This research process sought to gain an understanding of the current knowledge creation process.

This research process sought to gain an understanding of the current knowledge creation process.

The current research used grounded theory methodology (GTM) to construct a conceptualization of personal knowledge within a knowledge management (KM) perspective. The need for the current research was based on the use of just two categories of knowledge, explicit and tacit, within KM literature to explain diverse characteristics of personal knowledge. The construct of tacit knowledge has often been explicated and debated in KM literature. The debate over tacit knowledge arose from the complex epistemological roots of tacit knowing and the construct of tacit knowledge popularized by organizational knowledge creation theory. The ongoing debate over tacit knowledge in KM literature has shed little light on personal knowledge within a KM perspective. The current research set aside the debate over tacit knowledge and pursued the construct of personal knowledge from the perspective of the knower using GTM. Thirty-seven interviews were conducted with fourteen participants. Interviews were audio recorded and coding was accomplished with the qualitative data analysis software MAXQDA. A total of eight categories were identified. These were organized into two groups. The core category being overwhelmed represented the absence of personal knowledge. The categories questioning self, seeking help, and microthinking fit under being overwhelmed. Together these categories were inverse indicators because they all decreased as knowledge acquisition progressed. The core category being confident represented the presence of personal knowledge. The categories remembering, multitasking, and speed fit under being overwhelmed. Together these categories were direct indicators because they all increased as knowledge acquisition progressed. Three significant conclusions were drawn from the current research. These conclusions led to the conceptualization of personal knowledge from a KM perspective. The first significant conclusion was the conceptualization of a process of knowing as Integrated Complexity: From Overwhelmed to Confident (ICOC). The second significant conclusion was personal knowing as first-person epistemology is a universally lived experience that includes commitments to internal and external requirements as well as a bias toward integration. The third significant conclusion was personal knowledge can be viewed as a complex adaptive system. Finally, the current research concluded that personal knowledge within a KM perspective is a complex adaptive system maintained through acts of first-person epistemology.

In a society dependent on knowledge, information and information technology (IT), studying IT-oriented knowledge intensive firms becomes particularly interesting. Previous research has for the most part studied management consulting firms as well as how knowledge management and knowledge management initiatives can support or inhibit the growth of organizations. To further progress this line of research the study intends to fill a gap in research concerning consultants focusing on IT-solutions. Consequently, this study has two equally important purposes. Firstly, the study intends to investigate the application of Ikujiro Nonaka’s Organizational Knowledge Creation Theory on new empirical data. Secondly, this study aims to explain learning processes in the IT-consulting trade. The empirical data used is taken from eight interviews and three qualitative surveys from three different IT-consulting firms in Sweden. By using a multiple-case study design this study simultaneously presents a broad perspective of the IT-consulting trade and a deeper understanding of the knowledge sharing processes used in the different cases. The study has resulted in three major conclusions. (1) There are different types of digital tools that are important for knowledge sharing in organizations. These are digital conversation-rooms, digital pin boards and internal databases. (2) The authors also identify six conditions that are important for knowledge sharing. These conditions are proven to have a complex relationship with the context in which knowledge is shared and the consultants’ choice of digital tools. (3) Lastly the Organizational Knowledge Creation Theory is found to be insufficient in describing the knowledge sharing processes in IT-consulting firms, especially regarding the relation between the socialization and externalization processes. Proposals for future research in relation to the findings are presented.

