Managing Knowledge for Global and Collaborative Innovations

The following sections are included:

• PREFACE

• CONTENTS

This paper is a study about innovation and its role in transforming society. Currently, organizations need to be more competitive to keep itself in a dynamic and globalized market. Innovation emerges as a strategy for survival, as well as a competitive advantage for organization. Innovation and knowledge management creates new business opportunities and acquisition of assets. Organizations meet to development of an innovation, forming networks of innovation in order to reduce the innovative process' risks and improve their technology knowledge.

This research discusses KFNs in the context of Communities of Practice (CoPs) and Knowledge Management (KM). KFNs unlike workflow can often transcend organizational boundaries and are distinct and different than workflow models. CoPs involve both personal and organizational aspects, and are an iteration of the transmission between explicit and tacit knowledge. This research develops, implements, and analyzes a CoPs Centered KFNs model in a multinational organization. The CoPs Centered KFNs model is underpinned in a CoPs model built around four organization performance evaluation dimensions and sixteen criteria. Many criteria and comprehensive segments should be taken into consideration while establishing CoPs model, this explains why this research employs fuzzy multi-criteria decision making. The cluster analysis techniques are used for evaluation of the CoPs Centered KFN model. The result of attribute analysis via KFNs model has been designed to determine the characteristic of each cluster and identify suggestions for effective linkage among knowledge workers.

Virtual communities of practice (VCoP) are one of the most important tools for knowledge sharing in both business and academia. Roused interest in on-line knowledge sharing resulted in research into the most influential factors affecting the behavior of the participants of VCoPs. Existing research in this area are non-comprehensive of the influential factors – some concentrate on the technological while others on the non-technical aspects. After examining key current research and identifying the most critical factors, this paper proposes a conceptual model for the purposes of knowledge sharing in knowledge intensive organizations using VCoPs. This model combines the important factors, the notion of reciprocity and social ties between the VCoP participants. Hypotheses are formulated between the constructs of the model. An attempt is made to validate the model. This statistical validation and drawing of conclusions are to be continued but meanwhile, a brief presentation of qualitative part of the research is presented to prove that effective VCoPs in knowledge intensive organizations need a good sense of community and active knowledge exchange. For the case study, this paper used Laurea Labs, which is a member of the European Network of Living Labs.

This paper examines the impact of the nature of software offshoring on knowledge sharing. A case study of software offshoring from Japan to Vietnam has been conducted. We focus on analyzing some features such as cross-cultural context, the high security and Intellectual Properly Right issues, the one-way knowledge sharing process. Findings indicate that these factors slow down knowledge sharing process. We also recognized that utilizing Bridge SE (System Engineer) is an effective way to cope with these challenges. We finally concluded that the term Bridge SE should be studied more by both academics and practitioners.

Immersive virtual worlds such as Second Life have recently gained much attention from education and business because of its adaptability to address real world challenges such as: on-line presentations, meetings, collaboration, 3D data visualization and on-line knowledge sharing. It is also possible to use immersive virtual worlds for the purpose of facilitating knowledge sharing in Virtual communities of practice (VCoP). Varieties of such communities exist in Second Life and help their members to achieve their goals. There is however not enough research into knowledge sharing in immersive virtual worlds. Therefore the purpose of this research is to fill this gap in knowledge. The conceptual model proposed by Usoro and Majewski (2008) will be applied to knowledge sharing in immersive virtual world environment. It will be investigated what factors are the most influential while residents of immersive virtual worlds share their knowledge. As a first attempt to validate the research model, quantitative and qualitative research was carried out with participants of Second Life group.

This paper conceptualizes novel segmental development strategy through Niche Empowerment on the prioritized area of "innovations." It argues the importance of a mechanism to improve the utilization and adaptation of available information and local knowledge to create valued activities that generate localized innovations. To do that, without thinking what they do not have, they must try to make use what they have at fullest capacity. More focused mechanism to identify and empower grassroots inventors as supply side community to invent what country needs, moreover help them to commercialize their inventions, would give opportunity to overcome lack of inventions and bridging the cognitive divide of stagnating countries in digital age.

