Rachelle Bosua

Towards a model to explain knowledge sharing in complex organizational environments

Effective knowledge sharing underpins the day-to-day work activities in knowledge-intensive organizational environments. This paper integrates key concepts from the literature towards a model to explain effective knowledge sharing in such environments. It is proposed that the effectiveness of knowledge sharing is determined by the maturity of informal and formal social networks and a shared information and knowledge-based artefact network (AN) in a particular work context. It is further proposed that facilitating mechanisms within the social and ANs, and mechanisms that link these networks, affect the overall efficiency of knowledge sharing in complex environments. Three case studies are used to illustrate the model, highlighting typical knowledge-sharing problems that result when certain model elements are absent or insufficient in a particular environment. The model is discussed in terms of diagnosing knowledge-sharing problems, organizational knowledge strategy, and the role of information and communication technology in knowledge sharing.

Aligning strategies and processes in knowledge management: a framework

Purpose – Knowledge management (KM) has become a key driver of organisational performance. The existing literature suggests that many organisations fail in their attempts to align their KM strategies with knowledge processes within their organisation. Based on the management literature on alignment, there is a gap in the understanding of how an organisations KM strategy and KM processes in workgroups can be aligned. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate that alignment in terms of KM is important and underpins the improvement of KM processes in organisations. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case study research approach was used to examine alignment between strategy and processes of knowledge in organisations. In total, three case organisations representing different industry sectors were chosen to examine how organisations align their KM strategies with workgroup knowledge processes. Findings – This study proposes a Strategic-Workgroup Alignment Framework that explains the key alignment enablers and different alignment approaches required to align KM strategy with workgroup KM processes in organisations. Research limitations/implications – The authors acknowledge the limitations of this paper. Although the proposed framework provides valuable insights with respect to different alignment approaches, it does not specify how each alignment approach can be assessed in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. As part of the alignment approaches, this studys focus was between strategy and processes of knowledge: further research could bring to light new alignment options of knowledge and the associated implications. Originality/value – This study illustrates that organisations can improve the management of knowledge through alignment between KM strategies and KM processes. Such an improvement is also possible in the absence of a KM strategy emphasis, where alignment would require a deeper examination of workgroup knowledge processes. This study also identifies specific alignment enablers to align KM strategy and KM processes.

Roles enabling the mobilization of organizational knowledge

Purpose – Knowledge-based work is growing at a significant pace in the context of large organizations. As a consequence, use and transfer of knowledge are considered important activities of knowledge mobilization. Existing literature suggests that there is an increasing gap in the understanding of roles and typical responsibilities in knowledge mobilization. The purpose of this article is to examine how roles enable knowledge mobilization in large organizations. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative research design was used where three large organizations representing multiple sectors were selected to study roles that enable the mobilization of organizational knowledge. Findings – This study explains the understanding of five roles and their typical responsibilities to enable the mobilization of knowledge in large organizations – knowledge mentor, broker, taxonomist, content editor, and gatekeeper. These roles foster collaboration and communication activities within and between teams enabling knowle...

Exploring the use of Enterprise Content Management Systems in replication types of organizations

Depending on the nature of businesses, the use of ECMS can be very different from one organization to another. However, current understanding on why and how such variation exists is limited. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to better understand how highly standardized businesses known as replication organizations use ECMS to support their business processes. This research takes a view that there is an interaction between organizational context, ECMS technologies and users that shaped the ways ECMS are used. A case study approach was used to study this interaction in two replication organizations. Arising from these case studies are insights into the differing interactions that occur between institutional, interpretive and technological conditions that shaped ECMS-use. Based on the comparisons of the two cases, this study has concluded that replication organizations may use ECMS in three ways, for: (1) information sharing that supports a standardized process structure, (2) building custom workflows that support standardized processes, and (3) analysis and decision making. These findings make a significant contribution in such that there is a guide for organizations that are highly standardized to support employees in achieving their intended ECMS-use, to understand reasons for ECMS failures and underutilization and to exploit technologies investments.

Exploring innovation in regional manufacturing SMEs

ABSTRACT Continuous change and increased business complexity pose unique challenges to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to develop and sustain competitive advantage. These challenges are even more pronounced for SMEs in isolated regional areas, especially those that operate in the declining manufacturing industry. This paper explores key factors that regional SMEs draw on in their quest to survive and innovate in a changing business environment. Based on a qualitative interpretive research design, empirical evidence was gathered through personal interviews with business owners/managers of 19 regional Australian manufacturing SMEs. Three interrelated innovation factors were identified: (i) an emphasis on developing knowledge; (ii) openness to continuous learning; and (iii) engagement in social networking with various stakeholders. In addition, information technology plays an enabling and supportive role in strengthening regional manufacturing SMEs’ ability to be more innovative. Based on these findings, four propositions are suggested indicating how SMEs can use knowledge to foster innovation in a challenging and competitive business environment.

Modeling the effect of task interdependence on the relationship between transactive memory systems (TMS) quality and team performance

Task interdependence within teams is critical towards the teams performance. However, there has not been strong support in examining the effect of task interdependence on the relationship between Transactive Memory Systems (TMS) quality and team performance. Using a survey, this research examines the potential effects of the moderating and mediating effects between task interdependence towards team performance. A partial support was found in the mediating effect between task interdependence and team performance. However, a significant negative effect was obtained in the moderating effect between TMS quality and team performance. Both of these findings provide empirical evidence of the possible effects of the task interdependence between TMS quality and team performance.

Optimising healthcare ICT support for the care and management of elderly adults with mental illness in residential aged care facilities

Abstract The global increase of adult mental illness (Dementia and Alzheimer) in the 65 years and older age group, pose unique treatment challenges to residential aged care facility staff. Current residential aged care mental illness treatment plans for elderly adults are not customised according to individual personal needs. Such customization requires inputs from multiple stakeholders i.e. mentally ill adults, carers, medical professionals and clinicians, community mental healthcare service providers, family/relatives and friends. This research aims to develop an integrated ICT framework that supports customised treatment plans for adults with mental illness in residential aged care facilities. This research-in-progress outlines initial stages of a novel methodology to better support and enable individual care and treatment of adults with mental illness in residential aged care facilities. Application of this methodology will 1) identify key information needs for individualised mental illness treatment plans, 2) integrate and consolidate multiple information sources, 3) enhance aged care facility carers’ experience and understanding of the impact of mental illness on human behaviour, and 4) implement innovative ICT solutions that support individualised care and treatment plans.

Towards a Methodology for Nursing-Specific Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS)

Abstract Despite significant advances in Clinical Decision Support Systems, they have not been extensively used in nursing practice to date. One key problem is the failure of these systems to fully support actionable nursing practices that guide nurse decision-making. In addition, current workflow-related systems have failed to consider the specific workflow challenges associated with acute-care nursing. In response to these challenges, we describe a novel three-stage approach that builds and evaluates a meta-model that addresses key requirements of multi-level guideline-based clinical nursing-specific decision support. This research-in-progress presents the first two stages of this approach, highlighting the importance of meta-modelling as a tool to identify the essential system-centric information that underpins acute-care nursing practice.