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

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-146
Author(s):  
Celina SOŁEK-BOROWSKA

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.

Author(s):  
Fahd-Omair Zaffar ◽  
Ahmad Ghazawneh

The developments of new technologies, new scientific initiatives and a new globalized market are giving rise to new forms of collaboration, referred to as mass collaboration. This phenomenon is mainly derived from communities and self-organization, and is based on Web 2.0 technologies, services and tools. This new form of collaboration and technologies are giving rise of emergent social software platforms (ESSP’s) that are adopted by firms worldwide. The main aim of this research is to understand how firms are using such new technologies and collaborative efforts to assist knowledge sharing to achieve objectified knowledge. Central to this research is the proposed knowledge sharing cycle model, which has three main stages - internalization, externalization, and objectification. This model is adapted based on the findings of a case study of internal social media strategy of IBM Corporation. The findings indicate that ESSP’s can be used to support knowledge sharing practices and to help convert knowledge into its different forms in enhancing knowledge acquisition.


Author(s):  
Dennis R. Jones ◽  
Michael J. Smith

New technology is dramatically changing the workplace by allowing companies to increase efficiency, productivity, quality, safety, and overall profitability. An effective new technology implementation is required for companies to compete successfully in the global marketplace. Time and money wasted on unsuccessful and improper new technology implementation is counterproductive to the overall goal of improving the competitiveness and profitability of the company. Teams and teamwork have been recommended as a way to improve efficiency, productivity, quality, safety, profitability, and employee satisfaction. With the utilization of total quality management (TQM) and quality improvement (QI), each of which rely on teamwork, new technology implementations have been more successful. New technology challenges the current state of traditional implementation methods and techniques. To effectively utilize these new technologies it is best to consider all of the factors involved in the implementation process; most importantly the human elements involved. It is recommended to utilize a cooperative team oriented approach to new technology implementation, which relies heavily on soliciting employee input and participation throughout the entire process. By doing this it is hoped that the new technology can be implemented in the most effective way possible. A case study is presented to illustrate this.


Author(s):  
Greg Langridge-Thomas ◽  
Philip Crowther ◽  
Caroline Westwood

The Royal Welsh Show (RWS), which is the largest event of its kind in Europe, is used as a single case study to examine events as a catalyst in the context of networks and the knowledge economy. The long-established essence of agricultural shows is a coalescing of dispersed populations in a temporary cluster, expressed most recently as ‘rural buzz’. This paper takes a new, and emerging, perspective of value and specifically examines how the show, through its manifold platforms and fusing of resources, generates network value. The RWS operates in a 176-acre showground, with exhibitors, partners, and close to 250,000 attendees, therefore engagement platforms are many and varied, and often co-produced. Thus, the event is a canopy, both within and beyond of its 4 days each July, for incalculable planned and less planned interactions and linkages. The event has been labelled ‘the nations true cauldron’, reflecting its proven potential to engage people, and organisations alike, and consequently co-create network value. The extensive case study includes 43 interviews and 1,322 questionnaires, in addition to archival research. The analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data is used to develop a ‘Taxonomy of Platforms’, exposing the multi-layered, co-creative, and pervasive approach to the generation of network value. The findings reveal the importance of such knowledge sharing and creation. Also evident is the manifest and focal role of the RWS in merging the events value creation partners and enabling linkages which can endure and underlie the stimulation and perpetuation of networks. The study endorses the virtue of the network lens through which to examine and reveal event induced value, but also as a way of more introspectively interpreting how value is extracted by event actors.


Author(s):  
Anne Namatsi Lutomia ◽  
Julia Bello-Bravo

This chapter contributes to critical inquiry literature regarding various ways that indigenous knowledge intersects with technology, especially in regards to female knowledge systems. Using Lave and Wenger's community of practice framework, this chapter illustrates how animations assist women in knowledge sharing on best practices in shea butter processing. Making use of state of the art technology, “Scientific Animations Without Borders” (SAWBO) proposes a new approach to capture, preserve and share indigenous knowledge globally. This program creates short animations showing scientific best practices, while still incorporating indigenous knowledge. These animations can be viewed with video capable cell-phones or on portable projection systems. This approach has the potential to keep indigenous and local knowledge alive, and allow for its spread across geopolitical, cultural and linguistic borders. Through this case study of shea producers, the authors examine how video animations provide a mechanism that amplifies traditional knowledge sharing through new technologies.


Challenges ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Mieras ◽  
Anne Gaasbeek ◽  
Daniël Kan

Technologies such as blockchain, big data, and the Internet of Things provide new opportunities for improving and scaling up the collection of life cycle inventory (LCI) data. Unfortunately, not all new technologies are adopted, which means that their potential is not fully exploited. The objective of this case study is to show how technological innovations can contribute to the collection of data and the calculation of carbon footprints at a mass scale, but also that technology alone is not sufficient. Social innovation is needed in order to seize the opportunities that these new technologies can provide. The result of the case study is real-life, large-scale data collected from the entire Dutch dairy sector and the calculation of each individual farm’s carbon footprint. To achieve this, it was important to (1) identify how members of a community can contribute, (2) link their activities to the value it brings them, and (3) consider how to balance effort and result. The case study brought forward two key success factors in order to achieve this: (1) make it easy to integrate data collection in farmers’ daily work, and (2) show the benefits so that farmers are motivated to participate. The pragmatic approach described in the case study can also be applied to other situations in order to accelerate the adoption of new technologies, with the goal to improve data collection at scale and the availability of high-quality data.


1987 ◽  
Vol 26 (02) ◽  
pp. 73-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Rowan ◽  
P. Byass ◽  
R. W. Snow

SummaryThis paper reports on a computerised approach to the management of an epidemiological field trial, which aimed at determining the effects of insecticide-impregnated bed nets on the incidence of malaria in children. The development of a data system satisfying the requirements of the project and its implementation using a database management system are discussed. The advantages of this method of management in terms of rapid processing of and access to data from the study are described, together with the completion rates and error rates observed in data collection.


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