Seungkwon Jang

Knowledge management and process innovation: the knowledge transformation path in Samsung SDI

Explores the connection between knowledge management (KM) and process innovation (PI). Although these are popular themes in the literature on management innovation, there is not much discussions of these issues. On the one hand, KM has been treated as a managerial fad that is mainly focused on knowledge generation, dissemination, and utilization. Moreover, the advocates of KM seem to be concerned with building knowledge management systems (KMS). On the other hand, PI is regarded as an efficiency‐oriented process redesign and re‐engineering (or BPR), which seems to be nothing to do with KM. However, the case study of Samsung SDI shows that in the real world KM is deeply linked with PI. For illustrating the KM strategy of Samsung SDI, uses the term “PI‐based KM”. Sheds light on two points: the features of process knowledge can be studied in the sense that knowledge associated with process is dubbed “process knowledge”; and socio‐cultural features of KM should be illustrated in terms of knowledge transformation path in the information space.

Analysing South Korea's ICT for Development Aid Programme

Since the year 2000, there has been a significant growth in the ICT4D component of South Koreas aid programme. Given Koreas ICT capabilities and demands for ICT4D support from developing nations, this may make good sense. In this paper, though, we analyse a little deeper, starting to ask some initial questions about underlying perspectives and actual performance. We provide an overview of ICT4D expenditure levels, programmes, and key actors. We then reflect field data to date, which suggests some question marks over Koreas telecentre projects, some potential inequity in impacts, and a focus on Korean production of ICT goods and services. We analyse Korean ICT4D in terms of some basic concepts to find it associated with technological‐determinism and techno‐optimism, with the modernisation paradigm, with tied aid, and with the potential for creating dependency. However, Korea may not be unique among ICT4D actors in this and, in some ways, its techno‐optimism may be a useful counter to the techno‐pessimism that seems to have infected some Western donors. We conclude by noting some recommendations for Koreas ICT4D programme, and reflecting that Korea may be representative of a wider new wave of ICT4D donors such as India and China which may not follow quite the same line as Western donors.

The Internet dilemma and control policy: political and economic implications of the Internet in North Korea

Abstract The Internet poses a “dilemma” to authoritarian countries. While it can bring economic dynamism to a country, it can also cause political destabilization by enabling economic and political information to flow freely beyond governmental control. Internet policies vary from country to country depending upon their own strategies, their level of economic development and international politics. This paper discusses and examines political and economic implications of the Internet in North Korea in relation to theories and notions of the Internet dilemma and control policy in authoritarian regimes. North Korea cannot move drastically from its restrictive and reactive Internet policy to a proactive policy unless there are radical changes of the regime with regard to international relations and economic development. It is expected that North Korea will gradually experiment building and using an intranet internally, and increase the level of Internet opening while arranging technological and institutional ...

Becoming a Fast Learner in Offshore Software Outsourcing: The Case of Vietnam's FPT Software

Owing to Indias success, offshore software outsourcing attracts much attention from developing countries as a strategic industry for economic development. Vietnam wants to follow the Indian way of development in its software industry. FPT Software is one of the top performers among software companies in Vietnam. This paper aims to investigate the success factors of the largest offshore software outsourcing company in Vietnam. We argue the key success factor of FPT Software is its learning capabilities. Based on the theories of organizational learning, we propose one aspect of organizational learning processes, i.e., knowledge acquisition, as a key to explaining how FPT Software became a fast learner. While discussing the significance of this process in the companys organizational learning, we identify and discuss the roles played by actors in the case including the CEO, Japanese clients, Indian and Chinese competitors. In conclusion, we contend organizational learning is a key success factor of developing offshore software outsourcing businesses.

An evolutionary stage model of cyberspace: a case study of Samsung Economic Research Institute

An evolutionary stage model of cyberspace is proposed based on the four key fundamental driving forces: Moore’s Law, Gilder’s Law, Metcalfe’s Law, and the Law of Disruption. It is suggested that the managerial tasks and information and communication technologies associated with the utilization of cyberspace will change in character over a period of time, and will evolve in patterns roughly related to the proposed four stages, namely, the node stage, the link stage, the network stage, and the space stage. Each stage is described and validated through a longitudinal single-case study of Samsung Economic Research Institute (SERI) from 1996 to 2001.

Knowledge activity processes and knowledge management system: An empirical examination of the relationship between behavioral features of knowledge management system

This paper explores problems of knowledge management through the comparison between IT-based approach and human centered approach. By investigating the practice of a Korean company, Samsung SDS, we can evaluate the level of KM efforts and figure out the KM effectiveness. We investigate these themes using two different data sets from log data and questionnaire and studied the relationship between two approaches. Based on the comparison of these data sets, we can illustrate to what extent the companies achieve strategic knowledge management intention and real performance. In this regard, we attempt to integrate different knowledge management strategy and dynamic process of knowledge management.

Technological learning in development of nuclear fuel tube: a case of KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)

The aims of the research are to describe the RD and to analyse how KAERI is catching up their technological capabilities in nuclear fuel related technology, and what the success factors of KAERI are. We employ a case study with in-depth interviews and document analysis. Thus we are able to address how ‘external management’ and ‘cooperative strategy’ with key suppliers, customers and complementors of KEARI have been applied. External management with cooperative strategy is played as a critical facet of R&D in atomic energy research due to its safety and credibility issues as well as international politics in the Korean Peninsula where geopolitics have mattered even in pure commercial R&D for nuclear power plants. So we emphasise external management rather than internally focused management that usually highlights the significances of researchers’ motivation, commitment and competencies.