Ce mémoire s'intéresse au métier du représentant pharmaceutique considéré comme le principal acteur professionnel de communication entre les compagnies pharmaceutiques et les prescripteurs de médicaments. Ces derniers refusent de plus en plus de les rencontrer soit par manque de temps, soit en raison des jugements négatifs portés sur leurs compétences considérées insuffisantes, soit pour des raisons reliées aux évolutions de la technologie (e-detailing, vidéoconférence, etc.). De ce fait, les changements et les évolutions auxquels les représentants pharmaceutiques font face exigent une redéfinition de leur métier et un ajustement de leurs compétences. Nous posons alors l'hypothèse que le transfert et le partage de connaissances entre le représentant et le médecin sont inadéquats et nous utilisons des théories managériales, notamment dans le domaine de la gestion des connaissances, pour comprendre comment ce savoir peut se partager entre ces deux individus. Notre recherche inclut deux corpus théoriques, le Métier et la Gestion des connaissances. Le premier nous aide à comprendre davantage les composantes à la fois identitaires et cognitives du métier du représentant alors que le second porte sur le modèle de Nonaka et Takeuchi (1997) concernant les conditions de la création et de la circulation des connaissances dans l'entreprise innovante. Ce modèle permet précisément d'identifier des pratiques qui favorisent la circulation et le transfert de connaissances entre acteurs d'organisations différentes, soit le représentant et le médecin. Élaborer tous ces concepts dans notre revue de littérature et tenter de les reconnaître dans ce cas spécifique, à travers 20 entrevues semi-dirigées (représentants-médecins-directeurs de compagnie pharmaceutique) et l'observation non participante lors de l'interaction entre ces individus, nous éclairent d'une part sur la problématique pragmatique existante au niveau de la circulation des connaissances entre un couple inhabituel d'acteurs et d'autre part sur l'utilité d'un modèle de gestion des connaissances, spécialement celui du modèle de Nonaka et Takeuchi (1997). ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Gestion des connaissances, représentant pharmaceutique, médecins, métier, industrie pharmaceutique, e-detailing, Nonaka et Takeuchi.

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Nonaka and Takeuchi’s SECI model has been used as the theoretical basis for the analysis of knowledge creation and development within supply chains. The model has not been adjusted but utilised to examine the phenomenon of knowledge creation at the first-tier level of suppliers of food in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Strategically, knowledge creation and development could be viewed as a major competitive advantage within the local, national and global business environments. This study examined the convergence of supply chain management, strategy and knowledge management with a view to detecting common threads of importance for knowledge creation. The Nonaka and Takeuchi studies focus on knowledge creation intra-organisationally not inter-organisationally. Competition today is usually between supply chains, rather than between individual retailers or retail chains. Organisations who are not members of supply chains do not usually enjoy the same form of competitive advantages as those who are. The writers created an opportunity to investigate the validity of the model outside of Japan and outside of the boundaries of an organisation. The phenomenon of this study has been a focus at the supplier-buyer interface and their ability, whether consciously or unconsciously, to create and develop knowledge about each other’s operations in order to ensure a sustained and competitive business environment. The investigation was limited to the major food supply chains in the Durban Metropolitan Region of KZN, and conducted using a questionnaire as the main research instrument. A comparative study of two groups was undertaken, that of the suppliers and buyers. The initial questionnaire was tested in face-to-face interviews with a number of buyers and suppliers to seek their interpretation of the questions. As a result of the interviews, the syntax of a few questions was adjusted for improved understanding by future respondents. The suppliers were given very similar questionnaires to the buyers. The difference between the two groups of questionnaires was that each set of questions made references to the other group. The questionnaire was divided in two sections, namely biographical and the research questions. The suppliers and buyers were not made aware of the other respondents in the study. Approximately 300 questionnaires were handed out, with 220 being completed and returned for data capturing. The major difficulty was to encourage individuals to complete and return the questionnaires. SPSS software was used for the analysis data captured. The results which were developed illustrated a number of interesting and important outcomes of the thinking and actions of both groups of respondents. 1. Nonaka and Takeuchi’s SECI model was relevant as a theoretical basis for the study of knowledge creation, inter-organisationally. 2. Both groups showed that they developed knowledge in conjunction with first-tier organisations. 3. Organisational planning was not usually undertaken in isolation of the supply chain. 4. Continuing education and training is encouraged. 5. There was a strong correlation in the thinking and ideas of the respondents. The framework of the theoretical model has thus proven to be a useful tool for the examination of knowledge creation within supply chains.

