A hybrid model of knowledge management for new service development

Although many theories regarding the implementation of knowledge management (KM) in organizations have been proposed and studied, most applications tend to stand alone without incorporating the business processes. Different categories of knowledge provide different benefits and how to integrate various categories of KM into a hybrid approach as an effective KM manner remains strategically important, and yet is still understudied. Therefore, in this paper a hybrid model that integrates principal KM applications for new service development (NSD) and the measurement of the resulting financial benefits have been developed. The proposed KM model incorporates newsgroups, knowledge forums, knowledge asset management and knowledge application processes as a hybrid means for sharing organizational knowledge along two axes, explicit vs. implicit and individual vs. collective. One of the largest management consulting companies in Taiwan, China, whose process model of NSD was standing alone with KM applications, was selected for the case study. A set of hybrid KM processes was developed to implement the proposed KM model, and it illustrates an application with greater financial benefits for integrating hybrid KM practices into the business process. Based on knowledge value added (KVA) validation, the proposed KM model provides a new operating system for sharing NSD knowledge within an organization. Through the case study by measuring the achieved financial results, the proposed KM model is found to provide an exclusive hybrid platform with an empirical process model to address innovative approaches and practical values of KM within an organization.     

社会系统学的系统仿真研究

社会系统的仿真研究涉及研究对象所处的现实空间、形成理论认知的意识空间与模型表述的虚拟空间.社会系统的仿真研究,应从本体论(研究对象)、方法论(研究方法)和认识论(知识管理)以及所获得理论知识的应用研究(信息系统模型)等方面进行.社会系统的知识管理包括:知识的学习;知识的选择、加工与组织;知识的运用.不同的社会系统会在知识管理的不同方面有所侧重.形成的组织知识结构应包括:业务知识、组织管理知识与系统文化知识.     

Insights into Operationalizing Communities of Practice from SSM-Based Inquiry Processes

Two systemic inquiries, based on soft systems methodology (SSM), into the potential for using community of practice (CoP) theory by an Australian-government created research and development corporation to change its knowledge management (KM) strategy, are reported. Key staff were engaged in the inquiry into how to build a third-order KM strategy based on CoPs; an exploration of key published work on CoPs yielded four SSM activity models—‘being a community practice system’; ‘doing the work of imagination sub-system’; ‘doing the work of alignment sub-system’ and ‘doing the work of engagement sub-system’. These models can be used as heuristics to aid the purposeful design of CoPs in other settings. SSM, enacted as a systemic inquiry, can be understood as a form of systemic action research, which was well equipped to deal with CoP theory and, when enacted participatively, can generate important systemic insights. The inquiry began the process of fostering an appreciation of third order KM but, on the evidence available, did not lead to on-going commitment to a CoPs-based KM strategy. Future research should acknowledge how the framing of research situations influences the research process, the importance of the design of practice change settings and the limited evidence for purposeful interventions leading to successful CoPs.     

Designing a Management System for a Rural Community Development Organization Using a Systemic Action Research Process

This paper describes the first phase, 'finding out', of a systemic participatory action research intervention in the management systems of a rural community development organization in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The aims of the intervention were to (a) improve the management system of this organization, and (b) evaluate the usefulness of particular systems methodologies for the improvement of management systems of organizations involved in community development in under-resourced rural contexts. The second phase, "implementation," needs to be completed and thoroughly evaluated before any final conclusions can be drawn about the suitability of the chosen systems framework for Third World type rural contexts. However, the second phase is, at the time of writing, underway and all indications are that an interpretive ('Soft') Systems Methodology, combined with insights from a more functionalist ('hard') approach (with methods chosen through a Critical Systems Thinking framework) holds much promise for participatory systemic interventions in these contexts.     

Practical Contributions of the Systems-Based Evolutionary Learning Laboratory to Knowledge and Stakeholder Management

This paper reports on a case study on improving the quality of life for women smallholder farmers in Vietnam, using the systems-based Evolutionary Learning Laboratory (ELLab) approach. The study aims to provide evidence of practical contributions of the ELLab to project stakeholder and knowledge management through the case study. A transformative learning framework was developed to provide initial reflections on the planning phase of the project. Practical contributions of the ELLab process to stakeholder identification and management, and knowledge creation during project planning and implementation are discussed. Strong evidence was found of transformations in awareness and perspectives amongst project actors that subsequently led to systemic and executable action plans. This clearly proved the value of the ELLab approach in informal transformative learning.     

Claremont Colleges Emergency Preparedness: An Action Research Initiative

This study examines the role of knowledge management systems in the context of emergency preparedness at Claremont University Consortium. The research objectives required the researcher's direct involvement with CUC. Canonical action research methodology was used to guide the project. Overall, the client was satisfied with the project's outcome. The researcher designed and implemented an instantiation of a web-based knowledge management system using Wiki technology. This system can assist CUC in overcoming some of its immediate concerns with emergency preparedness. These include the ability of the system to facilitate the communication process, and enable a more structured approach for documenting and storing emergency related information. The system as it exists today is subject to further improvement. This includes the need for continuous training with the system, improving the navigational aspects, and seeking a better fit between the system and the emergency planning and response processes.

