy, leadership, and knowledge content., – An additional survey should be performed that tests the constructs of the proposed KM success definition. Additionally, future research should focus on identifying a set of measures that can be used to measure KM success and determining whether KM and KM System (KMS), success are the same or different constructs., – The proposed definition of KM success provides practitioners with four dimensions that can be used to construct organization‐specific measures for indicating when their KM initiative is successful., – This is important, as the literature, while providing much support for identifying KM critical success factors, does not provide a definition of when KM can be considered successful. Knowing when a KM initiative is successful is important for organizations and practitioners.
120 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate and compare the practices of knowledge management processes between public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia and find that there are significant differences in the overall practices of KM processes between the public and the private HEIs.
Abstract: Purpose – The objective of this paper is to investigate and compare the practices of knowledge management (KM) processes, which have been grounded in the KM literature, between public and private higher education institutions (HEIs).Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 594 academics from three public and three private HEIs in Malaysia.Findings – The analyses suggest that all the six KM processes (knowledge creation, capture, organisation, storage, dissemination, and application) are moderately practiced by the institutions surveyed and that there are significant differences in the overall practices of KM processes between the public and private HEIs.Practical implications – This paper raises awareness and provides initial guidelines to the HEIs as knowledge‐intensive organisations in formulating strategies on how to properly implement and manage their KM processes.Originality/value – This study has extended knowledge in KM for it is probably the first to provide a comparative analysis be...
90 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a theoretical framework for measuring intellectual liabilities based on Gibbon's The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire and the main lessons that were drawn from the study are also applicable to today's business environment.
Abstract: Purpose – Intellectual capital theory and practice predominantly focus on measuring and managing intangible assets. However, if one wants to balance the intellectual capital books, one should recognise both intellectual assets and intellectual liabilities. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to present a theoretical framework for measuring intellectual liabilities.Design/methodology/approach – Identifying intangible liabilities is identifying the risk of the decline and fall of organisations. One of the first extensive studies related to the causes of decline and fall is Gibbon's The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. It seems as if the main lessons that were drawn from the study are also applicable to today's business environment. Therefore, the framework that is developed here is based not only on intellectual capital literature, but also on Gibbon's study into the causes of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.Findings – The findings are combined in a framework for measuring intellectual l...
49 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors define a theoretical model that assesses and measures the intangible asset contribution to company performance, which adopts a hierarchical structure and identifies the sources of added value and competitive advantage in each business context.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to define a theoretical model that assesses and measures the intangible asset contribution to company performance. The model keeps in focus the most meaningful elements that reflect the success factors, crucial to company business strategy and value creation.Design/methodology/approach – The model adopts a hierarchical structure. The strategic intangible assets of the company have been divided into value drivers; a series of measurement indicators have been selected to describe the characteristics of each aspect of the intangible company performance. The measurements obtained from numerical indicators, which express the totality of the results achieved by the organizational strategies, are combined to create the hierarchical assessment index (HAI), by assessing quantitative and qualitative company features, through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).Findings – The HAI identifies the sources of added value and competitive advantage in each business context; it traces the subordi...
33 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a social exchange perspective was adopted to examine the inter-firm relationships between customers and suppliers in trade shows and found that knowledge sharing plays a significant role in trade show, despite the hasty, flowing and highly dynamic nature of these events.
Abstract: Purpose – The aim of this study is to present and examine an innovative model of knowledge sharing and knowledge acquisition that enables learning in trade shows.Design/methodology/approach – A social exchange perspective was adopted to examine the inter‐firm relationships between customers and suppliers. These participants are looking for ways to increase respective adaptations. Data were collected from 654 respondents, half of whom were customers and half suppliers from five technology trade shows.Findings – A major finding is that knowledge sharing plays a significant role in trade shows, despite the hasty, flowing and highly dynamic nature of these events. It is the core process which fosters learning of both customers and suppliersResearch limitations/implications – The study is a first analysis into the knowledge‐sharing aspects of trade shows, and it is limited in the sense that learning, which is a prolonged process, should be investigated in more depth over time. Immediate implications could be t...
32 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the purchase analyses disclosed by the Swedish and Italian listed companies in their financial statements refering to the first year of application of the IFRS3 is conducted.
Abstract: Purpose – The aim of this paper is to understand how many and what intangible assets firms from two different contexts disclose in order to comprehend whether an accounting harmonization is actually reached in practice and what are the eventual hurdles to surmount in order to reach it.Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the purchase analyses disclosed by the Swedish and Italian listed companies in their financial statements refering to the first year of application of the IFRS3 is conducted.Findings – The main findings are the following. First, firms do not disclose intangible assets in the same way. Second, contracts become a useful tool to make it possible to account for IC. Third, the disclosure of labels shows a variety. Fourth, differences in behavior are seen.Research limitations/implications – The main limitation is that only a sample of firms (the listed ones in the SSE and MTA/MTAX) that apply IFRS3 is investigated. The main implication is that the disclosing ...