Cette thèse CIFRE s’est déroulée au sein de la Coop de Construction, promoteur constructeur rennais. Afin de se différencier sur le marché de l’immobilier, le promoteur souhaite intégrer la dimension de la mobilité dans son offre de logements partant du constat que les ménages modestes se logent en dehors des grands centres urbains, ce qui les conduit à dépendre de la voiture, moyen de transport coûteux, tant d’un point de vue économique qu’écologique. Le but de cette démarche est de réduire le coût de transport des ménages, de poursuivre une démarche de conception de logements respectueux de l’environnement et de renforcer la capacité de l’entreprise à être un partenaire des collectivités locales. Notre travail s’inscrit dans le cadre conceptuel du Knowledge Management et a consisté  à impliquer les différentes parties prenantes de l’entreprise (clients, collectivités, etc.) dans une démarche de création de connaissances organisationnelles afin de définir des solutions de mobilité adaptées à chaque contexte. Ces différentes actions ont pu être décrites à partir d’un modèle de « chaîne de valeur de la connaissance » (Knowledge Value Chain) et des concepts développés par Nonaka et Takeuchi qui montrent que l’innovation repose sur un processus de création de connaissances organisationnelles produites l’interaction sociale entre les différents acteurs impliqués. La lecture des expérimentations menées sur le terrain à l’aide de ces outils théorique nous a permis de poser les jalons d’une méthodologie reproductible dans d’autres contextes afin que l’entreprise puisse intégrer cette dimension de la mobilité dans ses futurs programmes immobiliers. / This thesis CIFRE took place at the Coop de Construction, a real estate promoter in Rennes. To differentiate themselves in the real estate market, the enterprise wants to integrate the dimension of mobility in the supply of housing. The basis of this  approach is that the poorest households living  outside urban centers, which leads them to depend on car, expensive way, both economically and ecologically. The goals of this approach is to reduce the cost of transporting household, pursue conception of ecological housing and  strengthen the capacity of the company to be a partner of local authorities. We are working on  the Knowledge Management framework and we involve the various stakeholders of the company (customers, local authorities, etc.) in an organizational knowledge creation approach to define mobility solutions for each context. These activities have been described with the model of "knowledge value chain" (Knowledge Value Chain) and the concepts developed by Nonaka and Takeuchi who show that innovation is based on an organizational knowledge creation process produced by the social interaction between the different actors. Reading the experiments conducted with these theoretical tools, we build a reproducible methodology for future building.

<p><strong>Syfte:</strong> Syftet med studien är att ge rekommendationer till organisationen Riksförbundet Sveriges Unga Katoliker (SUK) om hur de kan bevara kontinuiteten inom förbundet. Rekommendationerna tillkommer genom analys av hur SUK kan ta vara på den tysta kunskapen som finns hos deras anställda och frivilliga medarbetare, samt vilka faktorer som motiverar till ett frivilligt ledarskap.</p><p><strong>Metod: </strong>Fallstudien har en kvalitativ ansats med inslag av kvantitativa antydningar. Två intervjuer har genomförts med anställda på SUK, samt en via e-post med ytterligare en anställd. En mindre enkätundersökning har genomförts bland ideella ledare inom Stockholmregionen i SUK.</p><p><strong>Teori:</strong> Detta kapitel börjar med en överblick över definitioner av tyst kunskap och därefter följer tvåfaktorsteorin som är en motivationsteori. Detta avsnitt redovisar teorier från Polanyi, Nonaka, samt Herzberg.</p><p><strong>Empiri: </strong>I detta avsnitt presenteras den data som samlats in genom SUK:s hemsida, intervjuer, samt den mindre enkätundersökningen.</p><p><strong>Analys: </strong>Under denna del analyserar vi det material som samlats in under empiri avsnittet med hjälp av de teorier som presenterats i teoriavsnittet. Data från intervjuerna ställs mot teori om tyst kunskap och enkätundersökningens resultat analyseras med hjälp av Herzbergs tvåfaktorsteori.</p><p><strong>Slutsats:</strong> De viktigaste slutsatserna är att SUK bör bevara organisationens tysta kunskap genom att ta fram ett symboliskt organisationsspråk i form av lathundar och mallar. Kommunikationen inom organisationen måste förbättras, och SUK bör införa en praktisk del i ledarutbildningen, som också kan fungera som en överföring av tyst kunskap. Fortsatt slutsats är att motivationsfaktorerna avancemang och prestation är viktigast både enligt SUK:s frivilliga arbetare och anställda. SUK bör ta hänsyn både till motivationsfaktorer och hygienfaktorer, då båda är viktiga för att skapa kontinuitet.</p> / <p><strong>Purpose:</strong>  The purpose of the essay is give the association Sweden's Young Catholics recommendations how to maintain the contingency within the organization. The recommendations arises through analysis about how Sweden's Young Catholics can preserve the tacit knowledge that the employees and volunteers have, and which factors motivates to volunteer leadership.