Projektarbetsformen blir allt vanligare samtidigt som fler och fler organisationer arbetar i projektform. Inom dessa multiprojektmiljöer bör man kontinuerligt säkerställa att kunskap och erfarenheter förs vidare mellan olika projekt för att bli framgångsrik inom sin marknad. Trots att fördelarna med kunskapsöverföring länge erkänts i projektbaserade organisationer så varierar effektiviteten kring fenomenet. Detta tros bland annat bero på svårigheterna med att gå från teori till praktik samt att de modeller och teorier som finns saknar struktur för själva genomförandet. Efter ett försök att kartlägga litteraturen inom detta mångfacetterade fält hittade vi en kunskapslucka angående hur kunskapsöverföring kan te sig inom tv-branschen. Därfär har en kvalitativ fallstudie gjorts på ett tv-produktionsbolag. Studien syftar till att bidra till ökad förståelse kring hur kunskap överförs mellan projekt samt hur man säkerställer kunskapsöverföring. Studien utgår ifrån att kunskap definieras enligt Nonaka och Takeuchis (1995) teori om implicit och explicit kunskap. Studien bygger på kvalitativ forskning i form av sex intervjuer med projektledare och VD, två fokusgrupper med tio projektanställda samt en dokumentanalys på överlämningar skrivna av projektdeltagare. Resultatet visar att det finns många olika typer av kunskapsöverföring inom organisationen. Den kunskap som överförs mellan projekt i organisationen är mestadels kunskap med explicit karaktär i form av dokument. I dagsläget är det huvudsakligen projektledarna som ansvarar för att kunskapsöverföring sker mellan projekt, i huvudsak genom att uppmana projektdeltagare att göra skriftliga överlämningar. Hos projektdeltagarna finns det god vilja att bidra till kunskapsöverföringen men organisationen saknar en huvudsaklig strategi. Slutsatserna konstaterar att ledningen bör implementera ett systematiskt arbetssätt angående organisationens kunskapsöverföring för ett effektivt arbete mot ett organisatoriskt lärande. Slutsatserna belyser även att synen på kunskap är mångtydig och att det handlar om mer än bara explicit och implicit kunskap. För att diskussionen om kunskapsöverföringen inom organisationen ska kunna utvecklas måste organisationen identifiera kunskapstyperna ytterligare samt förstå dessa för att konkretisera dem. / Project work is becoming more common as more and more organizations are working in project form. Within these multi-project environments, one should continuously ensure that knowledge and experience are passed on between different projects in order to be successful in their markets. Although the benefits of knowledge transfer have long been recognized in projectbased organizations, the effectiveness of the phenomenon varies. This is believed to be due, among other things, to the difficulties in moving from theory to practice as well as to the existing models and theories lacking a structure for implementation. Following an attempt to map the literature in this multifaceted field we found a gap in knowledge regarding how knowledge transfer can look within the television industry. Therefore, a qualitative case study has been done at a television production company. This study aims to contribute to an increased understanding of how knowledge is transferred between projects and how to ensure knowledge transfer. The study assumes that knowledge is defined in accordance with Nonaka and Takeuchi’s (1995) theory of implicit and explicit knowledge. This study is based on qualitative research in the form of seven interviews with project managers and CEO, two focus groups with ten project employees and a document analysis submission written by project participants. The result shows that there are many different types of knowledge transfer within the organization. The knowledge that is transferred between projects in the organization is mainly knowledge with explicit character in the form of documents. Currently the project managers are responsible for the transfer of knowledge between projects, which is done by inviting project participants to make written submissions. The project participants are glad to contribute to the transfer of knowledge, but the organization lacks a main strategy. The conclusions state that management should implement a systemic approach to the organization’s knowledge transfer for effective work towards organizational learning. The conclusions also highlight that the view on knowledge is ambiguous and that it is about more than just explicit and implicit knowledge. In order for the discussion of knowledge transfer within the organization to develop, the organization must further identify the types of knowledge and understand them in order to make them concrete.