In a globalized economy, business excellence can be achieved only with a strong foundation in knowledge. For this, organizations have to find effective ways to translate their ongoing experience into knowledge and disseminate the same. Further they have to collaborate with other companies in the industry for giving better products to the customers. This paper is based on a study of Knowledge Management practices in a large integrated steel company- Vizag Steel, a Govt. of India Enterprise. It emphasizes the need for reengineering KM practices in manufacturing sector to meet the challenges arising out of economic liberalization and globalization.

Drawing on the knowledge-based view of the firm, this paper investigates the effectiveness of different organizational mechanisms on knowledge transfer. In this study, we propose a paradigm for managing the complex process of knowledge transfer. Its central theme is that the effectiveness of knowledge transfer depends on the fit between knowledge characteristics and transfer mechanism. It is argued that different knowledge requires different organizational mechanisms to support its transfer. A theoretical framework is developed to provide an analytical perspective on this issue. Two categories of organizational mechanism for knowledge transfer are identified (i.e., formal and informal mechanism), the types, dimensions, and characteristics of knowledge are discussed, and the nature of this fit is examined.

Knowledge sharing is an important driver for innovation in research teams and organizations. This paper views knowledge sharing as occurring in a quasi knowledge market of buyers and sellers. It makes unique contributions in terms of i) constructing a knowledge sharing behavior model based on different categories of knowledge sellers/buyers; ii) outlines application of non-invasive method for measuring the transient emotional state changes of a knowledge worker while they are being evaluated on their knowledge sharing behavior, iii) describes novel method for determining psychological and emotional fitness of knowledge workers to facilitate team or organization innovation and iv) design of emotionally intelligent knowledge management systems involving cognitive & non-verbal or emotional information.

Based on existing research in the field of viable system modelling, social systems and the corporate genome, this paper presents a framework for the modelling and managing of viable knowledge-intensive research projects, which require the generation of new knowledge within a dynamic and complex world. This framework presents an overall look at the different levels which need to be established in order to implement a new, self-organised and viable system able to realise the defined aims of research projects.

This paper starts with an analysis of the interaction between human capital and organizational capital. It continues to explore a core-competence-based knowledge management mechanism, by which a new framework of management can therefore be constructed. It provides solid theoretical foundation and rich practical implications for business to accomplish independent innovation in management as it unveils the intrinsic law governing the nurturing of corporate intelligence.

Healthcare is a knowledge-intensive service provided by professionals, such as medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Clinical pathways are used by many healthcare organizations (HCOs) as a tool for performing the healthcare process, sharing and utilizing knowledge from different professionals. In this paper, case studies were performed at two HCOs that use clinical pathways actively in the healthcare process. Theoretical model construction, sharing, utilization, and creation of the knowledge by different professionals, were tested by the case study of two HCOs which use clinical pathways actively. The theoretical model was a knowledge creation model which creates new knowledge continuously. In this theoretical model, clinical pathways are suggested to be an effective tool for knowledge management in healthcare.

This knowledge management (KM) study focuses on factors affecting KM at a Ministry of Public Health institute. The developed questionnaires were distributed to all institute staff. Four major factors were investigated in the survey: Organizational Culture, Information and Technology, KM Content, and Administration and Management. Statistical analysis was used to calculate the relationships among factors and KM according to the KM model from the Thai Knowledge Management Institute. There was a 78.8% response rate. Organizational Culture, Information and Technology, and Administration and Management were found to be significant factors associated with KM. In addition, other elements within these factors had a significant relationship with KM. However, KM content, organizational structure, and conflict did not have a significant relationship with KM. The authors found quality management systems i.e. ISO 9001, ISO 17025 or ISO 15189 played an important role in KM at the institute. The authors also found drawbacks and room for KM improvement in the institute. The results in this paper can be used as knowledge-based evidence to enhance and improve the institute's routine operation and its performance.

