Thesis (Ph.D)--Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Chair: Goel, Ashok; Committee Member: Eastman, Charles; Committee Member: Ferguson, Ronald; Committee Member: Glasgow, Janice; Committee Member: Nersessian, Nancy; Committee Member: Ram, Ashwin.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-200).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Computer Science and Software Engineering, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 171-185)

Thesis (M. S.)--Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006. / Gregory Corso, Committee Member ; Bruce Walker, Committee Chair ; Arthur Fisk, Committee Member.

Thesis (M. S.)--Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006. / Chirstopher Hertzog, Committee Member ; Ruth Kanfer, Committee Member ; Fredda Blanchard-Fields, Committee Chair.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 145-158).

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Key factors that drive the global information society include knowledge, networking, the Internet and virtualisation. Therefore it is important that the knowledge and information situated within a business or company must be effectively managed to gain a competitive edge. Knowledge and information mapping is a visual management tool that can assist companies and organisations in this quest. The primary objective of this study was to explore mapping as a visualisation tool that enables an organisation to manage and benefit from information and to visualise explicit knowledge that exists within the organisation. An additional objective was to study mapping as part of a visual business strategy. The first part of the study consisted of a literature review that focused on the many facets and interpretations of mapping. Related concepts were identified and defined. In order to understand the characteristics of mapping better, an analysis of the concepts information and knowledge mapping was done. Emphasis was placed on various techniques and their applications, as well as an interpretation of the relationship between the different concepts. To reveal these relationships, the applications of different mapping methods and the associations between them were evaluated. The study also focused on the use of information and knowledge mapping as part of a business strategy in organisations. To demonstrate the value of mapping as a business strategy, it was emphasized that mapping is truly a business opportunity enabler that can be used e.g. for concept mapping of business processes, core competencies, as an aid for gap analysis along with timelines, and as a tool for competitiveness. Finally, recommendations based on the results of the study are proposed in order to enhance the understanding of mapping as a concept, as well as the use thereof in the business environment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kernaspekte soos kennis, netwerke, die Internet en virtualisering beïnvloed die globale inligtingsgemeenskap. Om kompeterend te kan wees, moet bestuur plaasvind van die kennis en inligting wat in die organisasie of besigheid geleë is. Kennis- en inligtingskartering is 'n visuele bestuursmeganisme wat organisasies en besighede ondersteun met die bestuur van hierdie bronne. Die hoofdoel van die studie was om kartering as a visuele metode te evalueer wat organisasies in staat kan stel om inligting tot hulle voordeel te bestuur. Kartering kan benut word om spesifieke kennis wat binne die oganisasie bestaan, te visualiseer. 'n Bykomende doel was om kartering as deel van 'n visuele besigheidstrategie te bestudeer. Die eerste gedeelte van die studie bestaan uit 'n literatuuroorsig wat gefokus is op die verskeie fasette en interpretasies van kartering. Verwante konsepte is geïdentifiseer en gedefinieer. Om die eienskappe van kartering beter te begryp, is 'n analise van die begrippe inligting- en kenniskartering gedoen. Klem is geplaas op die verskeie tegnieke en hulle toepassings, sowel as op die interpretasie van die verwantskap tusen die verskillende konsepte. Om die verwantskappe tussen die konsepte beter te begryp, is die toepassings van die verskillende karteringsmetodes sowel as die verwantskappe tussen die metodes geëvalueer. Vervolgens is die gebruik van kartering as 'n besigheidstrategie in organisasies ondersoek. Deur klem te plaas op kartering, word die strategie qeïllusteer dat kartering as 'n besigheidsgeleentheidskepper gebruik kan word om bv. besigheidsprosesse en kernbevoegdhede te visualiseer, om tesame met die visualisering van effektiewe tydlyne as 'n hulpmiddel te dien om gapings te analiseer, en om bystand te verleen om kompeterend te kan wees. Ten laaste is aanbevelings en voorstelle wat gebaseer is op die studie gemaak, nie net om die begrip van die konsep kartering uit te lig nie, maar ook om die gebruik daarvan in die besigheidsomgewing te beklemtoon.