The number of project-based organizations has increased in recent times, as has the teaching method of project-based learning. These two phenomena are related but little research has been conducted to examine the relationship between them, especially from a skills development perspective. Hence the first purpose of this study is to compare the skills that are necessary for work in a project-based organization with the skills that are developed in learning through project-based learning. Furthermore, the pandemic brought on a digitalized work environment for students in higher education.  Therefore, the second purpose of the study is to examine the changes in skills development during digitalization, especially for students who work with project-based learning.    A dual case study conducted in a qualitative manner has been administered to acquire both the project-based organization and the project-based learning perspective. To gain these perspectives, three students at Linköping University, who have worked extensively with project-based learning, and three employees at the project-based organization WSP Sweden AB were interviewed. The interview data was then thematically categorized and discussed.   The results suggest that communication and collaboration skills were developed by working through project-based learning. These skills were also specifically pertinent for work in a project-based organization. However, they were more difficult to develop during digitalization while they grew more important for project-based organizations. Moreover, it was found that tacit knowledge was more relevant for work at WSP Sweden AB, while explicit knowledge was more relevant for studies at Linköping University. During the digitalization of the Covid-19 pandemic, group constellations and project team constellations had significant similarities, while motivation occurred differently in project-based learning compared to project-based organizations.

Byggsektorn behandlar en rad krav och regleringar. Detta för att både upprätthålla kvalitet i utförande men även i säkerhet för de anställda. Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling kan ses som riktlinje och ramverk för när företag genomför förbättringar och arbetar med kundfokuserad kvalitet. Om ett företag har en högre nivå av tyst och explicit kunskap tillsammans med en motvilja för förändring skapar detta i sin tur utmaningar, detta både inom nödvändiga förbättringar och hur dessa faktiskt genomförs med bra förändringsledning. Denna studie genomförs på den anonymiserade organisationen Byggbolaget. Verksamheten arbetar med dokumentation för riskhantering vid riskfyllda moment i byggprocessen, kallat arbetsberedning. Ledningen har en känsla av att utförandet och dokumentationen för denna process inte har den kvalitet som den bör. De behöver en förståelse för differensen mellan ledningens kommunikation och medarbetarnas utförande. Studien ämnar både att undersöka denna differens samt tillhandahålla förbättringsförslag till processen för arbetsberedningar och dess dokumentation.  Teorierna som ligger till grund för studien utgår från offensiv kvalitetsutveckling, organisationsförståelse, kommunikation samt förändringsledning. Med studiens kvalitativa metod och insamlande av data, genom intervjuer, dokumentinsamling och litteratur, visar resultatet att medarbetare ser dokumentationen och riskhanteringen som mycket viktigt. Dock är problemet att tid och resurser brister, detta trots stöd från ledning. Medarbetarna känner att de inte får de rätta möjligheterna till att utföra processen på bästa möjliga sätt. / The construction industry handles demands and regulations in order to assure both quality in the outcome as well as safety for the workers. TQM can be seen as a guide when a company does improvements and customer focused quality. If a company has a bigger level of tacit and explicit knowledge, together with the natural aversion towards changes, it creates challenges. Both in which improvements are needed, and in having a good change management process for those improvements. The study is carried out at the anonymized organization Byggbolaget. The company is working with documentation regarding risk assessments in specific hazardous moments in the construction process called work preparation. The management has a feeling that the execution and documentation around the process doesn’t have the quality it should. They are in need to understand the assumed gap between management and the employee’s execution. The study aims to investigate that gap as well as present improvement suggestions regarding both the process “Work preparations” and the documentation created during execution. The theory behind the analyses is TQM, organizational understanding, communication, and change management. With its qualitative method and gathering of data, from both interviews, documentation and literature, the result shows that the employees see the documentation, and doing the risk assessment as very important. The problem is that the time and resources are lacking even though the management expresses support for the execution. The employees don’t feel that the opportunities are given to execute the process in its best way.

