Crowdsourced Knowledge in Organizational Decision Making

Inefficiencies naturally form as organizations grow in size and complexity. The knowledge required to address these inefficiencies is often stove-piped across different organizational silos, geographic locations, and professional disciplines. Crowdsourcing provides a way to tap into the knowledge and experiences of diverse groups of people to rapidly identify and more effectively solve inefficiencies. We developed a prototype crowdsourcing system based on design thinking practices to allow employees to build a shared mental model and work collaboratively to identify, characterize, and rank inefficiencies, as well as to develop possible solutions. We conducted a study to assess how presenting crowdsourced knowledge (votes/preferences, supporting argumentation, etc.) from employees affected organizational Decision Makers (DMs). In spite of predictions that crowdsourced knowledge would influence their decisions, presenting this knowledge to DMs had no significant effect on their voting for various solutions. We found significant differences in the mental models of employees and DMs. We offer various explanations for this behavior based on rhetorical analysis and other survey responses from DMs and contributors. We further discuss different theoretical explanations, including the effects of various biases and decision inertia, and potential issues with the types of knowledge elicited and presented to DMs.

Substantiation of the Testimonial Knowledge in the Religious Epistemology: The Approach of J. Greco

Currently, the study of religious knowledge is carried out mainly within the framework of religious epistemology, which does not exclude its consideration from the standpoint of a non-cognitive approach, for example, fideism. However, the greatest interest is in cognitivism, whose proponents explore the problems of religious knowledge using a number of standards of classical epistemology, yet at the same time modify them, creating standards of religious epistemology proper. One of the authors who develop this direction is J. Greco, who continues the tradition of studying evidence ("testimonial evidence") and its role in the formation and functioning of religious consciousness. In an effort to organize witness knowledge, he tries to typologize it, distinguishing, on the one hand, knowledge presented as a set of witness data, and, on the other hand, as knowledge transmitted and assimilated in the processes of communication that take place, for example, within a religious community. J. Greco criticizes the arguments of skeptics who claim that it is impossible that the evidence can serve as a sufficient basis for religious belief. The article emphasizes the simplicity of such an approach, since J. Greco does not distinguish the types of knowledge that are formed as a result of evidence (in particular, reflexive and value-based knowledge, which are formed and assimilated in different ways), which are different in their epistemological characteristics. At the same time, he focuses on a problem that is significant not only for religious, but also for classical epistemology, namely, the influence of the moral authority of a particular form of comprehension of being (science, religion, etc.) and its specific representatives who develop the relevant knowledge on the assimilation of certain epistemic truths by both specialized communities (for example, the scientific community) and society as a whole. The philosophical arguments of J. Greco shows that the theme of religious evidence within the framework of classical epistemology is not reduced to banal statements that they do not meet the criteria generated by scientific knowledge. These reflections touch upon a number of topics relevant to this epistemology. At the same time, these arguments point to the need to develop a religious epistemology based on the specifics of religious knowledge with its own verification criteria and methodology for obtaining it.

Market knowledge acquisition and transfer in international SMEs: peculiarities, specifications and linkages to market success

PurposeThis paper aims to systematically review and evaluate extant literature on knowledge acquisition and transfer in international small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and to identify the requisite types of knowledge acquired and transferred in this context. The research further determines the mechanisms enabling SMEs to process this knowledge, unpacks the benefits of both knowledge acquisition and transfer for international SMEs and links them to the market success.Design/methodology/approachThe research has conducted a comprehensive systematic review of existing literature on market knowledge acquisition and its transfer, in the context of international SMEs, utilizing peer-reviewed articles published in top tier journals without any custom range of time.FindingsThe search strategy resulted in 37 reviewed academic articles, whose analysis identifies and elucidates on the best practices of knowledge acquisition and transfer in the context of international SMEs; the type of the knowledge acquired and transferred; the form and mechanism of the intersection of these processes; and the benefits gained. The findings, crucially, also identify and illuminate extant research gaps and insufficiencies and develop a comprehensive research agenda for the way forward.Originality/valueThe present study offers a uniquely comprehensive perspective on a topic of diachronic and, currently, rising significance to scholars and practitioners alike. Transcending its descriptive value, though, it further identifies extant knowledge deficiencies, it distils and consolidates critical knowledge and prescribes avenues for research towards the growth and development of international SMEs and born globals.

Simulation-Based Participatory Modelling in Urban and Production Logistics: A Review on Advances and Trends

Simulation-based participatory modelling allows integration of all types of knowledge including empirical, technical and scientific from all disciplines and domains. Thus, in recent years, the use of participatory modelling has been continuously increasing in many fields including logistics. With a view of achieving better understanding of the subject, this article systematically reviews the advances made in participatory modelling in the field of urban and production logistics in the last decade. It further reports the findings transparently following a categorization based on (i) the purpose of participatory modelling in the domain, and (ii) depending on the purpose how data is collected, processed and outcomes are presented. The review resulted in 97 articles which were analysed and categorized based on the above two questions formulated in the literature surveyed. The review revealed that apart from the three existing categories of purposes, namely, reflexive, descriptive and normative there is an emerging fourth category that was analytical in nature and 15 out of 97 articles analyzed belonged to this category. The authors decided to call this category analytical field empirical modelling which is primarily based on mathematical modelling and use of computational methods. We present these results with the help of a categorization. During the analysis for the second research question, we discovered that though the conventional ways of data collection and processing, such as interviews and workshops, which remain significantly present, in electronic data crowdsourcing and data processing via computational methods are emerging.

