Thesis (M.Agric.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, PIetermaritzburg, 2007. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / On title page: Master of Philosophy (Information and Knowledge Management). Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

There are three different uses of the term 'information' in ordinary language: in the restricted sense, it means diverse types of material objects, such as data or documents ('information as thing'); alternatively, the term is used as in reference to the act of informing or becoming informed ('information as process'), or to equate to knowledge ('information as knowledge'). Each of these connotations represents a legitimate view of information in its own right, being equally significant to information-intensive organisations. The literature lacks studies that approach information from an integrative viewpoint, however. The purpose of this study was to explore and develop the notion of 'information governance' as an integrative, systemic approach to information in the context of research organisations. Soft Systems Methodology was used in a case study involving the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. Qualitative data was gathered through in-depth interviews with researchers and information/knowledge managers, followed by a thematic, two-level analysis. From a 'macro level' of analysis (the wider Brazilian agricultural research system) it was found that, to solve increasingly complex research problems, collaborative, multidisciplinary networking is needed. On the other hand, competitive forces are continuously emanating from the systems of research steering, funds and resources' allocation, quality control, and recognition and reward. This conflict inhibits the collaborative sharing of 'information as thing' and 'as knowledge', disturbs internal communication flows and contributes to low levels of synergy and cross-departmental partnerships, ultimately affecting research outcomes. At a 'meso level' (the local practices and culture of agricultural knowledge production), different epistemic cultures were identified (named in vitro, in situ and in silico research), which respond differently to the opposing forces of collaboration and competition. Based on a deep understanding of the agricultural research system and underlying epistemic cultures, a framework for effective governance of information was developed. Action to improve the governance of information at Embrapa would involve nurturing an information culture that supports collaborative work. Given that interactions between researchers are determined by their individual pursuits and struggles, this would require a change in the corporate system of performance evaluation and reward, according to the different epistemic cultures.

A gestão da informação e do conhecimento (GIC) emerge em um contexto socioeconômico no qual a informação e o conhecimento são reconhecidos como um recurso. Um bem imaterial, inesgotável e com alto potencial para geração da sustentabilidade organizacional. Assim, vislumbra-se que este modelo gerencial atende as demandas de um novo comportamento organizacional, que busca compreender os impactos da criação e do uso da informação sobre a vantagem competitiva. Nessa linha, e tendo como objeto de estudo a relação entre a GIC e as competências organizacionais, buscou-se verificar o impacto da GIC sobre o surgimento de competências organizacionais, especialmente considerando a utilização do Dspace, um repositório digital. Por meio da aplicação da metodologia exploratória-descritiva, elaborou-se um estudo sobre a experiência do uso da plataforma Dspace em um Tribunal da Justiça Trabalhista. A análise da literatura e do relato de experiência permitiu identificar que as técnicas de GIC colaboram para o estabelecimento das competências organizacionais, especialmente quando estas são consideradas a partir de uma visão holística que integra a necessidade informacional, os fluxos informacionais, a cultura informacional, o comportamento informacional e o uso da informação. Também identificou-se que os repositórios digitais podem ser um fator de influência para o desenvolvimento das competências organizacionais, uma vez que sua principal função é estruturar os ciclos informacionais para a geração de novos conhecimentos e, finalmente, constatou-se que o Dspace é uma ferramenta que apoia o desenvolvimento das competências organizacionais, pois permite criar um estoque de informações e/ou conhecimentos produzidos ou adquiridos pelas organizações, favorecendo o estabelecimento de um contexto capacitante ideal para aquisições de novas capacidades de agir. / The information and knowledge management emerges in a socioeconomic context in which information and knowledge are recognized as a resource. An immaterial and inexhaustible asset that has a high potential for generating organizational sustainability. Probably, this management tool meets the demands of a new organizational behavior, which seeks to understand the impact of the information creation and use on competitive advantage. Thus, and having as object of study the relationship between the information and knowledge and core competence, we sought to verify its impact on the emergence of core competence, especially considering the use of DSpace, a digital repository. Through the application of exploratory-descriptive methodology, a study about the experience of using the DSpace platform in a court of Labor Justice was done. The analysis of literature and experience report identifies that the techniques of information and knowledge management collaborates to establish the core competence, especially considering an integration between the informational needs, the information flows, the informational culture, information behavior and the use of information. In addition, it was found that digital repositories can be a factor of influence for the development of core competence, especially because its main function is structuring the informational cycle for generating new knowledge and, finally, it was found that the DSpace is an important tool, which supports the development of core competence. It allows creating a stock of information and/or knowledge produced or acquired by organizations, better supporting the establishment of an optimal enabling environment for acquisition of new capabilities to act.

