Knowledge is power, and in business, an essential part in creating a competitive edge. Throughout history, the acquisition and reuse of knowledge has always been the key to success. Today, the systems and infrastructure for knowledge reuse are in place and very effective, but we must abandon the reliance on technology to answer all our remaining needs in this area. Computer databases are only as good as the individuals who enter the data. It's time to refocus on the human, natures own mechanism, which holds in it, perhaps the most powerful and vast of all database systems, the brain. We must nurture, guide, encourage, and train it to fulfill its own amazing potential. The theme of this research is to explore Markus¡¦ (2001) nascent theory of knowledge reuse, which focuses on the greater importance of the system, rather than the individual. This research focuses on the individual, and a conceptual framework is developed for future empirical research. Within this framework, there are seven factors: characteristics of knowledge producers and re-users, the role of human intermediaries, social presence, knowledge quality, document quality, and organization factors all of which affect the intention of knowledge reuse. There are four human factors which stand at the forefront of improving knowledge reuse today: 1. The knowledge provider who can express tacit knowledge in the most explicit manner; 2. The intermediary who can not only grasp the importance contained within the source material, but anticipate how best to format it so it will be useful to a wide variety of re-users; 3. The level of feedback from re-user, and the willingness of providers and intermediaries to accept this feedback, and adapt to the ever-changing needs of the re-user; and 4. Social presence enhances the ability to obtain tacit knowledge and has a positive affect for strong intention of reuse.

Abstract A PROCESS TO REUSE EXPERIENCES VIA NARRATIVES AMONG SOFTWARE PROJECT MANAGERS By STACIE CLARK PETTER APRIL, 2006 Committee Chair: Dr. Vijay Vaishnavi Major Department: Computer Information Systems Software project management is a complex process requiring extensive planning, effective decision-making, and proper monitoring throughout the course of a project. Unfortunately, software project managers rarely capture and reuse the knowledge gained during a project on subsequent projects. To enable the repetition of prior successes and avoidance of previous mistakes, I propose that software project managers can improve their management abilities by reusing their own and others’ past experiences with written narratives. I use multiple methodologies – including literature review, grounded theory, design science research, and experimentation – to create a process for software project managers to reuse knowledge gained through experiences on software projects. In the literature review, I examine relevant research areas to inspire ideas on how to reuse knowledge via written narratives in software project management. Interviews with software project managers, analyzed using grounded theory, provide insight into the current challenges of reusing knowledge during a project. I leverage design science research methodology to develop a process of experience reuse that incorporates narratives and wikis to enable software project managers to share their experiences using written narratives. Experimentation evaluates whether the process developed using the design science research methodology improves the current knowledge reuse practices of software project managers.

Design reuse is an approach in which the creation of new designs is based on the identification of previously employed solutions and the incorporation of those into new contexts. This notion has been extensively studied especially by software engineers. This research seeks to support the reuse of design knowledge in the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) community in creating new designs as it is generally argued that reuse has the potential to reduce development time and costs. Efforts to reuse design elements in HCI, often in the form of design patterns, are slowly emerging. This work seeks to facilitate the reuse of design knowledge in the form of claims. To achieve this goal, the notion of claim relationships—descriptions of connections between claims that emerge in design—is introduced as a mechanism to facilitate reuse. Claims relationships can be used to connect a collection of reusable claims so that they can be searched, understood, tailored, and integrated into new designs. A method for how to use the relationships is presented to aid in the creation of scenarios. Through a series of studies starting from the use of relationships to locate and reuse claims to the use of cards sets incorporating images and rationale for storyboards, the potential for relationships is demonstrated. These works inform the design and evaluation of a storyboarding tool called PIC-UP. PIC-UP is introduced as an example of how relationships can be utilized in the creation of storyboards made of reusable artifacts in the form of claims. Studies of PIC-UP position the tool as one that enables the reuse through the use of a storyboarding guide and social navigation by collecting and sharing claims. It shows potential in aiding novice and non-designers and can serve as a communication tool. / Ph. D.