32 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the way in which these distinctive cultural issues (national, organisational, and professional) influence knowledge management in project-based firms and explore the ways in which they influence the learning process.
Abstract: Purpose – Projects almost invariably involve a variety of diversely skilled people from different national, organisational, and professional cultural backgrounds. These people come together for a specific period of time to accomplish certain unique, unpredictable, and complex objectives. These distinctive characteristics mean that project‐based firms require a particular approach to knowledge management (KM) and learning activities that differs significantly from prevailing strategies. This paper aims to explore the way in which these distinctive cultural issues (national, organisational, and professional) influence KM in project‐based firms.Design/methodology/approach – The paper first looks at the general issues of KM and the “learning organisation”. Second, the study discusses the more specific issue of KM in project‐based firms. Third, the paper explores national, organisational, and professional cultures in the context of project‐based business. Finally, the paper draws the three preceding sections t...
25 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe a group knowledge building exercise within an educational context using activity theory as a descriptive data analysis tool and identify the ensuing contradictions in the CKB activity system.
Abstract: Purpose – Collaborative knowledge building (CKB) is seen as a means for achieving desired learning outcomes as well as facilitating sharing and distribution of knowledge among community members. However existing CKB studies do not appear to identify and account for the tools used by groups (at individual and group level) as part of the CKB process. The paper aims to address this issue.Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes a group knowledge building exercise within an educational context using activity theory as a descriptive data analysis tool. Data analysis involved conceptualising the CKB process as an activity system in which the group worked towards a shared object and identifying the ensuing contradictions in the CKB activity system.Findings – Results from the analysis illustrate participants' use of reflective thinking processes for resolving contradictions and as a tool for articulating knowledge and developing a shared understanding. Two types of contradictions are identified from the ...
25 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of different output elements (tangible and intangible) is examined and the challenges in the operative level productivity measurement relate especially to defining measures is an easier task.
Abstract: Purpose – The aim of this paper is to find out how the productivity of public services can be measured in the operative level of organisations. In particular, the role of different output elements (tangible and intangible) is examined.Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative research approach is used. The current knowledge of the issue is presented by examining literature on public service productivity, intellectual capital and performance measurement. In the empirical part, the findings of the literature review are applied and further examined in the context of two services of the City of Helsinki, Finland.Findings – The paper identifies tangible and intangible output factors in two case services. It also illustrates how the factors can be measured in practice. The empirical examination suggests that the challenges in the operative level productivity measurement relate especially to defining measures. Identifying of different output factors is an easier task.Research limitations/implications – The stu...
24 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine ways in which multinational enterprises (MNEs) can secure knowledge assets across global operations and present a set of seven recommendations derived from the analysis could be beneficial for enterprises who do knowledge work in global settings.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to examine ways in which multinational enterprises (MNEs) can secure knowledge assets across global operations.Design/methodology/approach – The paper reports the results of a comparative case study. The practices of four MNEs are considered in conjunction with practices identified in the literature. A comparative company analysis is conducted using the resource‐based view of the firm.Findings – The paper principally concludes that MNEs have several options for protecting knowledge assets. A set of seven recommendations are derived from the analysis.Practical implications – The recommendations derived from the analysis could be beneficial for enterprises who do knowledge work in global settings.Originality/value – The paper offers background and consideration for those companies with IP in global business environments. The background, analysis and recommendations add to the body of knowledge in this area.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the relationship between organisational identification and identification with work group and profession for knowledge workers and found a strong relationship in which work group, organisational and professional identification were compatible.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the relationship between organisational identification and identification with work group and profession for knowledge workers. The literature points to two competing standpoints, first, a compatible relationship between focal points of identity and second, a trade off relationship whereby an increase in one is at the expense of another.Design/methodology/approach – Using the population of a large public UK sector organisation ordinary least squares regression was used to examine these relationships.Findings – The findings established a strong relationship in which work group, organisational and professional identification were compatible.Research limitations/implications – The findings indicate, at least in this context, that no inherent trade off or problem reconciling multiple identities was evident. Regrettably the authors do not have the capacity to comment on the weighting or the relative importance placed on each focus of identity; this is an area for future...
TL;DR: In this article, an anonymous case study aims to report a major organisational failure due to the absence of effective knowledge management, where both the reasons for, and organisational consequences of, the failure are fairly clear.