The fierceness of competition and the barriers to knowledge management has embraced the healthcare industry. In this study the benefits of knowledge management capability and infrastructure are examined to resolve these problems, based on the resource-based view. In addition, based on the process-oriented perspective, the innovation on business process will be used as a mediator to improve specific business value in the healthcare industry. From the empirical data, this study finds knowledge management capability and technical context of knowledge infrastructure benefit market-interrelationship performance through the innovation on business process. Especially, cultural knowledge infrastructure is beneficial to market-interrelationship performance directly and indirectly. Surprisingly, structural knowledge management infrastructure falls to affect innovation on business process. The reason might be the high degree in centralization within the hospital. However, this study also generally demonstrates the proposed model. The findings illustrate the significance of the perspective of practice and provide guidance for further research. Finally, the inherent limitations are also mentioned.

Based on a comparison between two strands in SI and an analysis on the notion of "ideal model," this paper builds a general model of SI through the metaphor form function-defined ideal model in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This general dynamic model metaphoric from TCM is built on the base of Yin-Yang-Five-Phases theory. It is made up of five sub-systems and the supporting networks of innovation. Both static descriptions and evolutional dynamics of SI are discussed. Policy implications are given based on the basic features of SI as a complex adaptive system.

Many studies have been conducted on the application of Web 2.0 technologies (e.g., wikis) in an educational environment including: exploring the potential of their use, the effects they have on student learning and their effectiveness when combined with appropriate instructional practices. However, whether or not these findings at the tertiary and high school levels are applicable to young learners at the primary level, have yet to be determined. Through case study design, this small-scale study explored the challenges and potential benefits that a wiki may bring to students and teachers in a Primary five English class. The study examined the wiki's key affordances for collaboration that may have an impact on students' writing abilities, through the analysis of collaborative writing projects. To understand human activity in a complex classroom environment, Activity Theory was used as an analytical lens to help examine students' learning processes and outcomes. The study found that the use of a wiki in a class of primary five students in a Hong Kong Chinese primary school was perceived positively. Students enjoyed using the wiki, and the overall perception was that it helped foster teamwork and improved writing. The tracking functionality of the wild gave in-depth information about the types of edits the students were making and helped the teachers to assess students' collaboration and development. Findings from this study may help provide practical recommendations for primary school English language teachers and help illustrate the potential that Web 2.0, specifically wikis, can bring to influence young language learners.

Vast amounts of new knowledge are created on the Internet in many different languages every day. How to share and search this knowledge across different languages efficiently is a critical problem for information science and knowledge management. Conventional cross-language knowledge sharing models are based on natural language processing (NLP) technologies. However, natural language ambiguity, which is a problem even for single language NLP. is exacerbated when dealing with multiple languages. Semantic web technologies can circumvent the problem of natural language ambiguity by enabling human authors to specify meaning in a computer-interpretable form. In particular, description logics ontologies provide a way for authors to describe specific relationships between conceptual entities in a way that computers can process to infer implied meaning. This paper presents a new cross-language knowledge sharing model, SEMCL, which uses semantic web technologies to provide a potential solution to the problem of ambiguity. We first describe the methods used to support searches at the semantic predicate level in our model. Next, we describe how our model realizes a cross-language approach. We present an implementation of the model for the general engineering domain and give a scenario describing how the model implementation handles semantic cross-language knowledge sharing. We conclude with a discussion of related work.

Regardless of their inherent drawbacks as indexing terms, such as semantic ambiguity and the lack of synonymy and polysemy control, the use of social tags is widespread in information organization, filtering, and discovery through social tagging information systems. There are few empirical studies that have evaluated the value of social tags as indexing terms in an operational and experimental setting. The objective of this study is to assess the indexing value of social tags in a context of an information retrieval model using the Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) method. Socially tagged resources were classified into ten Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) main classes. Social tags assigned to the resources were used to represent them in LSI. Similarities between resources were measured, and the aggregated similarities according to the ten DDC main classes were compared. Twenty-four different experiments were attempted for optimal results. The empirical data of this study positively demonstrates the value of social tags as indexing term.