No / This paper presents a discussion based on a literature review and a case study on the suitability of using an intranet as a platform to implement Knowledge Management System (KMS). A description of Knowledge Management (KM) and the current research carried out in this area, with examples of web-based KMS systems currently implemented in organisations, are presented. Further, this paper then describes how knowledge mapping of an organisation's intranet as a form of a KMS can be used to promote the re-utilisation of knowledge, which will contribute to the competitiveness of the organisation. A case study that illustrates and presents evidence of the need and suitability of such a system is provided. The paper ends with a proposal for future research to be carried out in this area.

Considerable research has focused on understanding the journey of knowledge from inception to application. However, this body of work often needs more exploration of how knowledge is effectively utilized for strategic advancement within an organization once it reaches its destination. Moreover, existing research has primarily concentrated on large corporations, neglecting small to medium-sized businesses, particularly those in the nonprofit sector. My dissertation addressed this gap by developing a model that comprehensively examined how employees within nonprofit membership-based organizations leverage knowledge. I defined knowledge leveraging as the proactive use of accumulated knowledge to enhance an organization’s strategic performance through mission-critical activities. I proposed six hypotheses within this model to deepen our understanding of knowledge utilization and its subsequent impact. The findings supported the knowledge leveraging (KL) model, with two distinct scales identified: individual (KL-I) and team (KL-T). The model was only partially substantiated because many hypotheses were not supported. However, the results still suggest promising opportunities for future studies on this emerging topic. / Business Administration/Strategic Management

Purpose The purpose of this case study is to understand how inter-organizational knowledge management is conducted in an economic association by analysing how different actor representatives perceive the inter-organizational collaboration. Design/methodology/approach The method of this study is qualitative, with a single case study of an economic association in Dalarna, Sweden. The interviews were of semi-structured character. A total of nine respondents were interviewed; four respondents from private member organizations, three respondents from public member organizations and two respondents employed by the economic association. Findings and conclusion Six themes were found that together answers the purpose of this study. These themes are personalization, codification, collaboration, conditions, capabilities and challenges. The personalization strategy from the knowledge management framework by Hansen et al (1999) is suggested to be the main strategy in the case of the economic association, while the codification strategy is the supporting strategy working in relation to each other. In order to use those strategies in this interorganizational context, four other themes are added in a model created by the authors of this study. The four additional themes need to be taken in consideration and as the theme capabilities points out; the inter-organizational collaboration gives not only challenges, but also opportunities for the participating organizations. Furthermore, the conditions and the reasons for collaborating can be used for improving the structure of an inter-organizational collaboration. Practical Information A Swedish economic association can be described as a legal entity which involves a minimum of three partners, with a common interest and where all members of the economic association are required to participate in the activities of the economic association. Originality/Value This study contributes to the field of inter-organizational knowledge management by providing insight from a Swedish economic association perspective. There is an apparent gap pointed out between theory driven and practical driven research, where this single case study aims to contribute to the practical field of applying inter-organizational knowledge management perspective into a real case scenario. The case is particularly interesting to study since there are 33 organizations involved in knowledge management, with knowledge bases of both private and public sectors, small- and middlesized organizations and from different branches.

