Employee perceptions of knowledge sharing: Employment threat or synergy for the greater good? A case study

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Fraser ◽  
Rita Marcella ◽  
Iain Middleton
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Employee Perceptions ◽  
Greater Good

Beginning a journey of knowledge management in a secondary school

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 364-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Wing Chu
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Digital Archive ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Despite the fact that schools should be places where learning occurs, most schools have overlooked the importance of knowledge. In contrast, commercial firms have recognized knowledge as a strategic intangible asset and a key resource of the enterprises. Therefore, enterprises have already harnessed knowledge to a great extent with wide practice of knowledge management (KM). The purpose of this paper is to show that KM could be applied to the education sector similar to the practice in the business world for leveraging intellectual assets. This paper examines how schools can kick off the process of KM implementation. This paper also reports what have been done and what should be done in KM implementation better in a school. This can give insights for schools which will try KM in near future. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a case study in a secondary school to explore how KM can be kicked off and sustained in a school setting. A KM system called knowledge base and a document management system called Digital Archive were developed to serve as the infrastructure for knowledge sharing. Lesson study and communities of practice (CoPs) were adopted to be the platforms for knowledge sharing among teachers in the school. A case study of the processes and lesson learned was done in this paper. Multiple sources of data, including observations, questionnaires and interviews, have been collected for evaluation. Findings In this paper, KM implementation was found to be effective through dual approaches: information-based and people-/interaction-based approaches. A knowledge base and a Digital Archive as knowledge repositories and lesson study and CoPs as platforms for knowledge sharing have been successfully established to facilitate sharing information/knowledge and nurturing a sharing culture and trust. Challenges faced and the related coping strategies during the process of implementation were shared and reflected. It was also found that building sharing culture is the critical turning point of the process of KM implementation. Breaking through the barrier of sharing was found to be very essential to KM implementation. Research limitations/implications This paper adopts case study methodology to report the process of KM implementation in a school. Although these results of the study conducted in one school may not be generalized to other school contexts, the lessons learned in the study will be a strong empirical evidence of research of KM implementation, especially in schools. Because of the limited number of prior studies and the importance of the pioneering work of launching KM implementation, this paper tries to address the research gap by using theory building from cases as a research strategy rather than theory testing research, especially in “how”and“why” in the steps of kicking off KM implementation in an unexplored research area. Practical implications This paper shows a case of KM implementation in a school with thoughtful procedures of implementing information-based and people-/interaction-based approaches. The paper is a showcase that will shed light on the processes and lessons learned and also helps to provide a model for schools who are interested in applying KM in their schools. Social implications Most people might think that KM can be applied only in commercial sector. This paper shows that KM can also be adopted in schools as well as other sectors. Originality/value This paper represents one of the pioneering work of implementing KM in a school. It hopes to make contributions for KM implementation also in the public sector within which are non-profit-making organizations.

Laissez-faire localism: Features and emergent themes presented in a case study University Technical College

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianne L Gomery
Keyword(s):  
School Choice ◽  
Technical College ◽  
Policy Reform ◽  
Single Institution ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
Greater Good ◽  
Governance Models ◽  
The University

Education policy reform in England, as enabled by successive governments, has supported the liberalization and supply of an increasing number and diverse range of provision with varying structures and governance models. As such, these reforms have generated a portfolio for parents to exercise school choice. This article explores the discourses surrounding the liberalization of education provision and its implications for technical education, by adopting Hodgson and Spours’ (2012) conceptualization of localism as a lens through which to empirically research one of the former government’s flagship technical institutions – the University Technical College (UTC). Drawing on a series of interviews, the study examines and analyses the concept of localism within the context of a UTC and identifies emergent themes. Importantly, the study’s findings challenge the assumption that institutions will, of their own volition, come together and put aside institutional self-interest for the greater good of the learner and the local and regional skills agenda. The study concludes with recommendations for further research to determine whether the tensions, competitive practices and competition identified at a single institution may be indicative of those experienced more widely across UTCs.

scholarly journals New technologies in consulting sector – the paradigm of agility

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-146
Author(s):  
Celina SOŁEK-BOROWSKA
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Knowledge Economy ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Competitive Environment ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Global Teams ◽  
Global Marketplace ◽  
Changing Knowledge