Abstract: Purpose – To learn to avoid pitfalls there is need to accept and understand failures This anonymous case study aims to report a major organisational failure due to the absence of effective knowledge management, where both the reasons for, and organisational consequences of, the failure are fairly clearDesign/methodology/approach – Within a theoretical framework of organisational autopoiesis, the case study compares knowledge management styles from two eras in the history of one engineering project management company: as it grew from an acquired site with a single project to a multi‐divisional leader in its regional market, and then as it failed in its original line of business to the point where it divested most of its assetsFindings – In the first era, the executive and line managers were permissive, allowing project teams to work out local solutions for business problems as they arose producing successful and profitable solutions The decline began and accelerated when management strengthened hierarc
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the use of text mining and data warehousing technologies to identify and monitor bloggers who are depressed and may be at risk of suicide, self harm or harming others.
Abstract: Purpose – Social networking sites have in recent years become an increasingly popular avenue for young people to express and to share their thoughts, views, and emotions. When young people are emotionally distressed for instance, instead of the traditional channel of consulting friends, parents or specialists, social networking blogs may provide a channel to share and release their emotions and intentions. The objective of the paper is to explore the use of text mining and data warehousing technologies to identify and monitor bloggers who are depressed and may be at risk of suicide, self harm or harming others.Design/methodology/approach – The paper first provides a literature review on relevant work in affective and emotional content text mining and relevant suicide research. An algorithm based on a weighted dictionary text search algorithm was developed to identify at risk bloggers to illustrate the viability of the system. An example that compares the percentage of at‐risk bloggers of three different c...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a case study on developing an IT strategic plan in a community organisation using the process modelling and analysis methodology called "Co-MAP", which is significant in being a participatory, responsive, and nonobtrusive tool to work with welfare workers in getting to articulate information, knowledge and technical issues for decision making.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to address the need for responsive methodologies to investigate how information and communication technologies (ICTs) are used in non‐business and non‐corporate environments.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a case study on developing an IT strategic plan in a community organisation using the process modelling and analysis methodology called “Co‐MAP”.Findings – Co‐MAP as a methodology is significant in being a participatory, responsive, and non‐obtrusive tool to work with welfare workers in getting to articulate information, knowledge and technical issues for decision making.Research limitations/implications – The research provides a way of obtaining knowledge about structuring of social‐technical relationships in a welfare organisation through a sympathetic approach to its business and culture.Practical implications – Co‐MAP could be fruitfully used in other organisations, though whether this needs an external facilitator to carry out the process and manage the co...
TL;DR: The fluctuations on the learning rates can be interpreted as a result of the HC variability across the entire range of team learning effects on performance fluctuations caused by the HC.
Abstract: Purpose – This study seeks to examine how the quantitative semantics of the learning curve phenomenon can be employed in order to derive monetary information for team learning observed within knowledge‐intensive production environments.Design/methodology/approach – Software development is selected as an identical example of a team‐based, knowledge‐intensive production environment. The interaction of learning rate of the developer teams and the improvements on their average solving time (i.e. productivity) is modelled as a Lotka‐Volterra predator‐prey interacting populations system establishing a causal relationship between the human capital (HC) of organizational teams and the observed learning curve effects on their performance. In addition, empirical evidence illustrates that the estimated learning rates capture the entire range of team learning effects on performance fluctuations caused by the HC.Findings – The fluctuations on the learning rates can be interpreted as a result of the HC variability acro...
TL;DR: The study shows that architects mobilize and use a variety of visual representations in their day-to-day work and concludes that visuality and visual representations deserve a more adequate analysis in the knowledge management literature.
Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to look into the knowledge-intensive work that entangles the use of various visual representations such as drawings, CAD images, and scale models. Rather than assuming that knowledge is exclusively residing in the human cognitive capacities, most knowledge-intensive work integrates a variety of perceptual skills and the use of language. Design/methodology/approach: A case study of a Scandinavian architect bureau, including semi-structured interviews with architects, design engineers and managers, was conducted. Findings: The study shows that architects mobilize and use a variety of visual representations in their day-to-day work. Such visual representations serve a variety of roles and purposes but actually more generally enhance communication between colleagues and external stakeholders. The paper concludes that visuality and visual representations deserve a more adequate analysis in the knowledge management literature. Originality/value: The paper contributes to an understanding of how visual representations are constitutive of knowledge and central to architect work. Rather than residing in language or being embodied, knowledge is developed through the use of a variety of tools and aids.
TL;DR: In this article, the extent to which R&D interventions stimulate innovation engagement was examined. But, the work was exploratory in nature and relied, in the main, on secondary data sources, and access to the secondary sources was extensive which hopefully compensates for the limited primary data.