</p><p><strong>Methology:  </strong>For this case study we have used a qualitative method with a touch of a quantitative method. We did two interviews with employees and one through e-mail with another employee. We also did a minor poll with volunteers in the Stockholm region in Sweden's Young Catholics.</p><p><strong>Theoretical </strong><strong>perspective:</strong>  This chapter starts with an overview over different definitions of tacit knowledge and there after a theory about motivation. This chapter illustrates theorys by Polanyi, Nonaka, and Herzberg.</p><p><strong>Empiric: </strong>This chapter declares material and interviews made for this thesis. Material about the organization from the website for Sweden's Young Catholics, the interviews about tacit knowledge and the poll about motivation.</p><p><strong>Analysis:</strong> In this section we analyse all the material and interviews collected in the empiric section with help of the theories from the theoretical chapter. The interviews with the tacit knowledge and the poll with help of Herzberg's theory.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong>  The most important conclusion is that Sweden's Young Catholics should keep their tacit knowledge by developing a symbolic organizational language in shape of reference guides. The communication in the organization also has to improve and Sweden's Young Catholics should have a practical part in their leadership course which also can serve as a transfer of tacit knowledge. Other conclusions are that the most important motivation factors is promotion and performance according to both employees and volunteers. Although Sweden's Young Catholics should take both motivation factors and hygiene factors in their consideration, because they are both important for keeping the contingency in the organization.</p>

Syfte: Syftet med studien är att ge rekommendationer till organisationen Riksförbundet Sveriges Unga Katoliker (SUK) om hur de kan bevara kontinuiteten inom förbundet. Rekommendationerna tillkommer genom analys av hur SUK kan ta vara på den tysta kunskapen som finns hos deras anställda och frivilliga medarbetare, samt vilka faktorer som motiverar till ett frivilligt ledarskap. Metod: Fallstudien har en kvalitativ ansats med inslag av kvantitativa antydningar. Två intervjuer har genomförts med anställda på SUK, samt en via e-post med ytterligare en anställd. En mindre enkätundersökning har genomförts bland ideella ledare inom Stockholmregionen i SUK. Teori: Detta kapitel börjar med en överblick över definitioner av tyst kunskap och därefter följer tvåfaktorsteorin som är en motivationsteori. Detta avsnitt redovisar teorier från Polanyi, Nonaka, samt Herzberg. Empiri: I detta avsnitt presenteras den data som samlats in genom SUK:s hemsida, intervjuer, samt den mindre enkätundersökningen. Analys: Under denna del analyserar vi det material som samlats in under empiri avsnittet med hjälp av de teorier som presenterats i teoriavsnittet. Data från intervjuerna ställs mot teori om tyst kunskap och enkätundersökningens resultat analyseras med hjälp av Herzbergs tvåfaktorsteori. Slutsats: De viktigaste slutsatserna är att SUK bör bevara organisationens tysta kunskap genom att ta fram ett symboliskt organisationsspråk i form av lathundar och mallar. Kommunikationen inom organisationen måste förbättras, och SUK bör införa en praktisk del i ledarutbildningen, som också kan fungera som en överföring av tyst kunskap. Fortsatt slutsats är att motivationsfaktorerna avancemang och prestation är viktigast både enligt SUK:s frivilliga arbetare och anställda. SUK bör ta hänsyn både till motivationsfaktorer och hygienfaktorer, då båda är viktiga för att skapa kontinuitet. / Purpose:  The purpose of the essay is give the association Sweden's Young Catholics recommendations how to maintain the contingency within the organization. The recommendations arises through analysis about how Sweden's Young Catholics can preserve the tacit knowledge that the employees and volunteers have, and which factors motivates to volunteer leadership. Methology:  For this case study we have used a qualitative method with a touch of a quantitative method. We did two interviews with employees and one through e-mail with another employee. We also did a minor poll with volunteers in the Stockholm region in Sweden's Young Catholics. Theoretical perspective:  This chapter starts with an overview over different definitions of tacit knowledge and there after a theory about motivation. This chapter illustrates theorys by Polanyi, Nonaka, and Herzberg. Empiric: This chapter declares material and interviews made for this thesis. Material about the organization from the website for Sweden's Young Catholics, the interviews about tacit knowledge and the poll about motivation. Analysis: In this section we analyse all the material and interviews collected in the empiric section with help of the theories from the theoretical chapter. The