In order to keep pace with the demands of the ever-changing knowledge economy, organizations must be aware of the knowledge sharing tools that are in use today, customizing the technology to help them maintain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace. Moreover because of the competitive environment the shift is towards agile paradigm. The outcome of this study will enable further under­standing of knowledge sharing in consulting companies and will therefore contribute towards successful implementation of knowledge sharing as part of organizational knowledge sharing culture. The limita­tions identińed were the use of interview as the only form of data collection, since the company did not authorize the collection of documents, the interviews were conducted via Skype®. The ńndings are based on one case study and the ńndings are not generalizable. The results of this research may be useful for academics and organizations because they deepen the discussion on knowledge sharing in global teams.

scholarly journals Connecting Inward and Outward Internationalisation of Malaysian SMEs: A Learning Approach

2018 ◽  
pp. 264-275
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Supplier Relationships ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Relationship

When SMEs are part of global value chain, the flows of information in cross-border buyer-supplier relationships which emerge from inward-outward internationalisation connections should be addressed. This study therefore investigates the learning processes of internationalising small and medium enterprises that engage in inward and outward internationalisation. Hence, this study adopts a qualitative case study approach based on ten cases of the internationalising SMEs in Malaysia. Semi-structured interviews with the Managing Directors of the selected SMEs were conducted over a two-year period. Additionally, participant observations were conducted by attending the meetings related to import-export activities and documentations were gathered for data triangulation Findings of this study highlights that the relationship with key foreign suppliers empowered case firms to connect inward to outward internationalisation through collaborative knowledge sharing. The distribution of knowledge through tacit-tacit and tacit-explicit knowledge sharing underpinned by formal planning was a prerequisite for inward-outward internationalisation connections to be established.

scholarly journals Sustaining Continuous Improvement: A Longitudinal and Regional Study

10.5772/56860 ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry J. Quesada-Pineda ◽  
Johanna Madrigal
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Employee Perceptions ◽  
Regional Study ◽  
Reduction Techniques ◽  
Five Factors ◽  
Quantitative Data Analysis

This paper presents the results of a longitudinal study of four continuous improvement (CI) leader companies in two different global regions. The goal of the research was to understand how employee perception of different factors that impact the long-term sustainability of the CI process might change over time. Quantitative data analysis was used to capture and statistically analyse employee perceptions by CI factor, time, and geographical location. After validation and reduction techniques were applied to the research model, five factors were singled out: change management, strategic planning, knowledge management, performance management, and sustainability of the CI process. For two of the four companies, no changes in perception were found during the period of study for any of the factors. For the other two, however, changes were perceived in at least one of the five constructs in the study. Changes were also found across the regions included. By leveraging the quantitative analysis with qualitative data collected through interviews and visits to the case study companies, we were able to explain the changes in perception and single out the best CI management process to sustain CI in the long term.

Social impacts of a short-distance relocation process and new ways of working

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti Christersson ◽  
Christopher Heywood ◽  
Peggie Rothe
Keyword(s):  
Short Distance ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Social Impacts ◽  
Employee Perceptions ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Ways Of Working ◽  
The Social ◽  
Organizational Relocation

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the social impacts of short-distance office relocation that also involved a new way of working, as perceived by employees during a relocation process. Relocation is any process of moving business premises and can consist of (often) significant change in locality, building change, workplace change and ways of working. This case study was not influenced by the effect of locality change making it hence a short-distance relocation. Design/methodology/approach The social impacts are analysed based on the perceptions of approximately 15 per cent (nine employees) of the case organization across the relocation process – two months before, one week before and four months after the move. The qualitative data collection is conducted by semi-structured interviews, supplemented by diaries and participatory action research. Findings Before the relocation, the subject organization’s old premises were considered inadequate. Still, employees had concerns during the process about the new open office environment including the adoption of new ways of working. Some employees did experience resistance towards the change, although the amount of engagement possibilities was deemed sufficient and engagement recognized as an important part of the process. After the relocation, adaptation was considered easier than originally anticipated and experiences of improved inter-team collaboration were reported by most while others experienced just the opposite, pointing out to emerging individual differences. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study arise mainly from the ability to statistically generalize on the basis of a single case study which this paper represents. Furthermore, since the last interviews were made four months after the move, all post-occupancy implications were possibly not yet fully experienced. Originality/value The paper provides information on the social impacts of organizational relocation process, as it identifies individual employee perceptions during a relocation process where locality change is minimal. Moreover, the threefold research approach across the relocation process enables the appearance of possible time-dependent development of adaptation to change in employee perceptions and these perceptions to be analysed in more detail.

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