Knowledge Management and Improvement in Library Services at Fourah Bay College Library: a Statistical Approach

The purpose of the paper is to statistically examine the way knowledge management is done at Fourah Bay College in the improvement of library services with the aims of identifying the types of knowledge managed, facilities, equipment, and supplies; policies used to manage the knowledge; knowledge management acquisition skills; relevancy and challenges to managing knowledge at FBC library. The study was informed by the triangulation of the Staff and knowledge Continuum Theories which tend to fill the gap of Robertson and Brun(2021) who considered computer as explicit knowledge. But that gap was filled to indicate knowledge resided in computer as an implicit knowledge in this research. Data used for analysis were drawn from thirty-three(33) participants from six section with the use of questionnaires, personal interview and personal observations. A total of 33 questionnaires were returned in their complete forms and used for the analysis. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were performed by using SPSS version(16.0) to ascertain the relevance of managing knowledge at FBC library in enhancing efficient and effective service delivery. For inferential statistics both ANOVA and Chi-square hypothesis testing were used to test the variables. The key findings of the research revealed that FBC manages the different types of knowledge but the policies governing the management of knowledge are not popularized to staff to understand about the relevance of the management of knowledge at FBC library. For the ANOVA hypothesis testing, it revealed that the mean of the variables are not statistically different while the chi-square revealed that there is a statistical variance between the means of the variables. However, provision is made for further research to be done in order to complement this current research.

Kritik Ibn al-Jauzi Terhadap Hadis dalam Kitab Ihya Ulum ad-Din dan Pembelaan Abu al-Fadl al-Iraqi

In the world of Islamic intellectuals, Al-Ghazali is one of the Sufistic figures who understands Islam very well. Arguments and ways of thinking about philosophy, monotheism and others were able to become a bridge for Muslims in that era. But apart from the intellectual prowess of al-Ghazali can not be separated from the criticism of his thinking. Some scholars at that time tried to criticize al-Ghazali's thoughts, especially about the hadith arguments that he used in Islamic law. Some scholars' considered that al-Ghazali used the hadith maudlu'. This is as seen in one of his monumental works, Ihya 'Ulum ad-Din, both for the purpose of at-targhib (providing motivation) and at-tarhib (scaring), and/or fadhail al-a'mal (the virtue of attitude/ behavior). It is interesting to briefly examine the epistemological framework of hadith in al-Ghazali's thought, which according to some scholars' has a tasahhul (loose) attitude in terms of hadith transmission, thus drawing criticism from some scholars and even orientalists, and the basis held by al-Ghazali in narrating and using hadiths that are af and even willing' quality, especially those related to haram and halal. However, this monumental book by al-Ghazali is considered a very great book in its era until now because it includes various types of knowledge.

A Construção de Saberes no Trabalho do Tatuador: um Olhar sob a Perspectiva da Abordagem Estética

The present study analyzes how and what knowledge constitutes the daily work of tattooing in light of the organizational aesthetic approach. For this purpose, the authors explore the theme of knowledge at work by considering the knowledge produced in the daily life of this practice, analyzing the interaction between different knowings, artifacts, and practices. The study used techniques of participant observation and narrative interviews, with data analysis through thematic analysis of narratives. The practice of tattooing consists of six types of knowledge: (a) creation and/or reproduction of the design; (b) doings and sayings related to each practice; (c) manipulation of artifacts; (d) technique; (e) body movement; (f) activation of the human senses. Shedding light on the knowledge of the practice of tattooing brings to the focus of organizational studies the importance of the aesthetic dimension, proposing an alternative for the logical-rational understanding of the organizational context.

The Construction of Knowledge in the Work of a Tattoo Artist: A Look from the Perspective of Aesthetics

The present study analyzes how and what knowledge constitutes the daily work of tattooing in light of the organizational aesthetic approach. For this purpose, the authors explore the theme of knowledge at work by considering the knowledge produced in the daily life of this practice, analyzing the interaction between different knowings, artifacts, and practices. The study used techniques of participant observation and narrative interviews, with data analysis through thematic analysis of narratives. The practice of tattooing consists of six types of knowledge: (a) creation and/or reproduction of the design; (b) doings and sayings related to each practice; (c) manipulation of artifacts; (d) technique; (e) body movement; (f) activation of the human senses. Shedding light on the knowledge of the practice of tattooing brings to the focus of organizational studies the importance of the aesthetic dimension, proposing an alternative for the logical-rational understanding of the organizational context.

Metode Kitab Syarah Dalam Menetapkan Makna Hadis Berpandukan Dalil: Suatu Penelitian Awal

Syarah book or commentaries was embraced not only in the exposition of individual hadith of the Prophets SAW and hadith collections, but also in other sub disciplines such as the science of hadith transmission. The debate is so subtle and deep that it covers various types of knowledge. Therefore, there are difficulties in reviewing and filtering opinions on the meaning of hadith based on evidence (dalil). This article aims to identify and highlight the methods used by these books in establishing a meaning or description that coincides with the correct evidence and argumentations (pendalilan) or vice versa. The methodology used is the Library Method where relevant documents are collected and their contents are analyzed. A review of the practice of syarah books was conducted on selected sections of the following books; Fatḥ al-Bārī Šarḥ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Buḫārī, Iršād al-Sārī Šarḥ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Buḫārī, al-Mufhim Limā Uškila Min Talḫīs Saḥīḥ Muslim son of al-Tauḍīḥ Lišarḥ al-Jāmi ’al-Saḥīḥ. At least five (5) methods have been identified. First: List the Opinions and its Evidence (dalil), second: Discuss the Argumentations Used, third: State a View as Accurate (Rājiḥ), fourth: State the View is Not Based on Evidence or Argumentations That Are Not Strong and fifth: Indicate the Existence of Objection to a View. The findings of this study will ease the extraction of the meaning of the hadith that are aligned with the evidence of the syara’ (Islamic law).