Knowledge-Intensive Evolutionary Algorithms for Solving a Healthcare Fleet Optimization Problem

In this chapter, the authors show how knowledge engineering techniques can be used to guide the definition of evolutionary algorithms (EA) for problems involving a large amount of structured data, through the resolution of a real problem. Various representations of the fitness functions, the genome, and mutation/crossover operators adapted to different types of problems (routing, scheduling, etc.) have been proposed in the literature. However, real problems including specific constraints (legal restrictions, specific usages, etc.) are often overlooked by the proposed generic models. To ensure that these constraints are effectively considered, the authors propose a methodology based on the structuring of the conceptual model underlying the problem, as a labelled domain ontology suitable for optimization by EA. The authors show that a precise definition of the knowledge model with a labelled domain ontology can be used to describe the chromosome, the evaluation functions, and the crossover and mutation operators. The authors show the details for a real implementation and some experimental results.

Exploring the Determinants Affecting Academics' Knowledge-Sharing Behavior in United Arab Emirates Public Universities

This chapter investigates knowledge-sharing practice among academics, examines the relationship between knowledge-sharing behavior and its predictors based on theory of planned behavior, and identifies the motivators and barriers affecting these predictors. Data were collected using a web-based questionnaire. Using SPSS and PLS-SEM, the analysis process involved (1) measuring the extent of knowledge sharing practice, (2) assessing the measurement model, (3) assessing the structural model, (4) testing the hypotheses, (5) validating research model fit. Results showed (1) great extent of knowledge-sharing practice, (2) knowledge-sharing behavior is significantly affected by intention, which is affected by attitude, subjective norms, self-efficacy, but not affected by controllability, (3) attitude is positively affected by trust and reputation as motivators of knowledge sharing, while controllability is negatively affected by lack of time and poor communication as barriers of knowledge sharing. This is the first research on knowledge-sharing behavior in higher education in UAE.

Knowledge-Scientific Evaluation of Social Service Systems

This chapter proposes a new evaluation method for social service systems in order to support participants to create new knowledge and value. The main proposal is a rating scale method that can evaluate the current level (as-is) and the future desire (to-be) of participants, and with which we can analyze achievements of individuals. By using a concrete example of an education program, which is a worth living discovery seminar for retired men, the chapter reports the results of hypothetical tests on the relationships between items of evaluation and an interesting finding related to the reason of differences in attitude of participants.

A Systems Theory of Organizational Information

Standing on both the Peircean pragmatism semiotics and the Churchmanian systems thinking, this chapter is an empirically grounded conceptualization of the phenomena of organizational information in terms of the nature and the formulation process of information in organizations. By the author's systemic conception, organizational information would be a unity that comprises six nonexclusive aspects: structure, function, process, context, time, and epistemology. From the relational perspective, organizational information would manifest itself as a dynamically triadic process that comprises three states of mind (i.e., surprise, doubt, and belief) and three human activities (i.e., experience, abduction, and inquiry). The author's system of organizational information introduces a foundational framework for both information and organization domains, which offers that information and organization constitute each other. The author also posits that the model of organizational information would imply an information paradigm for and hence a theory native to the information systems and knowledge management field.

Integration Between Knowledge Management and Total Quality Management in Jordanian Universities

Resulting from the development of management theory in the past few years, knowledge management has emerged, which is identifying information of value and how to use it well, as well as understanding cognitive assets of an organization and how to exploit them. Knowledge management is important and necessary for the survival of an organization and its superiority. It can be integrated into the philosophy of total quality management to play a role in the development of the basis of performance of modern organizations. The total quality management philosophy seeks to achieve customer satisfaction through the commitment of the leadership of an organization and its workers by a process of continuous improvement of the quality of performance in various aspects of an organization. This chapter aims to identify the integration between knowledge management and total quality management, when applied to public Jordanian universities as a sample for the study. The chapter found the presence of integrity and a strong correlation between knowledge management and total quality management.

Theorizing Sociomaterial Practices

The recent interest in sociomaterial practices and forms of imbrication of social and material resources in, for example, studies of the use of information technology and information systems in organizations, has called for new theoretical developments to enact and fully understand materiality. This chapter examines the work of French philosopher Gilbert Simondon as an important, yet to date little explored resource in organization studies. Following Orlikowski's call for a relational ontology apprehending the enfolding of materiality and social resources, Simondon's analytical framework, which includes key concepts such as individual-tion, transduction, and relations, is presented. The chapter contributes to the recent debates regarding how to theorize and examine material resources such as information and communication technologies used in organizations.

Knowledge Retention in Smaller Firms

In environments that are characterized by skill shortage, knowledge retention should be a key activity. Our understanding of this knowledge practice, however, is underdeveloped. The purpose of this chapter is to contribute to the further development of this field. The authors are interested in studying how smaller firms approach the retention of critical knowledge. Semi-structured interviews with organization members of five smaller Austrian firms operating in the building and construction industry were conducted. The findings presented in this chapter advance the limited understanding of knowledge retention in general and regarding smaller businesses. They also contribute to the further development of the study of knowledge management in the building and construction sector. Based on the study's findings, suitable measures to better manage the process of knowledge retention in smaller firms are derived. These measures may be useful for smaller firms operating in similar industries as well.

A Knowledge Creation Model for Graduate Research

This chapter proposes a model of knowledge creation and knowledge validation for the research of postgraduate students, and then introduces an evaluation method on research ability and research environment based on this model. The chapter reports the results of statistical analysis, using the data obtained by a questionnaire survey at a graduate school of computer science and technology. Among several discoveries, the great differences in the evaluation of research environment between teachers and students, and in the self-evaluation of research ability between female students and male students are noteworthy. It was confirmed that the proposed model and the evaluation method are effective for supporting research of graduate students.

Assessing Knowledge Management Performance in Organisations Based on the Criteria of Total Quality Management

Knowledge management (KM) has been gaining momentum as the means toward organisational growth. Recent literature also gives much prominence to emerging performance measurement (PM) systems for assessing performance. This chapter comprehends the concepts of integrating KM with PM, and in short, KM performance measures in organisations. It reviews the issues that surround KM/PM initiatives, and discusses the assessment criteria that integrate the philosophy and the principles of total quality management (TQM) with KM performance measures. Five KM/PM enablers/criteria are identified, namely 1) senior management leadership, 2) management by processes, 3) people development, 4) continuous improvement, and 5) results orientation. These concepts are constituted the development of an integrated knowledge management (IKM) model for assessing organisational KM performance. Future research could evaluate the efficacy of the IKM model, validate the key KM/PM criteria, and develop an implementation framework to foster the KM/PM efforts in organisations in different sectors.

Organizational Culture and Organizational Performance

Organizational cultures can have varying impacts on organization performance. Oftentimes, employees work harder to achieve organizational goals if they consider themselves to be part of the corporate culture. Different cultures operating in one company can also impact organization performance. Organizational culture is an important part to be considered by dynamic organizations in order to develop some competitive advantage to ensure enhanced organizational performance. This chapter aims to close the gap between understanding the role of organizational culture and the effect on organizational performance among the employees in insurance companies.