Karol I. Pelc

A model of knowledge processes in a manufacturing company

Purpose – The core purpose is to offer a framework that integrates key insights from the literature on knowledge creation, learning and problem solving in conjunction with mapping of customer needs into a closed loop model of knowledge processes in a manufacturing environment.Design/methodology/approach – Based on review of literature on knowledge creation and synthesis of a conceptual model that connects the life‐cycle of knowledge and know‐how with core product and business processes of a manufacturing company. Specification of requirements and design of a managerial dashboard are illustrated with a case of a medium‐sized manufacturing company.Findings – The paper presents properties of knowledge and know‐how creation processes in manufacturing environment and proposes the integrated model of those processes. Furthermore, the paper recommends a four‐stage approach that can be utilized to create a firm‐specific knowledge management system. The model is applied for design of a managerial dashboard system ...

Improvisation model for team performance enhancement in a manufacturing environment

Purpose – The core purpose of the paper is to propose that improvisational practices have the potential to bring an additional dimension to the learning process in a typical manufacturing organization governed by a culture‐implied “plan what we do and do what we plan” environment. In todays turbulent environment employees should possess both the capability to follow a plan, while at the same time remaining able to respond instinctively to outcomes that are unexpected.Design/methodology/approach – Several authors view the concept of improvisation associated with performing arts and creativity‐based artistic productions such as jazz performance, comedy and improvisational theater as a model to shape organizational processes. The instances of improvisation cited in the literature are first classified as either proactive or reactive. Using the jazz metaphor, the paper offers a model of decision making by an agent and a process view of communication.Findings – The authors propose that a culture of a manufactu...

Patterns of knowledge generating networks

The paper presents a concept of knowledge generating network as a model of an R&D system. Conceptual, personal and organizational networks are reviewed and an integrated model of a knowledge generating system for technological innovation is proposed. This model assumes that organizational networks support connections among individual researchers (personal network) who create new concepts and solutions which add to the conceptual network. A hypothesis is presented concerning possibility of using the neural network as a metaphor in further studies on R&D networks.

Analysis of human needs as a basis for research policy

Abstract The authors postulate the necessity of establishing a coherent system of socio-economic goals and say that the analysis of human needs and studies of the dynamics of their satisfaction can become the means for goal-setting. They refer to the psychological theory of human needs [1, 2] enabling the decomposition of goals and quantification of requirements concerning the satisfaction of particular categories of needs. The model of needs is discussed and its usefulness for forecasting of the tasks of research and technology is shown. The program design based on the concept of the model should include such elements as diagnosis of the current state of needs satisfaction, diagnosis of the current state of identified desires, assessment of areas of needs dissatisfaction expected in the future, forecasts of the development of the system of needs, analysis, and evaluation of the present and future opportunities, and forecasts of barriers to growth. Decomposition of goals and dynamic analysis of needs satisfaction allow one to make a hierarchy of research projects from the point of view of their social importance.

Diffusion of innovation in social networking

The purpose of this paper was is to present a model of innovation diffusion process applicable for analysis of innovation in social networking. Until recently, the innovation diffusion was measured by the rate of adoption expressed by the number of adopters versus time or by penetration rate within given population. On the basis of literature review and available empirical data, a new, additional dimension called “interactivity level” is proposed in this paper. It is specific to innovations in social networking, where the main purpose of innovation is to improve interactive contacts among actors in a network. The interactivity level reflects amount of active knowledge and effective use of social media/technologies. This dimension has not been systematically studied yet. However, some recent surveys of social media users demonstrate a need and suggest application of that dimension. It is possible to improve evaluation of diffusion of innovation in social networking by introducing a scale of interactivity level, expressed by the mode/scope and intensity of interactive contacts among users of different social media. Such approach implies that adoption of innovation should not be viewed just as an event but rather as a learning process of each adopter. Hence, some phases of that process need to be identified and assessed in terms of dynamics of learning. Six basic phases of this process are proposed in this paper. Comparative study of average interactivity levels of users in different countries is proposed as an indicator of evolution of social media in the global business environment.

Multiple perspectives on knowledge generating networks

Summary form only given. In management of technology, we need to deal with several knowledge-related processes such as knowledge generation, knowledge acquisition, knowledge transfer etc. The knowledge network becomes a common form of knowledge creation structure for both the basic scientific research and the technological R&D. The knowledge generating network (KGN) represents a new challenge as an object of management because it is different from any conventional form of R&D organization. Instead of being a strictly defined organizational unit, with its boundaries of responsibility and range of resources, KGN is a structure that is fuzzy in its nature, partly open, requires a different system of control, motivation and evaluation. The technology manager needs to take into consideration a number of specific properties of KGN and to view it as a sociotechnical community. KGN contributes differently to different elements of R&D process. A review of those elements and functions that KGN may perform, in case of basic research and in technologically oriented R&D, indicates that importance of KGN depends on the phase of respective process. Two levels of importance: high and low are distinguished in tables illustrating that dependence. The Linstone multiple perspective approach to analysis of complex sociotechnical systems allowed us to identify twelve properties that have impact on performance of all major functions within the R&D process. The system under consideration (i.e. KGN) is viewed simultaneously from personal, organizational and technical perspectives.