This paper introduces Dervin's Sense-Making Methodology (SMM) as an approach to KM system design using Web2.0. SMM is a philosophically derived approach which allows knowledge management (KM) researchers and practitioners to more fully understand and listen to user's needs so as to inform the design of dialogic KM practices and systems to promote knowledge sharing. Increasingly, KM systems are incorporating Web2.0 features which allow user-generated content and have a stronger emphasis on collaboration and interaction amongst users. This paper presents a "Safety Moment" project to illustrate how SMM has been applied to inform the design of a Web2.0 enabled 'knowledging' application in Environmental Resources Management (ERM), the world's largest all-environmental consulting firm. The project discussed has been implemented since January 2008 as part of ERM's commitment to improve Health & Safety Performance to ensure all ERM employees, contractors and clients are safe at work. Use of the SMM informed Web2.0 application has correlated with increased staff satisfaction, increased company reputation and reduced risks. Much is said about the need for a Leadership 2.0 to implement Web2.0. The authors argue that this project exemplar illustrates how to make Web2.0 work, we need to define Leadership 2.0 as a set of alternative management values and practices driven by a set of coherent assumptions about the nature of human communication.

Wikipedia is an online free encyclopedia which is edit by million people spontaneously. This article aims at how Wikipedians' intrinsic and extrinsic motivations influence their volitional authoring. Research model posits that altruism, expected reputation, and expected money reward affect authoring behavior. More specific, this relationship is also mediated by both attitude and identity. We also regard perceived behavioral control as a critical role for fostering volitional authoring. Sample data were from "Wikipedian Discussion Board" of a famous BBS in Taiwan. All respondents (156 samples) had posted articles in the BBS. but not all had experienced authoring in Wikipedia. Structural equation modeling was used to test the research model. According to the result, we have insight into the motivation of Wikpedian's volitional authoring.

Based on the analysis of research groups in higher education in the UK, this paper investigated the relationship between social capital and the performance of those research groups. The study produced a model that considered the different dimensions of social capital and how these dimensions might have an impact on the performance of R&D in the HEI in the UK. The result from the regression analysis shows that trust has the strongest influence towards explaining the R&D performance.

The study explores the current state of knowledge management (KM) in a volunteer-based community. A knowledge audit was conducted at a volunteer-based community workshop to identify knowledge needs, gaps, sources, sinks and pools. While the study identified several knowledge needs, the study found that the personal motivation of volunteers is tied to their personal knowledge needs. Addressing the personal knowledge needs of volunteers may help develop a strong pool of volunteers and help sustain the organization. A strong KM system would address current problems and facilitate the process of building the community of volunteers. The study recommendations include both technological and non-technological methods to address identified problems and to manage the knowledge in the volunteer-based community.

This paper studies knowledge management practices of i2E, Inc. (innovation 2 Enterprise), a nonprofit organization which focuses on expanding Oklahoma's technology-based entrepreneurial economy. i2E serves as a knowledge repository of resources for individuals who have ideas and want to develop those ideas into an enterprise. They developed a program that educates would-be entrepreneurs on how to navigate the waters of developing a business, where to find resources, and how to be successful. Educating the entrepreneurs is done through i2E's ability to manage knowledge and provide knowledge resources to their clients. This study examines the extent by which i2E uses knowledge management tools to help their clients be successful.

Facing a rapidly growing collection of digital resources, users are challenged to organize their personal digital resources in such a way that they can be re-accessed and re-used when they are needed in the future. Personal Information Management (PIM) tools are designed to help users to achieve that. However, questions remain whether these tools are able to meet users' requirements and expectations. Survey questionnaire was used with 119 participants. The results suggest that most respondents are comfortable with the existing PIM tools, and they are capable of managing digital resources of different characteristics and shelf life. This paper reports the results of a study in how users manage their personal digital resources in terms of types of digital resources, memory and cue functions, and effectiveness of existing PIM tools and usefulness of certain information structures. Our findings reveal that users actually prefer to have PIM tools that are able to handle multi-format digital resources. These findings may provide valuable insight into how PIM tools can be made more versatile and usable for organization of personal digital resources.