Improving End User Behaviour in Password Utilization: An Action Research Initiative

This paper is about the design and implementation of techniques and strategies to improve end user behavior in the utilization of passwords within a formal setting. The researchers were requested to investigate the issues inherent in the password management and utilization procedure within the client organization and thereby improve end user behavior in utilization of passwords within the organization. The researchers completed an action research study and successfully implemented a training program to improve system users’ behavior related to passwords. They used a unique approach by designing training for creating passwords to fit with theories pertaining to human memory. In addition, the researchers also created and delivered security awareness training. The end users of the target information systems reported that after training they were able to use strong passwords (A strong password in our organization is one that has 15 characters with at least two numbers and one symbol) without writing them down. Requests to the help desk for password resets decreased. Users also reported that they are much more aware of security threats.

Making learning critical: Identity, emotion, and power in processes of management development

In recent years, a substantial volume of broadly critical knowledge of management and organization has been established, but comparatively little attention has been given to the question of how the insights of such knowledge might be communicated or applied pedagogically. The temptation or danger, arguably, is for critical knowledge to be substituted for the content of “traditional management education,” with minimal regard for its contribution to processes of personal, social, and organizational development. The chief purpose of this paper is to put some flesh on the claim that critical theory can make an important contribution to the principles and practice of management education. After summarizing some key differences between “traditional management education” and action learning (concerning learning and personal experience), these differences are illustrated by reference to a case study, which in turn, provides a basis for highlighting the relevance of critical thinking for addressing problems and issues thrown up through action learning for managers.     

Systems methods for environmental management

Changes in environmental research, planning, and management over the past 20 years have determined the requirements for new methodological approaches to connect environmental science and policy. This paper identifies the most prevalent directions in which the new approaches are heading based on an overview of five methods developed over the past 15–20 years. These include the environmental impact assessment methods, the adaptive environmental assessment and management approach, the environmental management and training games, decision support systems, and the policy exercise method. Conclusions of this overview are intended to provide guidelines for future methodological efforts to create better interfaces between environmental science and environmental policy.     

组织知识管理概念建模及其工具设计

知识管理就是组织利用信息和通信技术使得组织管理活动的主体主动地积累知识、方便地获取和使用知识。知识管理建模是组织实施知识管理的基础。将知识管理模型分解为组织战略、组织结构，组织过程和信息系统四个互补的子模型，利用基于XML的知识管理建模语言KMPL，开发了知识管理模型的可视化设计和完整性管理工具KMMT，很好地实现了对知识管理系统开芯的支持。     

Institutionalizing Insider Action Research Initiatives in Organizations: The Role of Learning Mechanisms

Managers face increasing pressure to find ways to surface, utilize and integrate bits and pieces of relevant knowledge that reside within and outside the organizational boundaries to address emerging challenges. Grappling with this issue and based on a longitudinal study with a biopharma company, this paper offers the notion that insider action research coupled with the design and management of learning mechanism tapestry can enhance continuous organizational learning and improvement. The institutionalization of the learning mechanism tapestry provided new capability that enhanced the organization’s agility as well as a way to stabilize insider action research role and practices.     

Diagnosis of Organizational Soft Problems in a Peruvian Financial Institution by Systemic Thinking

Managing financial institutions in an underdeveloped economic context has become a real challenge nowadays. In order to reach the organization’s planned goals, they have to deal with structural, behavioral and informational problems. From the systemic point of view, this situation gets even worse when the company does not present organizational boundaries and a cohesive identification for their stakeholders. Thus, European countries have some special financial lines in order to help the development of micro credit in Latin communities in an attempt to help the local economy. However, institutions like Caixa dos Andes in Peru present management problems when dealing with this complexity. Based on this, how can the systemic eye help in the diagnosis of soft problems of a Peruvian financial company? This study aims to diagnose soft problems of a Peruvian financial company based on soft variables like identity, communication and autonomy and also intends to identify possible ways to redesign its basic framework. The (VSM––Viable System Model) method from Beer (1967), applied in this diagnostic study, was used in a practical way as a management tool for organizations’ analysis and planning. By describing the VSM’s five systems, the creation of a systemic vision or a total vision is possible, showing the organization’s complexity from the inside. Some company’s soft problems like double control, inefficient use of physical and human resources, low information flows, slowness, etc. The VSM presented an organizational diagnosis indicating effective solutions that do integrate its five systems.     