Le secteur médical est un domaine dynamique en constante évolution, nécessitant des améliorations continues de ses processus métier et une assistance intelligente aux acteurs impliqués. Ce travail de thèse se focalise sur le processus de soins nécessitant l’implantation d’une prothèse. La particularité de ce processus est qu’il met en interaction deux cycles de vie appartenant respectivement au domaine médical et celui de l’ingénierie. Ceci implique plusieurs actions de collaboration entre des acteurs métier très variés. Cependant, des problèmes de communication et de partage de connaissances peuvent exister en raison de l’hétérogénéité de la sémantique utilisée et des pratiques métiers propres à chaque domaine.Dans ce contexte, ce travail de thèse s’intéresse aux apports des approches d’ingénierie des connaissances et de gestion du cycle de vie du produit pour répondre aux problématiques sous-jacentes au processus de soins médicaux nécessitant l’implantation d’une prothèse. Pour se faire, un cadre conceptuel est proposé pour analyser les connexions entre les cycles de vie de maladie (domaine Médical)et de la prothèse (domaine d’ingénierie). Sur la base de cette analyse, un modèle sémantique sous forme d’une ontologie pour le domaine médical est définit dans le cadre de la construction d’une approche PLM à base de connaissances. L’application de cette proposition est démontrée à travers l’implémentation de quelques fonctions utiles dans un outil PLM du marché nommé AUDROS. / Medical sector is a dynamic domain that requires continuous improvement of its business processes and assistance to the actors involved. This research focuses on the medical treatment process requiring prosthesis implantation. The specificity of such a process is that it makes in connection two lifecyclesbelonging to medical and engineering domains respectively. This implies several collaborative actions between stake holders from heterogeneous disciplines. However, several problems of communication and knowledge sharing may occur because of the variety of semantic used and the specific business practices in each domain. In this context, this PhD work is interested in the potential of knowledge engineering and product lifecycle management approaches to cope with the above problems. To do so, a conceptual framework is proposed for the analysis of links between the disease (medicaldomain) and the prosthesis (engineering domain) lifecycles. Based on this analysis, a semantic ontology model for medical domain is defined as part of a global knowledge-based PLM approach proposition. The application of the proposition is demonstrated through an implementation of useful function in the AUDROS PLM software.

Due to knowledge being difficult to imitate, effective knowledge management provides several key competitive advantages. It involves managing knowledge within organizations in order to ensure the right knowledge reaching the right person at the right time.Scania CV AB is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, busses and engines for marine and industry purposes. As part of the work with streamlining processes, knowledge management has become a focus area within their R&D. This master thesis has been carried out at four groups grouped under the section UTP Process support, consisting of a mechanical workshop, logistics, improvement coaches, and logistics and measurement. The purpose was to identify areas with potential for improvement, and present suggestions for improvements, with reusability of knowledge as the main focus.A total of 132 interviews and surveys, and four workshops were conducted in order to gather data, generate improvement proposals and anchor ideas. A literature study was conducted to provide a frame of reference.A four-quadrant model was generated, to make possible the mapping of knowledge work within the involved groups. This aims to provide a general model supporting improvements in knowledge management, by establishing a conceptual frame of reference where ambition and current state can be compared, providing a base for improvements and follow-ups over time.The improvement coach group is at the forefront of the issues addressed in this thesis report, which in this context also poses their primary challenge. Suggestions on how work can keep improving are presented, including further developments of the group's so called skills matrix.For the other groups, freeing up time of experienced employees is recommended in order to transfer knowledge to less experienced colleagues. Furthermore, improving the availability of documents controlling the employees’ work is recommended, as well as ensuring these are fully updated to a larger extent. Lastly, the groups should work on increasing knowledge exchange between them and external parties, such as customers and suppliers.Future recommendations include carrying out a pilot study of the proposed model, in order to improve the model and examine how different business units within product development organizations can benefit from it. A follow-up should be carried out to examine if the recommendations have made a difference. / En effektiv kunskapshantering kan ge unika konkurrensfördelar, då kunskap är svår att imitera. Knowledge management inbegriper hantering och ledning av kunskap i organisationer för att säkerställa att rätt kunskap når rätt person vid rätt tillfälle.Scania CV AB är en av världens ledande tillverkare av lastbilar, bussar och motorer för marin och industri. I arbetet att effektivisera processer har kunskapshantering blivit ett fokusområde för R&D. Detta examensarbete har utförts mot fyra grupper under sektionen UTP Process support, med en mekanisk verkstad, logistik, förbättringscoacher samt logistik och mätrum. Syftet var att identifiera områden med förbättringspotential och presentera förslag för fortsatt förbättringsarbete, med återanvändbarhet av kunskap som fokus.Totalt 132 intervjuer och enkäter, och fyra workshopar genomfördes för att samla in data, generera förbättringsförslag och förankra idéer. En litteraturstudie genomfördes för att ge en referensram för studien.För att kartlägga hur kunskapsarbetet fungerade på de olika grupperna, genererades en fyrfältsmodell. Denna syftar till att ge en generell metod för förbättringsarbete kring kunskapshantering, genom att formulera en konceptuell referensram där ambitionsnivå och nuläge kan jämföras, för att ge underlag till förbättringsarbete och uppföljning över tid.Gruppen med förbättringscoacher ligger i framkant i frågorna som examensarbetet behandlar, vilket i detta sammanhang också utgör dess främsta utmaning. Förslag ges på hur arbetet kan fortsätta förbättras, däribland en vidareutveckling av gruppens så kallade kompetensmatris.För de övriga grupperna rekommenderas att frigöra tid för erfarna medarbetare att överföra kunskap till mindre erfarna. Vidare rekommenderas att tillgängligheten av dokument som styr arbetet ses över, och att dessa hålls fullständigt uppdaterade i högre utsträckning. Slutligen bör grupperna arbeta för ökat kunskapsutbyte mellan grupperna och externa parter såsom kund och leverantör.Som framtida arbete rekommenderas en pilotstudie av den framtagna modellen, för att förbättra denna och undersöka hur olika grupper inom produktutvecklingsorganisationer kan dra nytta av den. En uppföljning bör genomföras för att undersöka om implementering av givna rekommendationer har gjort skillnad.