知識移轉隨著知識經濟時代的來臨，成為多國企業管理知識優勢的重要議題。本研究首要目的是針對派外人員是知識移轉重要媒介的前題，探討台灣企業不同派外人員特徵與子公司特性，如何有效提昇子公司知識移轉績效的部分；其次，本研究採用資源基礎理論的觀點，探討不同的網絡關係，以及知識特性與知識移轉績效之關係。 在研究方法方面，本研究係以個案研究為輔，大樣本問卷調查為主。其中，個案研究採用4家台灣多國企業為研究對象，針對人力資源部門與高階主管進行半結構化的訪談。同時，收集多重次級資料來源，包括研究報告、報章雜誌、公司網站等，以進行個案研究的分析。問卷調查方式所收集的有效樣本為105家廠商（包含人力資源主管與高階主管），資料經由量化分析以驗證研究假設。 研究結果顯示，第一部份主效果方面，（1）當母公司移轉知識給子公司時，子公司吸納能力與動機愈高以及價值活動愈完整，對子公司的知識移轉績效正向影響愈大。（2）本研究發現派外人員服務年資愈資深，對子公司的知識移轉績效正向影響愈大。 第二部份干擾效果方面，（1）在網絡關係為強連結的情況下，子公司「吸納能力與動機」愈高，與「價值活動」愈完整，以及派外人員「服務年資」愈資深，對子公司的知識移轉績效正向影響愈大。（2）在知識特性為外顯知識的情況下，子公司「吸納能力與動機」愈高，與「價值活動」愈完整，以及派外人員「服務年資」愈資深，對子公司的知識移轉績效正向影響愈大。（3）在知識特性為特定知識的情況下，子公司「吸納能力與動機」愈高以及「價值活動」愈完整，對子公司的知識移轉績效正向影響愈大。 上述實證研究所建構的研究模型，證實派外人員在知識移轉過程中扮演重要媒介角色，對多國企業推動母子公司間知識移轉具有指引價值。未來可供後續研究進行大樣本實證，而模型中各項構念與研究變項之因果關係，有待後續研究更進一步的驗證，以發展更具解釋的跨國知識移轉相關理論。 / With the coming of knowledge transfer in knowledge the economic age, it has becomes a significant issue in MNC’s management of knowledge advantage. The first aim of this study is to focus on the assumption of the crucial vehicle of expatriates in knowledge transfer. It discusses the characteristics of expatriates Taiwanese enterprises and subsidiaries, and how effectively they improve the subsidiary’s knowledge transfer performance. Secondly, this study adopts the perspective of a resource-based view, exploring the relationships between different networks, knowledge attributes and knowledge transfer performance. In terms of the research methods, this study gives priority to large samples questionnaire surveys, while case studies are given second place. Among them, case studies of four Taiwanese multinational corporations are used as research objects, focusing on semi-structured interviews of Human Resource Department executives along with top managers. Additionally, various sources of secondary data have been collected, including research reports, newspapers, magazines and corporate websites, in order to process the analysis of the case studies. The valid samples from the collection surveys are 105 firms (including human resource executives and top managers). The data is verified in relation to the research hypothesis using quantitative analysis. The results of this study firstly reveal two main effects: (1) When transferring knowledge from company headquarters to subsidiaries, the higher and more complete the value activities of absorptive capacity and motivation of the subsidiaries, the stronger the positive effects will be on the subsidiaries’ knowledge transfer performance. (2) This study also indicates that the longer an expatriate’s tenure is, the more powerful the positive effect on the subsidiaries’ knowledge transfer performance will be. The second finding is two moderating effects: (1) in terms of the strength of ties of the “networks”, the higher the “absorptive capacity and motivation” of subsidiaries, the more complete the “value activities”, and the longer the “expatriates’ tenure” are, the stronger the positive effects will be on the subsidiaries’ knowledge transfer performance. (2) When knowledge attribute is considered as “explicit knowledge”, the higher the “absorptive capacity and motivation” of subsidiaries, the more complete the “value activities”, and the longer the “expatriates’ tenure ” are, the stronger the positive effects will be on the subsidiaries’ knowledge transfer performance. (3) When knowledge attribute is considered as “specific knowledge”, the higher the “absorptive capacity and motivation” of subsidiaries and the more complete the “value activities” are, the stronger the positive effects will be on the subsidiaries’ knowledge transfer performance. According to the above research model based on empirical research, it testifies that expatriates play a significant role in the process of knowledge transfer, and thus qualify as a valuable indicator for MNC’s performing knowledge transfer between parent and subsidiary companies. In the future, this study offers further large samples for empirical research. However, the causal relationship between every construct and research variable requires time for further examination in order to develop a more persuasive correlational theory of cross-border knowledge transfer.