Content analysis of job advertisements is considered a reliable method for determining the demands of job market. The aim of this study was to identify competencies required by knowledge management (KM) employers through analyzing job advertisements appeared in selected job portals. The study used 110 English language job advertisements from China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. It was found that a majority of the advertisements did not ask for knowledge management qualifications rather a general degree or a qualification in computing, business or library and information studies was preferred. It was also noted that almost all job advertisements put more emphasis on personality traits than other competencies, namely KM core processes, KM technologies, and human capital management. The highly sought after personality-related competencies were communication skills, analytical thinking skills, and leadership skills. The top three competencies related to KM core processes were knowledge transfer and sharing, knowledge discovery and acquisition, and knowledge organization. The top three IT and infrastructure related competencies were familiarity with content management systems, knowledge portals, and development and maintenance of knowledge repositories. This paper suggests that KM academic programs should regularly review their curricula to incorporate new trends and competencies required by the KM job market.

Knowledge management (KM) today has become a diversified field of study and practice, which attract different disciplines and background to be co-opted or absorbed without boarder-line. Most of the academic articles that deal with Knowledge Management (KM) in some way always start by trying to define it. The fact is that, there is no standard or stable definition of the concept because most of the writers failure to look back to the history. After all, library and information science profession have been the custodians of documented knowledge since time immemorial. This paper portrayed that Knowledge management (KM) is an extension of librarianship that focuses on both the external and internal information resources (knowledge) management with the integration of technologies, directed towards the successful achievement and success of organisations in general. The paper also highlighted the major barriers to LIS engagement in the knowledge management; it further explains that integrating knowledge management in the LIS profession is a future not a barrier. The paper concludes with some suggested directions for LIS schools, practitioners, educators and researchers.

Intellectual assets are strategic resources that libraries can use to add value to services, but their intangible attributes make them hard to evaluate. An exploratory case study used document analysis, interviews and a questionnaire to develop and test indicators of intellectual assets and related performance measures at three university libraries in Thailand. The study demonstrated the feasibility of applying an intellectual capital perspective and a scorecard process model to design a workable system for evaluating library intangibles, particularly where libraries have a pre-existing interest in knowledge management and a culture of assessment.

This paper explores the issue of managing knowledge within a medium sized public library, and how knowledge management (KM) principles, often practiced in corporate environments can be effective within non-profit organizations. The study investigates how organizational structure and culture as well as knowledge exchange strategies within a library setting promote the practice of KM. In addition, the paper also identifies a technological gap in the organization's current strategies and recommends an Intranet based solution to augment current knowledge sharing practices. This study seeks to contribute to the body of research related to the practice of KM within the library domain, identify successful knowledge sharing initiatives already in practice as well as propose a low cost IT based solution with the potential to enhance the practice of KM within libraries.

According to the trade-off between information diffusion and diversity in an efficient network, we extend Lazer's simulation model on parallel problem solving by adding partner selection strategy: structurally equivalent imitation. In this way we can examine how the interaction of network structure with agent behavior affects the knowledge process and finally influence group performance. Our simulation experiment suggests that when agents adopt structure equivalence imitation the whole organization implicitly would be divided into independent sub-groups which converge on the different performance level and lead the whole group to a lower performance level.

The knowledge creation processes and activities in online communities become prominent in our society, with the proliferation of all sorts of online communities. This phenomenon brings enormous challenging research issues. In this paper, we give an in-depth analysis on an actual case of the Linux kernel developer community, to illustrate that such community is essentially an evolutionary collective-intelligent system; and this system grows through the spontaneous self-organization processes. This work may pave the way for further theoretical exploration of the knowledge-creation processes in online communities; and on the other hand it has practical implications for developing computing technologies to facilitate the development of the "knowledge-creating communities."

This paper considers the problem of knowledge integration, and proposes a theory of knowledge construction systems, which consists of three fundamental parts: a knowledge construction system, a structure-agency-action paradigm, and evolutionally constructive objectivism. The paper starts with a brief introduction of our basic systems approach called informed systems thinking, followed by a summary of our proposal: a theory of knowledge construction systems, and then gives a detailed explanation of the theory.

During the process of opinion evolution, the individuals look for emotional support and depend on opinion leaders complying with "psychological balance" principle and "Emotional resonance" principle. That is the root cause of generation of opinion leaders. This paper adopts meta-synthetic approach (MSA) and social network analysis (SNA) to identify and judge the opinion leaders and master their behaviors and traces for further exploring the nature of opinion and then effectively controlling and guiding opinion.