Thesis (M.A.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2004. / Restricted until October 2005. Bibliography: leaves 158-168.

We introduce a new methodological framework, called Bewextra, for the creation of the knowledge of needs in organizations. The development of our framework builds on theoretical engagement with literature from several disciplines including visioning and philosophy of needs as well as empirical data from vision development processes we have accompanied. To the best of our knowledge it is the first theoretical work that describes learning from an envisioned future and the generation of need knowledge as an abductive process in a methodologically replicable way. The advantages and practical implications of our method introduced are discussed in detail.

The thesis focuses on a knowledge management with the support of a talent management in an international bank and an insurance company. It analyses a talented person, their characteristics and the progress possibilities by a development program created according to an educational plan and a following evaluation. It looks for a connection between the talented person and the knowledge management, which supports their education by assigning the right meaning to the selected information in order to make it easier to share knowledge, create educational materials or offer internal courses with various trends.

Knowledge economy management literature is prolific but very little of the retrieved literature relates to the application of these management philosophies within the library and information services industry. The assumptions that underlie this research are in the first instance that, if it is not reported in the literature, it is questionable whether library and information services are implementing the new management practices. Secondly, a perception exists that knowledge economy management philosophies are only truly applicable when managing knowledge workers. Although the traditional 'administrative' or back office library environment is not seen as a knowledge worker domain, for the purpose of this study it was presumed that the advantages of these knowledge economy management philosophies are such that they should also be applicable within the back office environment. The purpose of the study was therefore to test the applicability of knowledge era management practice within an environment not associated with typical knowledge workers. Intellectual capital management was chosen as the core management philosophy to apply but the knowledge management as well as learning organization philosophies were also briefly reviewed. To measure success, a variety of measuring methodologies were investigated. Within the context of the research the most suitable methodology was identified as a hybrid version of Kaplan and Norton's balanced scorecard, based on the philosophy of the intangible asset monitor and including aspects of the value chain scoreboard. An opinion was expressed that the monitoring of intellectual capital growth needs to take place at both the individual and the organizational level if monitoring is to be of real objective value. Implementation of the management practice (intellectual capital management) occurred in two phases and stretched over a period close on 18 months. A situation analysis was done at the start of the research period. Kaplan and Norton's adapted scorecard framework was then utilized to set objectives for each of the two implementation phases. An adapted version of Sveiby's Affärsvärlden model was utilized to identify specific implementation actions and initiatives to be taken. All activities were structured into human, structural, customer and financial capital related issues. This was done to ensure that all capitals were addressed and to be able to measure growth in all of these areas. Measurement results were reported in an intellectual capital report, which was prepared at the end of the study period. The report identified both strengths and weaknesses in the intellectual capital of the service section. From the weaknesses, a number of priority actions were identified while the strengths provided a good lead as to what could be considered the good practice that should be continued. Stakeholders were asked to make use of a list of priority actions and to assist in identifying only those items that should be addressed after the completion of the research. The last chapter of this report was used to: · report and reflect on the results achieved; · identify the lessons learnt in the process of implementing intellectual capital management; · to make recommendations for the service unit; and · to provide recommendations for further study. In brief it is possible to say that intellectual capital management has been an appropriate management philosophy to use within the chosen service environment. It was therefore seen as appropriate to recommend that the principles and practices of intellectual capital management be rolled out to the rest of the service unit. / Dissertation (DPhil (Information Science))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Information Science / unrestricted

The purpose of this thesis is to explore how the unpredictability of climate change and natural disasters impact the risk perception of Swedish companies. The literature chapter that has been elaborated in this study describes theories that are associated with effects of climate change and natural disasters, risk management and knowledge. Further on, the research has been conducted with a qualitative method in order to gain a profounder understanding of the topic and how it influences the risk perception of Swedish companies. The study has further on been following a abductive research approach since the area of research was rather unexplored.  We present the results of our study by answering to the research questions in the conclusion chapter that have been derived from the analysis. Furthermore, the conclusion chapter involves that the risks perception of the studied companies differentiates depending on the level and type on knowledge that the companies hold.

The internationalization of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) has become a major worldwide trend. Firms internationalize predominantly to in nearby countries due to the fact that these countries are closer culturally and geographically. However, SMEs has started to enter more cultural and geographical distant markets. Emerging markets has been the focus of attention of Swedish SMEs during the last decades. Of those emerging markets India is one example of a foreign market that has experienced, to a large extent, the establishment of foreign companies in the past half a century. In the last decades India has undergone a remarkable change that has strengthened the establishment of foreign companies in the country. However, SMEs face risk and uncertainties when entering a new market like India. Therefore, companies need to acquire enough relevant knowledge about the country in order to identify and manage to potential risks that the might encounter. Although knowledge and risk management have extensively been studied, scholars have primarily studied them separately. Little attention has been given to the fact that the combination of knowledge and risk management might be the better solution to identify and manage risks in foreign countries. By analyzing the implementation of knowledge and risk management, it was possible to answer if through their utilization SMEs get a better understanding and be competitive in the Indian market. In order to conduct the study a qualitative case study to four Swedish SMEs was conducted. The collected data and the most significant theories chosen in this study are the starting point of the analysis. The main conclusion that can be drawn from the analysis is that, although knowledge and risk management are not SMEs main focus of attention, the combined utilization of them is beneficial for firms in foreign markets. Firms that better understand the foreign market and its risks are in a better position to be more competitive in that foreign market.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Sociology, December 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M. Ed.(Curriculum Studies))-University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Zugl.: Bremen, Univ., Diss., 2008

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