Magistro baigiamojo darbo objektas – informacijos vadyba, žinių vadyba, Lietuvos Vyriausybinės organizacijos. Darbo tikslas – ištirti informacijos vadybą ir žinių vadybą Lietuvos Vyriausybinėse organizacijose. Darbo uždaviniai: atskleisti informacijos vadybos ir žinių vadybos sąvokas; išanalizuoti informacijos vadybos ir žinių vadybos dedamuosius; ištirti informacijos vadybos ir žinių vadybos taikymą Lietuvos Vyriausybinėse organizacijose. Naudojantis mokslinės literatūros analizės, apibendrinimo metodais prieita prie išvados, kad Lietuvos Vyriausybinėse organizacijose informacijos ir žinių vadyba yra taikoma, bet nėra tikslingai valdoma. Išskirti tam tikri padaliniai ir (ar) atskiri asmenys, atsakingi už visų informacijos ir žinių vadybos procesų ar jų dalį funkcionavimą organizacijose. Nepaisant to, kad informacijos ir žinių vadybos potenciali organizacijai suteikiama nauda Lietuvos Vyriausybinėse organizacijose nėra suvokta, tačiau jos jau dabar turi tvirtą pagrindą informacijos ir žinių vadybos vystymuisi ir klestėjimui. Šis mokslinis magistro darbas bus naudingas tiek mokslininkams, tiek praktikams, o taip pat visiems besidomintiems informacijos ir žinių vadybos tematika teoriniu bei praktiniu aspektais. / The object – information management, knowledge management, the Lithuanian governmental organizations. The main goal of this scientific Master Diploma work – to explore the information and knowledge management in the Lithuanian governmental organizations. Objectives – to uncover the definitions of information and knowledge management; to explore the components of the information and knowledge management; to examine the use of the information and knowledge management in the Lithuanian governmental organizations. Using the analysis or scientific literature and the generalization methods the information and knowledge management were examined in the Lithuanian governmental organizations. It was discovered, that the information and knowledge management are already being used in the governmental organizations, though they are not being properly managed. There are separate departments, responsible for the work of the information and knowledge management’s processes or at least part of them. Despite everything, the true value of the information and knowledge management is not yet recognized by the Lithuanian governmental organizations, though even now there is a steady foundation for the development and prosperity of the information and knowledge management. This scientific work could be useful for those interested into the theory and practices of using the information and knowledge management.