A gestão da informação e do conhecimento (GIC) emerge em um contexto socioeconômico no qual a informação e o conhecimento são reconhecidos como um recurso. Um bem imaterial, inesgotável e com alto potencial para geração da sustentabilidade organizacional. Assim, vislumbra-se que este modelo gerencial atende as demandas de um novo comportamento organizacional, que busca compreender os impactos da criação e do uso da informação sobre a vantagem competitiva. Nessa linha, e tendo como objeto de estudo a relação entre a GIC e as competências organizacionais, buscou-se verificar o impacto da GIC sobre o surgimento de competências organizacionais, especialmente considerando a utilização do Dspace, um repositório digital. Por meio da aplicação da metodologia exploratória-descritiva, elaborou-se um estudo sobre a experiência do uso da plataforma Dspace em um Tribunal da Justiça Trabalhista. A análise da literatura e do relato de experiência permitiu identificar que as técnicas de GIC colaboram para o estabelecimento das competências organizacionais, especialmente quando estas são consideradas a partir de uma visão holística que integra a necessidade informacional, os fluxos informacionais, a cultura informacional, o comportamento informacional e o uso da informação. Também identificou-se que os repositórios digitais podem ser um fator de influência para o desenvolvimento das competências organizacionais, uma vez que sua principal função é estruturar os ciclos informacionais para a geração de novos conhecimentos e, finalmente, constatou-se que o Dspace é uma ferramenta que apoia o desenvolvimento das competências organizacionais, pois permite criar um estoque de informações e/ou conhecimentos produzidos ou adquiridos pelas organizações, favorecendo o estabelecimento de um contexto capacitante ideal para aquisições de novas capacidades de agir. / The information and knowledge management emerges in a socioeconomic context in which information and knowledge are recognized as a resource. An immaterial and inexhaustible asset that has a high potential for generating organizational sustainability. Probably, this management tool meets the demands of a new organizational behavior, which seeks to understand the impact of the information creation and use on competitive advantage. Thus, and having as object of study the relationship between the information and knowledge and core competence, we sought to verify its impact on the emergence of core competence, especially considering the use of DSpace, a digital repository. Through the application of exploratory-descriptive methodology, a study about the experience of using the DSpace platform in a court of Labor Justice was done. The analysis of literature and experience report identifies that the techniques of information and knowledge management collaborates to establish the core competence, especially considering an integration between the informational needs, the information flows, the informational culture, information behavior and the use of information. In addition, it was found that digital repositories can be a factor of influence for the development of core competence, especially because its main function is structuring the informational cycle for generating new knowledge and, finally, it was found that the DSpace is an important tool, which supports the development of core competence. It allows creating a stock of information and/or knowledge produced or acquired by organizations, better supporting the establishment of an optimal enabling environment for acquisition of new capabilities to act.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, 2004. / "Submitted as fulfilling the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree"-- t.p. "March 2004" Includes bibliographic references.

In this dissertation, we explore the potential of a forum to support collaboration and knowledge sharing among Virtual Communities of practice. We thus propose a coding scheme based on the Rainbow model and test it in order to analyze the content of two forums of R&D VcoP. We demonstrate that a forum supports asynchronous argumentative activities and thus enhances global collaboration and knowledge sharing among R&D VcoP members. We then propose an enriched model based on the work of Line Dube and tested it to characterize the R&D VcoP studied. We prove that the community configuration has a direct impact on the online dynamic of the community. We point out the main factors that play a key role in fostering online collaboration and knowledge sharing between R&D Virtual community members.

