An exploratory study on the roles of network structure and knowledge processing orientation in work unit knowledge management

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seokwoo Song ◽  
Sridhar Nerur ◽  
James T.C. Teng
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Network Structure ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Work Unit ◽  
Knowledge Processing

Exploring effective work unit knowledge management (KM): roles of network, task, and KM strategies

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1614-1636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seokwoo Song ◽  
Jonghak Sun
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Network Structure ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Task Environment ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Work Unit ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effective Work ◽  
Survey Form ◽  
Km Strategy

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the potential contribution of inter-unit network structure and intra-unit task environment to the overall knowledge management (KM) effectiveness of an organization through different KM strategies.Design/methodology/approachThe survey method was used to empirically test the hypotheses. The authors administered two survey forms: a member-survey form that obtained responses from members of each work unit and a leader-survey form issued only to the leader of each unit to obtain his/her perception on inter-unit communications.FindingsThe findings indicate that both a unit’s boundary-spanning role and its extensive interaction with other units help promote the unit’s overall KM effectiveness. In addition, the authors found that task variety was significantly related to the use of both personalization and codification of KM strategies in the unit, and that a unit’s KM strategy played a mediating role between intra-unit task characteristics and KM effectiveness.Originality/valueFew studies have attempted to address what makes some work units within an organization more effective in their use of knowledge than others. This study provides an understanding of the influence of inter-unit social network structure on KM effectiveness, as well as the influence of intra-unit task environment and KM strategies on KM effectiveness. The findings suggest that inter-unit knowledge exchange and a unit’s brokering role can be a vital component of a work unit’s KM strategy, and that for successful KM in a work unit, an organization should not only establish appropriate inter-unit relationship but also develop the unit’s own KM strategies.

scholarly journals Identifying Integration and Differentiation in a Hospital’s Logistical System: A social network analysis of a case study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annelies van der Ham ◽  
Frits Van Merode ◽  
Dirk Ruwaard ◽  
Arno Van Raak
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Network Structure ◽  
Organization Theory ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Study Research ◽  
And Performance

Abstract Background Integration, the coordination and alignment of tasks, has been promoted widely in order to improve the performance of hospitals. Both organization theory and social network analysis offer perspectives on integration. This exploratory study research aims to understand how a hospital’s logistical system works, and in particular to what extent there is integration and differentiation. More specifically, it first describes how a hospital organizes logistical processes; second, it identifies the agents and the interactions for organizing logistical processes, and, third, it establishes the extent to which tasks are segmented into subsystems, which is referred to as differentiation, and whether these tasks are coordinated and aligned, thus achieving integration.Methods The study is based on case study research carried out in a hospital in the Netherlands. All logistical tasks that are executed for surgery patients were studied. Using a mixed method, data were collected from the Hospital Information System (HIS), documentation, observations and interviews. These data were used to perform a social network analysis and calculate the network metrics of the hospital network.Results This paper shows that 23 tasks are executed by 635 different agents who interact through 31,499 interaction links. The social network of the hospital demonstrates both integration and differentiation. The network appears to function differently from what is assumed in literature, as the network does not reflect the formal organizational structure of the hospital, and tasks are mainly executed across functional silos. Nurses and physicians perform integrative tasks and two agents who mainly coordinate the tasks in the network, have no hierarchical position towards other agents. The HIS does not seem to fulfill the interactional needs of agents. Conclusions This exploratory study reveals the network structure of a hospital. The cross-functional collaboration, the integration found, and position of managers, coordinators, nurses and doctors suggests a possible gap between organizational perspectives on hospitals and reality. This research sets a basis for further research that should focus on the relation between network structure and performance, on how integration is achieved and in what way organization theory concepts and social network analysis could be used in conjunction with one another.

scholarly journals Impact of Knowledge Management Infrastructure on Intellectual Capital

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-199
Author(s):  
Khaled Zaidan Abdul Hadi ◽  
Rawia Mohamed Wajih Jarges
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Statistical Methods ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Descriptive Method ◽  
Design And Construction

The research aims to demonstrate the impact of knowledge management infrastructure in intellectual capital through a exploratory study of the views of a sample of individuals in the Institute of Management / Rusafa. The interest in the knowledge management infrastructure contributes to increasing the effectiveness of the intellectual capital of the research sample. The research problem focused on the following questions: Is there a clear perception in the researched organization about the knowledge management infrastructure? Is there a clear perception in the researched organization about intellectual capital? What is the nature of the correlation and influence relationships between the knowledge management infrastructure and the intellectual capital? In order to answer the above questions, the analytical descriptive method was adopted through the design and construction of a scale that has the ability to measure the main dimensions of the research. The questionnaire (35) was distributed by means of an objective sample for a number of teachers as the research sample. In order to analyze the data, a set of statistical methods was used. The research found a significant correlation between the infrastructure of knowledge management and intellectual capital. A number of suggestions were made, including the need to pay attention to the knowledge management infrastructure, which would positively affect the intellectual capital of individuals and the overall performance of the researched organization.

scholarly journals Evidence Based Management for Learning: An Experiment

10.28945/3435 ◽  
2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samie Li Shang Ly ◽  
Raafat George Saadé
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Scientific Journal ◽  
Journal Article ◽  
Educational Practice ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Knowledge Processing ◽  
Immersive Learning ◽  
Desirable Outcome

In this study we combine an immersive learning environment, an evidence based management method and the knowledge management SECI mindset to investigate students’ learning from scientific journal articles. The study entailed the use of a web-based peer to peer system (P2PS) that, gives an identified subject matter, engages students in extracting knowledge from a source, processes that knowledge to create new knowledge, assesses each other’s works, and then creates a test on the subject matter. We found that the immersive learning environment engaged students and improved their examination performance. However, comparing two groups, exposed versus not exposed to scientific journal article, both focused on keywords alone for the knowledge processing. This was not a desirable outcome from the knowledge management process and the tool. We believe this outcome is a result of engrained traditional learning and driven by our wish to make a change in educational practice, we propose our e-pedagogy methodology as a learning foundation for knowledge processing.

Social Network Structures for Explicit, Tacit and Potential Knowledge

2011 ◽  
pp. 81-90
Author(s):  
Anssi Smedlund
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Tacit Knowledge ◽  
Network Structure ◽  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Network Structures ◽  
Underlying Assumption ◽  
Knowledge Assets ◽  
Social Network Structure

The purpose of this conceptual article is to develop argumentation of the knowledge assets of a firm as consisting of three constructs, to extend the conventional explicit, tacit dichotomy by including potential knowledge. The article highlights the role of knowledge, which has so far not been utilized in value creation. The underlying assumption in the article is that knowledge assets can be thought of as embedded in the relationships between individuals in the firm, rather than possessed by single actors. The concept of potential knowledge is explained with selected social network and knowledge management literature. The findings suggest that the ideal social network structure for explicit knowledge is centralized, for tacit knowledge it is distributed, and for potential knowledge decentralized. Practically, the article provides a framework for understanding the connection between knowledge assets and social network structures, thus helping managers of firms in designing suitable social network structures for different types of knowledge.

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