Rapid change is a defining characteristic of our modern society. This has huge impact on society, governments, and businesses. Businesses are forced to fundamentally transform themselves to survive in a challenging economy. Transformation implies change in the way business is conducted, in the way people perform their contribution to the organisation, and in the way the organisation perceives and manages its vital assets – which increasingly are built around the key assets of intellectual capital and knowledge. The latest management tool and realisation of how to respond to the challenges of the economy in the new millennium, is the idea of "knowledge management" (KM). In this study we have focused on synthesising the many confusing points of view about the subject area, such as: <ul><li> a. different focus points or perspectives; </li><li> b. different definitions and positioning of the subject; as well as</li><li> c. a bewildering number of definitions of what knowledge is and what KM entails.</li></ul> There exists a too blurred distinction in popular-magazine-like sources about this area between subjects and concepts such as: knowledge versus information versus data; the difference between information management and knowledge management; tools available to tackle the issues in this field of study and practice; and the role technology plays versus the huge hype from some journalists and within the vendor community. Today there appears to be a lack of a coherent set of frameworks to abstract, comprehend, and explain this subject area; let alone to build successful systems and technologies with which to apply KM. The study is comprised of two major parts:<ul><li> 1. In the first part the study investigates the concepts, elements, drivers, and challenges related to KM. A set of models for comprehending these issues and notions is contributed as we considered intellectual capital, organizational learning, communities of practice, and best practices. </li><li> 2. The second part focuses on the technology perspective of KM. Although KM is primarily concerned with non-technical issues this study concentrates on the technical issues and challenges. A new technology framework for KM is proposed to position and relate the different KM technologies as well as the two key applications of KM, namely knowledge portals and knowledge discovery (including text mining). </li></ul> It is concluded that KM and related concepts and notions need to be understood firmly as well as effectively positioned and employed to support the modern business organisation in its quest to survive and grow. The main thesis is that KM technology is a necessary but insufficient prerequisite and a key enabler for successful KM in a rapidly changing business environment. / Thesis (PhD (Computer Science))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Computer Science / unrestricted

Abstracts in English, Zulu and Afrikaans / The looming transition from the industrial era to the technologically driven knowledge era has implications for the practice of Knowledge Management (KM) for all organisations across various employment sectors. My awareness of the paucity of empirical accounts documenting how schools, particularly those situated in townships, apply KM exacerbated the need for a social inquiry to determine the extent to which the selected schools leverage KM in their operations. This study was conducted in three education circuits of Emalahleni, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The qualitative study to investigate KM application in township schools largely drew on the theoretical lenses of Wenger’s (1991) Communities of Practice (CoP), and Rodrigues and Pai’s (2005) Eight Dimensions of KM Enablers and Activators, supplemented by home-grown epistemologies of Ubuntu and Batho Pele Principles. Designed as a case study, the study employed semi-structured interviews to gather data. Responses were solicited from twenty participants comprising of teachers, Heads of Department (HODs), administrative clerks and principals in their varying capacities of knowledge work. Document analysis was done for purposes of triangulation. The study found that, despite a myriad of constraints, the selected schools apply KM sufficiently but not efficiently to meet their constitutional mandate of providing an educational service to learners. In two of the schools where principals practised laissez-faire and transactional leadership styles respectively, organisational cultures were characterised by one-way communication, limited knowledge sharing platforms, dissonance between subordinate staff and School Management Teams (SMTs). In the third school whose principal practised a democratic leadership style, the organisational climate was conducive for knowledge sharing and knowledge creation