Many different approaches have been proposed with the aim of facilitating sound and successful information management (IM) and knowledge management (KM) practices within business contexts. These approaches seek to identify organizational factors (e.g. culture or information technology practices) or to suggest management processes (e.g. human resources management) required to establish environments conducive to IM and KM. Most of these approaches, often presented as frameworks (as they are referred to in this study) for organizational IM or KM, are exemplified by the following features.Firstly, they have emerged as unrelated notions, with little reference to each other or to foundational studies in the area. Secondly these frameworks are not based on any theoretical foundation. Thirdly, these frameworks have tended to focus on either information or knowledge management activities but not both, even though organizational IM and KM exist in a complementary and co-dependent relationship. The usefulness of these frameworks is made problematic by muddled use of the terms 'information', 'knowledge', 'IM' and 'KM', which are often transposed or used synonymously. The situation is further complicated by the inherent complexity of the organizational environments into which practitioners attempt to introduce information and knowledge management (IKM) initiatives. Early outputs of this research are explanations of how the terminology above is used in this study and a literature review that describes current IM and KM frameworks by analyzing their components. The literature review identifies current challenges in the research domain, including the need for sound foundation (referent model) on which future IKM frameworks can be based. A suitable referent model is proposed by integrating single and double feedback loops (from systems theory) with two concepts from the IM literature: IM processes and the domains of IM activity. Then, an interpretive multi-methodological research (MMR) approach is pursued consisting of three sequential phases: action research, transition and case study. The first phase, a 3-cycle action research project accompanied by a longitudinal descriptive case study and an embedded literature analysis, was conducted over a 31 month period. The key research outcome of the action research phase was a set of candidate enablers Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) in Business Contexts for organizational IKM, while the organizational deliverables included policies, strategies, process improvement and new information systems. The information gathered in phase one was rich and deep. However, in keeping with the goal of the research to produce a practical, useful IKM framework, the researcher sought a broader view from the IKM community. To achieve this practitioner view, a second research phase was designed to bridge the gap between the detailed examinations of IKM initiatives within one organizational environment, to the examination of IKM initiatives within other organizations. Therefore phase two - a transition phase - consisted of a series of surveys and interviews with IKM practitioners that explored their perceptions of organizational IKM activities and environments. The data collected in phase two supported the findings from phase one and informed the development of the case protocols for the third - case study - phase. In the third phase, six IKM projects in three organizations were studied. Documentary and interview data were examined to understand the relationships between IKM projects, the candidate enablers identified earlier in phases one and two, and other organizational factors implicated in IKM initiatives. When analyzed, the findings from the third phase converged with the data collected in the previous two phases, and provided a rich, deep and broad collection of material. The study culminates by synthesizing the data collected in the three research phases to (1) confirm a suitable referent model on which IKM frameworks can be based and (2) develop an integrated, multidimensional IKM framework that assimilates the referent model. The referent model, which is based on previous calls for IKM frameworks to have a sound theoretical foundation, incorporates two established concepts from the IKM literature: (a) the operational, analytical and strategic domains of IKM activity and (b) double and single loop feedback loops of systems thinking applied to IKM processes. The practical and flexible IKM framework, which assimilates these concepts, has three dimensions. These dimensions are (i) domains of IKM activity and feedback loops (ii) organizational enablers (iii) project context. It is envisaged that this framework be used by practitioners to identify and manage areas of the business environment that require attention to ensure success of IKM projects or initiatives.

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / South Africa held its first democratic election in 1994. At the moment, government has to address many injustices of the past. For this they need funds. The years before 1994 saw South Africa isolated from the rest of the world as a result of its human rights track record. As a result of this isolation, the government has not only inherited injustices that need to be addressed, but it also inherited debt, which needs to be repaid with interest. Therefore, the South African Revenue Service is tasked with the responsibility to ensure an inflow into government coffers. The South African Revenue Service has been constituted as an autonomous body in 1997. Although the task of revenue collection seems mundane, its enormity cannot be over-emphasised. The revenue it collects is needed to address issues of inequality such as: • equality of education; • restoration of basic living conditions, such as shelter and health care; and • upgrading and retaining skills in order to compete globally. The general perception is that the South African Revenue Service has achieved much through transformation projects in a very short period. Furthermore, the President is embarking on a mission to unite the African continent through various initiatives. Currently, perception gained from the media is that Africa is corrupt and lacks the economic will to change. The current study was undertaken to establish whether the model used by the South African Revenue Service, as perceived by the media, is well received. A positive media perception could pave the way for other government organisations as well as South Africa’s neighbours to enter into an information and knowledge sharing partnership with the South African Revenue Service to the benefit, not only of the country, but also of the continent as a whole. The conclusion drawn is that the South African Revenue Service is indeed an example to be proud of. They seem to have formed partnerships with business, professional bodies and foreign agents as well as with the ordinary man in the street to engage successfully in discussions, which will ultimately lead to the mutual benefit of all its stakeholders, internal and external. Finally, from a media perspective, the organisation is perceived to have done South Africans proud; however, it is also clear from media reports that room for improvement exists.