Knowledge sharing and information security have become well-established concepts in academia and within organisations. Knowledge sharing aims to encourage individuals to share tacit and explicit knowledge with colleagues and stakeholders, yet on the other hand, information security initiatives aim to apply controls and restrictions to the knowledge that can be shared and how it can be shared, where the primary focus is usually on protecting explicit knowledge or information. This thesis draws attention to the largely unexplored and under-developed area of knowledge protection ; it investigates the paradoxical and concurrent nature of knowledge sharing and information security practices by exploring their relationship and understanding how this can affect an organisation and subsequently identifies ways of achieving a balance between the two practices. The empirical work was carried out through an interpretivist case study approach in the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) an organisation that combines knowledge and expertise from partnerships with academia, industry and the UK government, in order to deliver innovative low carbon solutions. A novel team-based action learning approach was developed to generate individual, team and organisational learning and to help initiate change; the data was collected from three project teams about their knowledge and experiences of knowledge sharing and information security practices, which was then analysed and further supplemented with the ETI s organisational perspective and the researcher s own experience of collaborating with the ETI to contextualise the findings. Eight predominant overarching themes were identified that play an important role in and influence the organisation s knowledge sharing and information security practices. When looking at the practices of knowledge sharing and information security independently at the ETI, proactive and conscious efforts towards achieving the goals of each practice are evident. Knowledge is recognised as the ETI s core product and its effective dissemination is key for the organisation s success, which is why there is a keen attitude towards improving knowledge sharing internally and externally. On the other hand, a great deal of importance is given to protecting valuable knowledge and meeting stakeholders confidentiality requirements, thus, there are good systems, access controls, and information restrictions in place. In addition, strict legal and approval processes to protect information value and accuracy are implemented. However, when both knowledge sharing and information security - practices are compared from a broader perspective, evidence of issues arising from their conflicting nature is evident. Moreover, operating in a complex governance structure with various expectations and contractual agreements with stakeholders regarding confidentiality, has created a protective culture in the organisation surrounding its knowledge, which causes a hindrance to formal and informal knowledge sharing (including both, tacit and explicit forms) and makes identifying opportunities for fully exploiting knowledge and Intellectual Property an ongoing operational challenge. The research process facilitated the achievement of effective learning at individual, team and organisational level for the ETI about its practices, identification of challenges and areas of improvement, incorporation of learning and recommendations into its knowledge management strategy alongside existing activities to improve knowledge sharing. The contents of this thesis particularly the eight themes that have emerged from the research findings - are also contributing significantly to a project the organisation is carrying out to reflect on and review what has been learned from operating the ETI for the last 10 years. The thesis contributes to the existing body of knowledge, theoretically and practically, in the disciplines of knowledge management and information security; what was predominantly overlooked by previous literature, the empirical research findings surface evidence of the relationship between knowledge sharing and information security practices, showing their interconnectedness, and, the negative consequences of the two practices being treated and managed separately. For the action learning arena, a novel methodological approach underpinned by the action learning philosophy has been introduced that demonstrates how team action learning (i.e. using intact teams as opposed to conventional action learning teams) can be used to engage employees to share and combine their knowledge on real organisational issues, generate new learning and develop actions to initiate improvements in the organisation.

The study sought to investigate the system of knowledge production at AISA and assess the challenges of producing knowledge at the institution. The objectives of the study were to: identify AISA‟s main achievements in knowledge production; determine AISA‟s challenges in producing knowledge; find out how AISA‟s organizational culture impacts on internal knowledge production; and suggest ways of improving knowledge production at AISA. A case study was used as a research method and purposive sampling used to select 50 cases out of a study population of 70. Questionnaires were prepared and distributed to AISA employees and where possible face-to-face interviews were conducted. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze the data which were collected. Findings of the study may be used by governments across sub-Saharan Africa to produce relevant knowledge for formulating and implementing economic, social and technological policies. It is also important in identifying challenges that may hinder the successful production of knowledge. The study revealed that AISA has a well defined system of knowledge production and has had many achievements that have contributed to its relevance as a think tank today. The study found out that AISA has faced different challenges with the main one being organizational culture. From the findings, the researcher recommended that AISA should establish itself as a knowledge-based organization. It should also create a knowledge friendly culture as a framework for addressing the issue of organizational culture.