transactions among subordinate staff and the SMT. However, teachers of this school expressed the need to re-energise the formation of CoPs. In the midst of the cited constraints, personnel’s inclination to do their jobs and their adherence to the gazetted performance standards were found to be major propellants of KM application. The study also indicated that principals’ leadership determines the efficiency of KM application. The main recommendation thereof was that principals must begin to pay equal attention to the knowledge shared by both the subordinate staff and the SMT. / Ushintsho oluzinze kumontho wezezimboni kufikela kumnotho ozinse kwezobuqepheshe lunethmelela engagwemeki kwindlele izinkampani zikahulumeni kanye nezangasese zisebenzisa ngakhona izinhlelo zokuthulwa, zokwakhiwa kanye nokutholakala kolwazi mapheqelezi i Knowledge Management (KM). Ngemva kokuqaphela kwami ukuthi kunokwentula kolwazi olujulile ologxile kusayensi, mayelana nedlela izikole ikakhulukazi ezaseMalokishini zisebenzisa ngakhona i KM kuzinhlelo zazo zangemihla nge mihla; ngakho ke ngiye ngabona kungumqondo ophusile ukuba ngi phenye ngaloludaba. Ngiye ngagxila ukwazi kabanzi ngezikole ezintathu engizikhethile ngaphansi komnyango wezumfundo ehhovisini lasesigodini saseMalahleni esifindazweni saseMpumalanga eNingizimu Afrika. Loluphenyo oluzinze kwi qualitative method lisebenzise umbono ka Wenger (1991) owaziwa ngokuthi yi Communities of Practice (CoPs), kanye nombono ka Rodrigues and Pai (2005) obizwa nge Eight Dimensions of KM Enablers and Activators. Kanti futhi, Ubuntu ne Batho Pele, zasetshenziswa ukusekela lemibono emibili ephothulwiwe. Abasebenzi ababandakanyaka kulolu phenyo bangama shumi ambili emikhakheni ehlukahlukene ezikolweni njengo thisela nabaphathi babo, omabhalane kanye nabo thishanhloko. Ukuthola ubufakazi obungangabazeki ngiye nga qathanisa ulwazi oluphume kwimibono yabasebenzi nalena etholakale emaphepheni amumethe ulwazi mayelana nezinhlelo ze KM kuzo zontathu izikole. Ngaphandle kwezinselelo ezimbadlwana, akungabazekanga ukuba zontathu izikole zinazo izinhlelo ze KM. Futhi kuye kwabonakala ukuthi lezikole zihambisana nemiqathango yomthetho sisekelo wokuhlinzeka ngemfundo. Esikolweni sokuqala uthishanhloko wakhona utholakale esebenzisa ubuholi be-Leissez-faire. Kanti esikolweni sesibili uthishanhloko wakhona utholakale esebenzisa ubuholi be transactional. Kuzo zombili lezikole kusobala ukuthi kunezinselela ezinemithelela engamihle kahle ekwabiweni kolwazi kanye nase kusungulweni kwama qembu wokwakha ulwazi phakathi kwabasebenzi abangenazikhundla nalobo abanezikhundla. Abasebenzi abanganazikhundla ikakhulukazi othishela nabomabhalane baye bazwakalise isikhalo sabo sokungabandakanywa uma izinqumo zezinhlelo ze KM zithathwa. Kanti esikoweni sesithathu lapho uthishanhloko wakhona ebesebenzisa ubuholi bentando yeningi (noma i democratic leadership), kuye kwabonakala ngaphandle kwamathandabuzwa ukuthi abasebenzi abangenazikhundla kanye nabanazo, basebezisana ngokukhulu ukuhloniphana. Yigakho ke isimo salesi sikole sikulungele ukwakhiwa kanye nokwabelwana kolwazi phakathi kwabobonke abasebenzi. Yize noma izinhlelo eziningi ze KM zihamba ngomumu kulesisikole, kodwa othishela bakhona bayebanxusa ukuba kubuye kukhushulwe izinga lokusungula amaqembu wokwabelana nokwakhiwa kolwazi ngaphakathi kwabasebenzi. Kusobala ukuthi ikhono kanye nokuzimisle kwabasebezi emisebenzini yabo linemithelela ethize kwizinhlelo ze KM. Nobuholi bothishanhloko bunemithelela ethize ekuthuthukisweni kwezinhlelo ze KM. Othishanhloko bayacetshiswa ukuthi bamukele ngesasasa elikhulu imibono kwinhangothi zombili zabasebezi, bayeke ukubuka ulwazi oluphuma ohlangothini lwalabo abanezikhundla kuphela. / Die dreigende oorgang vanaf die industriële era na die tegnologies-gedrewe kennis era het implikasies vir die praktyk van Kennisbestuur vir alle organisasies oor verskeie indiensnemingsektore. My bewustheid van die stilte van empiriese rekeninge wat dokumenteer hoe skole, veral dié wat in townships geleë is, pas toe dat Kennis bestuur die behoefte aan 'n maatskaplike ondersoek vererger om die mate waarin die geselekteerde skole-hefboom Kennis bestuur in hul operasie gebruik, te bepaal. Hierdie studie is gedoen in drie bane van Emalahleni, Mpumalanga Provinsie, Suid-Afrika. Die kwalifitiewe studie om kennisbestuur in lokasie skole te ondersoek, het grootliks getrek op die teoretiese lense van Wenger se (1991) Gemeenskappe van Praktyk (CoP), en Rodrigues en Pai's (2005) Agt Dimensies van Kennisbestuur-instaatstellers en Aanwysers, aangevul deur tuisgroei-epistemologieë van Ubuntu en Batho Pele beginsels. Die studie het semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude gebruik om data in te samel. Reaksies is van twintig deelnemers in hulle wisselende vermoëns van kenniswerk versoek. Dokumentanalise