Abstract: Purpose – Research and development (R&D) plays a significant role in creating and sustaining technological leadership. This paper aims to look at the extent to which R&D interventions stimulate innovation engagement.Design/methodology/approach – This paper examines, in the main, secondary data sources from Honda to assess the extent to which R&D‐enabled plants enjoy both enhanced innovatory potential and employee engagement.Findings – Initial indications point to a positive correlation between R&D and associated plant performance. Ongoing research suggests that there is a clear link between interventions and enhanced employee engagement. In addition, there appears to be evidence that monoculture outperform multicultural establishments.Research limitations/implications – The research was exploratory in nature and relied, in the main, on secondary data sources. However, access to the secondary sources was extensive which hopefully compensates for the limited primary data.Originality/value – Practitioners an...
TL;DR: An automated ontology mapping and merging algorithm, namely OntoDNA, which employs data mining techniques to resolve ontological heterogeneities among distributed data sources in organizational memory and subsequently generate a merged ontology to facilitate resource retrieval from distributed resources for organizational decision making.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an automated ontology mapping and merging algorithm, namely OntoDNA, which employs data mining techniques (FCA, SOM, K‐means) to resolve ontological heterogeneities among distributed data sources in organizational memory and subsequently generate a merged ontology to facilitate resource retrieval from distributed resources for organizational decision making.Design/methodology/approach – The OntoDNA employs unsupervised data mining techniques (FCA, SOM, K‐means) to resolve ontological heterogeneities to integrate distributed data sources in organizational memory. Unsupervised methods are needed as an alternative in the absence of prior knowledge for managing this knowledge. Given two ontologies that are to be merged as the input, the ontologies' conceptual pattern is discovered using FCA. Then, string normalizations are applied to transform their attributes in the formal context prior to lexical similarity mapping. Mapping rules are applied to reconcile the...
TL;DR: This article aims to show the application of scientometrics and patent bibliometrics in remaining useful life (RUL) analysis for evaluating the value of intangible assets.
Abstract: Purpose – This article aims to show the application of scientometrics and patent bibliometrics in remaining useful life (RUL) analysis for evaluating the value of intangible assets.Design/methodology/approach – Technology innovation management is strictly related to the RUL. The RUL concept is defined as the time remaining until the reliability drops below a defined minimal operating threshold. The RUL analysis of certain intangible assets (patents and know‐how licence agreements, industrial designs, trade marks, logos, customer base) is done through different methodologies and various different approaches. The key subject in all these methodologies is the life cycle of the technology. The analyst tries to approach the foresight of the life cycle of technology to establish its value in use. Different life measure systems are considered in RUL analysis depending on different typologies of technology life: statutory, contract, judicial, economic and functional. Data used in life cycle estimation may be used...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the practical application of a reflective knowledge development lifecycle (KDLC) designed to be used by organizations reviewing their KM processes and capability, and apply the theory in a practical setting, an environmental scientist used the model and associated knowledge representation and visualisation tools to find gaps in processes and design in the implementation of an organisationwide research framework.
Abstract: Purpose – The aim of this paper is to describe the practical application of a reflective knowledge development lifecycle (KDLC) designed to be used by organisations reviewing their KM processes and capability. The KDLC had emerged from practical experience but had not been more widely validated. The present study seeks to provide a unique opportunity to test theory comprehensively against an exemplary case where both organisation and investigator were suited to the work.Design/methodology/approach – A case study research strategy was used. Applying the theory in a practical setting, an environmental scientist used the model and associated knowledge representation and visualisation tools to find gaps in processes and design in the implementation of an organisation‐wide research framework.Findings – Developing the knowledge repository highlighted inherent complexity among people, resources, research activities, operational tasks and communication outcomes. The study helped validate the KDLC's utility in ens...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed an integrated model for intangible resources, which will contribute to breaking down the old paradigm, and bring it to managers' attention that the best returns are likely to come from intangible resources.
Abstract: Purpose – The aim of this paper is to propose an integrated model for intangible resources, which will contribute to breaking down the old paradigm, and bring it to managers' attention that the best returns are likely to come from intangible resources.Design/methodology/approach – The theoretical approach is based on the concept of core competencies as defined by Hamel and Prahalad, and further developed in Andriessen's Making Sense of Intellectual Capital. It also explores the benchmarking concept presented in Viedma's “Intellectual capital benchmarking system”.Findings – Business practitioners and scholars have been developing new methods and models to understand intellectual capital. Unfortunately, these methods and models present a view on both tangible and intangible resources of an organisation that is non‐integrated and reinforces the traditional management focus on tangible assets only.Research limitations/implications – The method proposed here is being prepared to be tested in a large energy com...