A substantial amount of research has been done in the field of engineering knowledge management, where countless ontologies have been developed for various applications within the engineering community. However, despite the success shown in these research efforts, the techniques have not been adopted by industry. This research aims to uncover the reasons for the slow adoption of engineering knowledge frameworks, namely ontologies, in industry. There are two projects covered in this thesis. The first project is the development of a cross-domain ontology for the Biomesh Project, which spans the fields of mechanical engineering, biology, and anthropology. The biology community is known for its embrace of ontologies and has made their use quite popular with the creation of the Gene Ontology. This ontology spawned the establishment of the Open Biological and Biomedical Ontologies (OBO) Foundry, a consortium which approves and curates ontologies in the biology field. No such consortium exists in the field of engineering. This project demonstrates the usefulness of curated reference ontologies. Ontological knowledge bases in four different domains were imported and integrated together to connect previously disparate information. A case study with data from the Biomesh Project demonstrates cross-domain queries and inferences that were not possible before the creation of this ontology. In the second part of this thesis we investigate the usability of current ontology tools. Protégé, the most popular ontology editing tool, is compared to OntoWiki, a semantic wiki. This comparison is done using proven techniques from the field of Human-computer interaction to uncover usability problems and point out areas where each system excels. A field of 16 subjects completed a set of tasks in each system and gave feedback based on their experience. It is shown that while OntoWiki offers users a satisfying interface, it lacks in some areas that can be easily improved. Protégé provides users with adequate functionality, but it is not intended for a novice user.

[pt] Este trabalho descreve a mineração de informações em linguagem natural a partir do repositório de projetos GitHub. É explicada como o conteúdo de projetos semelhantes dada uma busca por domínio podem ser úteis para o reuso de conhecimento, e assim, ajudar nas tarefas de Elicitação de Requisitos. Técnicas de mineração de textos, regularidades independentes do domínio, e os metadados de GitHub são os métodos utilizados para selecionar projetos relevantes e as informações dentro deles. Uma abordagem para atingir nossa meta utilizando pesquisa exploratória é explicada, bem como descrevemos os resultados alcançados. / [en] This work describes the mining of information in natural language from the GitHub repository. It is explained how the content of similar projects given a search domain can be useful for the reuse of knowledge, and thus help in the Requirements Elicitation tasks. Techniques of text mining, regularities independent from domain, and GitHub metadata are the methods used to select relevant projects and the information within them. One approach to achieve our goal is explained with an exploratory research and the results achieved.