DSS信息组织技术的现状与未来

DSS是一种为管理服务的信息系统。在现代社会, 决策任务、决策环境及决策过程是复杂多变的, 因此, 在这种信息系统中, 信息组织的结构、形态及加工处理方法, 都要与复杂多变的决策任务、决策环境及决策过程相适应, 才能为用户提供有效的决策支持。本文在回顾DSS二十年的发展历程中, 已经取得的信息组织技术成就基础上, 阐述了需要继续研究的各种技术方法, 并对进入21世纪未来十年DSS信息组织技术研究可能取得的突破作了进一步展望。     

一种基于角色的知识管理系统的动态组装模

在分析了知识管理系统(KMS)的组装技术和基于角色访问控制(RBAC)的特点的基础上,提出了一种基于角色的知识管理系统动态组装模型,并且还进一步给出了该模型中访问控制表的设计、知识管理系统的动态组装模型和客户程序与知识管理系统构成组件间的交互过程。基于角色的访问控制可以将KMS的使用置于多级的访问控制保护之下,增加了KMS与知识库的安全系数,从而有效地支持知识的动态重用、知识使用过程的动态重组,增强知识管理系统的分布式处理能力和规模可扩展能力,还可以在不影响KMS运行的前提下,实时的更新、升级系统的各个功能;易于实现有效的知识管理,以及知识资源的共享和充分运用。最后,通过一个实例说明了给出模型的实现技术。     

Competency-Based Model Through It: An Action Research Project

Competency-based management is a strategic approach for Human Resources Management and organizational change. Additionally, in business environment, information technologies competencies are a significant factor to organizational success (Bharadwaj, MIS Q 24(1):169–196, 2006). However the implementation of a model of competency-based management in business environment is difficult and complex (Lawler, J Organ Behav 15(1):3–15, 1993). In this context, Information systems are a suitable tool to manage individual and organizational knowledge (Alavi and Leidner, MIS Q 25(1):107–136, 2001; Bowman, Inf Syst Manag 19(3):32–40, 2002). This paper introduces a dynamic approach to a competency-based model through IT. We validate such approach through an action research project in RTVE, the largest company and reference public corporation of radio and television in Spain. The action research process in this organization is presented, and the findings highlight the potential benefits of the proposed model, and may be used in facilitating organizational change.     

求解多星任务规划问题的演化学习型蚁群算法

任务规划在成像卫星指挥控制过程中起着非常关键的作用, 在成像卫星应用系统中处于神经中枢的地位. 提出了一种求解多星任务规划问题的演化学习型蚁群算法: 在参数绩效知识的指导下, 采用动态参数模型为下次迭代随机选择较为合理的参数组合; 从优化过程中不断地抽取构件知识, 采用构件知识指导人工蚂蚁在后续优化过程中构建可行方案. 在蚁群算法、动态参数决策模型和构件知识的共同作用下, 演化学习型蚁群算法的优化绩效得到了极大提高. 采用多星任务规划问题的21个测试实例进行实验, 结果表明演化学习型蚁群算法在优化性能方面优于其他两种方法.     

Expert discovery and knowledge mining in complex multi-agent systems

Complex problem solving requires diverse expertise and multiple techniques. In order to solve such problems, complex multi-agent systems that include both of human experts and autonomous agents are required in many application domains. Most complex multi-agent systems work in open domains and include various heterogeneous agents. Due to the heterogeneity of agents and dynamic features of working environments, expertise and capabilities of agents might not be well estimated and presented in these systems. Therefore, how to discover useful knowledge from human and autonomous experts, make more accurate estimation for experts＇ capabilities and find out suitable expert（s） to solve incoming problems （＂Expert Mining＂） are important research issues in the area of multi-agent system. In this paper, we introduce an ontology-based approach for knowledge and expert mining in hybrid multi-agent systems. In this research, ontologies are hired to describe knowledge of the system. Knowledge and expert mining processes are executed as the system handles incoming problems. In this approach, we embed more self-learning and self-adjusting abilities in multi-agent systems, so as to help in discovering knowledge of heterogeneous experts of multi-agent systems.     

组织知识屏蔽与知识延迟的复杂性--学习型组织的知识动力哲学初探

从知识动力学的角度，对组织中的知识屏蔽和知识延迟现象进行了复杂性分析。该理论框架对知识管理、知识创新和学习型组织的研究具有创新意义。     

基于层次任务网络的应急资源协作规划方法

应急响应一般涉及多个部门,各参与部门需要通过合理的协调方法规划应对方案,协同使用应急资源是不同部门间应急行动方案制定的关键.为处理规划过程实时产生的资源冲突,文章提出了基于层次任务网络(hierarchical task network,HTN)的多部门分布式协作任务规划框架,将规划方案行动的生成过程作为需要考虑的协作问题,并通过协作过程与规划过程的嵌套,减少规划无效方案而提高协作效率.其次,探究并设计处理重用性资源的协调机制,使用多种优先级判断规则消解资源使用冲突.进一步,在建立的协作框架和资源协调机制的基础上,提出基于HTN的协作规划算法.最后通过实验案例说明了应急资源协作规划方法的应用,并对本方法的有效性和相对于原有方法的效率优势进行了验证.     

协同设计中人力资源、组织和知识管理的研究

从场景的角度分析了组织、成员、它们的知识和CSCW之间的关系和相互作用,强调了其重要性,提出一种基于角色的知识建模和管理的方法,最终实现了一个原型系统.该方法实现了对组织结构隐性知识的学习和团队与成员的知识管理,从而为协同设计中的知识管理和重用提供基础.