Submitted by Morgana Silva (morgana_linhares@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-09-02T16:57:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3280983 bytes, checksum: f92e1c6df6e4d2b135d9bdd19d8a7443 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-02T16:57:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3280983 bytes, checksum: f92e1c6df6e4d2b135d9bdd19d8a7443 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-30 / The sharing of information and knowledge in university libraries can be understood as a practice which can mobilize information and knowledge in order to generate new ones and organizational learning, necessary for the development of librarians activities. Thus, the objective is to analyze the share held among librarians of the “Sistema Integrado de Bibliotecas da Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (SIB/UEPB)”. As theoretical review, it is divided into two parts: an overview, converging on the area of information management and knowledge about sharing in the organizational environment with its practices, tools, influences and barriers, and; a view, focused on libraries and university librarians and their tools and sharing practices. From a methodological point of view, it is characterized, on the objectives, such as exploratory and descriptive, and the nature of the data, as quantitative qualitative. As a technique for data collection adopted the methodological triangulation, comprising: online survey, online focus groups and interviews with staff. The technique for analysis and interpretation of data was content analysis. By analyzing and interpreting the data, it was found that the share is held at the SIB / UEPB mainly informal practices, using e-mail, phone, social networking and conversations with colleagues. Librarians considered the environmental SIB / UEPB, most of the time, favorable to exchange information and knowledge. The barriers were related to geographical distance and lack of incentives. On the other hand, coordination and librarians possessed good will and interest in participating in activities that involve sharing. It is proposed an action plan for the systematic sharing among librarians of the SIB / UEPB, starting with the establishment of a responsible team and directing for the use of practices and systematic and formalized way tools. / O compartilhamento da informação e do conhecimento nas bibliotecas universitárias pode ser compreendido como uma prática capaz de mobilizar a informação e o conhecimento, com vista à geração de outros novos e da aprendizagem organizacional, necessários ao desenvolvimento das atividades bibliotecárias. Desta forma, objetiva-se analisar o compartilhamento realizado entre os bibliotecários do Sistema Integrado de Bibliotecas da Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (SIB/UEPB). Como revisão teórica, divide-se em duas partes: uma visão geral, convergindo para área da gestão da informação e do conhecimento, sobre o compartilhamento no ambiente organizacional, com suas práticas, ferramentas, influências e barreiras, e; uma visão focada nas bibliotecas e nos bibliotecários universitários e suas ferramentas e práticas de compartilhamento. Do ponto de vista metodológico, caracteriza-se, quanto aos objetivos, como exploratória e descritiva, e quanto à natureza dos dados, como quantiqualitativa. Como técnica para coleta de dados adotou-se a triangulação metodológica composta por: questionário online, grupo focal online e entrevista com pauta. A técnica para análise e interpretação dos dados foi a análise de conteúdo temática. Ao analisar e interpretar os dados constatou-se que o compartilhamento é realizado no SIB/UEPB principalmente por práticas informais, utilizando e-mail, telefone, redes sociais e conversas com colegas. Os bibliotecários consideraram o ambiente do SIB/UEPB, na maioria das vezes, favorável às trocas de informação e conhecimento. As barreiras encontradas foram relacionadas à distância geográfica e falta de incentivos. Por outro lado, a coordenação e os bibliotecários, possuíam boa vontade e interesse em participar de atividades que envolvem o compartilhamento. Propõem-se um plano de ações para o compartilhamento sistemático entre os bibliotecários do SIB/UEPB, iniciando com a constituição de uma equipe responsável e direcionando para a utilização de práticas e ferramentas de maneira sistematizada e formalizada.