interviews with the tacit knowledge and the poll with help of Herzberg's theory. Conclusion:  The most important conclusion is that Sweden's Young Catholics should keep their tacit knowledge by developing a symbolic organizational language in shape of reference guides. The communication in the organization also has to improve and Sweden's Young Catholics should have a practical part in their leadership course which also can serve as a transfer of tacit knowledge. Other conclusions are that the most important motivation factors is promotion and performance according to both employees and volunteers. Although Sweden's Young Catholics should take both motivation factors and hygiene factors in their consideration, because they are both important for keeping the contingency in the organization.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis is a conceptual analysis of the concept of tacit knowledge. The analysis consist of comparing the function of the concept of tacit knowledge in a number of selected theories from its origin in the philosophy of Michael Polanyi, through its introduction to organisation theory and its eventual application in knowledge management theory. Inthe work of Michael Polanyi the concept of tacit knowledge functions as the logical structure underlying all forms of knowledge. In terms of Polanyi tacit and explicit knowledge are not two separable phenomena, because all knowledge is rooted in the act of tacit integration. Ikujiro Nonaka adapted Polanyi's epistemology and within his framework the concept of tacit knowledge signifies the unstructured subjective realm that is the wellspring of individual creativity. Nonaka asserts firstly, that the phenomenon of tacit knowledge is a knowledge content that is distinct from explicit knowledge content and secondly, that it is possible to convert the one type of knowledge into the other. Nonaka's model includes a spiral process of interaction in which tacit knowledge is converted into explicit knowledge and back into tacit knowledge again. The last chapter relates the conclusions reached upon the comparison of the function of the concept in the theories of Nonaka and Polanyi, with its reception in knowledge management theory. It is argued that in knowledge management the concept of tacit knowledge denotes knowledge content that cannot be communicated as information. It is also shown how Nonaka' s model was integrated into a sender receiver model of communication, thus incorporating it into the information processing paradigm. It is furthermore conjectured that the concept of tacit knowledge forms part of an attempt to bridge an epistemological gap facing the discourse on organisational knowledge. Lastly, it is concluded that it appears to be impossible to use the concept of tacit knowledge to overcome this epistemological problem, without an ontological shift away from the information processing paradigm. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tesis is 'n konseptuele analise van die konsep van implisiete ('tacit') kennis. Die analise bestaan uit 'n vergelyking van die funksie van die konsep van implisiete kennis in 'n aantal geselekteerde teorieë, van die oorsprong van die term in die filosofie van Michael Polanyi, deur die aanpassing van die konsep in organisasie teorie, tot die toepassing daarvan in kennisbestuursteorie. In die werk van Polanyi funksioneer die konsep as die logiese struktuur wat die onderbou van alle vorme van kennis is. In terme van Polanyi is implisiete en eksplisiete kennis nie twee aparte fenomene nie, want alle kennis is gewortel in die askie van implisiete integrasie. Ikujiro Nonaka het Polanyi se epistemologie aangepas en binne sy raamwerk funksioneer die begrip as 'n beskrywing van die ongestruktureerde subjektiewe domein wat die bron van individuele kreatiwiteit is. Volgens Nonaka is die fenomeen van implisiete kennis eerstens 'n kennisinhoud wat onderskeibaar is van eksplisiete kennisinhoud, en tweedens dat dit moontlik is om die een soort kennis om te skakel in die ander en omgekeerd. Nonaka se model sluit 'n spiral-proses van interaksie in waarin implisiete kennis omgeskakel word na eksplisiete kennis en weer terug in implisiete kennis. Die laaste hoofstuk belig die ontvangs van die konsep van implisiete kennis in kennisbestuursteorie teen die agtergrond van die vergelyking van die funksionering van die konsep in die teorieë van Polanyi en Nonaka. Daar word geargumenteer dat in kennisbestuursteorie die konsep verwys na kennisinhoud wat nie geredelik omgeskakel kan word na informasie en dus gekommunikeer kan word nie. Daar word getoon hoe Nonaka se model met 'n sender-ontvanger kommunikasie-model geïntegreer word en dus geïnkorporeer word in die informasie prossesseringsparadigma. Verder word gespekuleer dat die konsep gebruik word in 'n poging om 'n epistemologiese gaping in die diskoers rondom organisatoriese kennis te oorbrug. Laastens is die slotsom dat dit blyk onmoontlik te wees om die konsep van implisiete kennis te gebruik om die epistemologiese probleem op te los, sonder 'n fundamentele ontologiese skuif weg vanaf die informasie prossesseringsparadigma.