is vir doeleindes van driehoeking gedoen. Ten spyte van 'n magdom beperkings het die studie bevind dat die gekose skool Kennisbestuur voldoende toepas, maar nie doeltreffend om hul grondwetlike mandaat te ontmoet om 'n opvoedkundige diens aan leerders te lewer nie. In twee van die skole waar skoolhoofde laissez-billike en transaksionele leierskapstyle onderskeidelik beoefen het, is organisatoriese kulture gekenmerk deur eenrigtingkommunikasie, beperkte kennisverdelingsplatforms, besluitneming tussen ondergeskikte personeel en skoolbestuurspanne (SMT's). In die derde skool wie se skoolhoof 'n demokratiese leierskapstyl beoefen het, was organisatoriese klimaat bevorderlik vir kennisverdeling en kennisskeppingstransaksies onder ondergeskikte personeel en die SMT. Te midde van die aangehaalde beperkings is personeel se neiging om hul nakoming van die prestasiestandaarde te doen, bevind dat groot skroewe van Kennisbestuur aansoek is. Die studie het ook aangedui dat skoolhoofde se leierskap die doeltreffendheid van Kennisbestuursaansoek bepaal. Die aanbeveling daarvan was dat skoolhoofde moet begin om die kennis wat kom uit lae arbeidsmag op dieselfde vlak te waardeer dat hulle die kennis wat van KMO's kom, waardeer. / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Phil. (Education Management)

The aim of this study is to conduct a thorough theoretical study on the relevant aspects involved in knowledge management and organisational learning, and to assess the maturity level of knowledge management within the South African steel industry. Various aspects of knowledge, knowledge management and organisational learning with specific relation to sustainable competitive advantage are discussed in the literature study. During the literature research several factors which either promote or hinder the effective management of knowledge were identified and a list of lessons learned by other successful knowledge focused companies, are discussed. The critical success factors for a successful knowledge management program are also discussed. Knowledge can create a sustainable competitive advantage within an organisation, if successfully applied to make value adding decisions and to enable learning, and if it is applied to make decisions which are superior to that of its rivals across the supply chain. An integrated approach needs to be followed when KM is pursued and the knowledge must be applied to make value added decisions and facilitate learning across all processes in the value chain. The focus must be to retain an organisation’s tacit knowledge as this is a key success factor to ensure a sustainable competitive advantage. The study includes research on whether knowledge management is effectively used as a sustainable competitive advantage in the South African steel industry. The maturity level of the application of knowledge and learning principles implemented within the South African steel industry is assessed and compared to the maturity level of ArcelorMittal, Monlevade, located in Brazil. A survey was designed and distributed to determine the knowledge management and organisational learning maturity levels at two steel facilities of ArcelorMittal in South Africa and one facility in Brazil. The key problem areas as identified through the empirical research are discussed and it is concluded that South African facilities do not effectively use knowledge management as a sustainable competitive advantage. The maturity level of knowledge management in ArcelorMittal, South Africa is low compared to the maturity at Monlevade and rival companies such as Tata and Posco steel. A significant effort needs to be made in order to allow the effective creation, acquisition, sharing and leveraging of knowledge within the South African steel facilities. The key factors which constrain effective knowledge management is related to ineffective Human Resource policies, organisation structure, lack of knowledge exchange forums, collaboration and communication, coaching, and a lack of incentives to share tacit knowledge. It is also evident that knowledge is not seen as a sustainable competitive advantage by many respondents and that they perceive they do not have the time or capacity to transfer knowledge. Ten practical design principles were constructed and a knowledge management framework was developed to guide South African steel companies during the design and execution of a knowledge management programme which will ensure that knowledge management will result into a sustainable competitive advantage. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The aim of this study is to conduct a thorough theoretical study on the relevant aspects involved in knowledge management and organisational learning, and to assess the maturity level of knowledge management within the South African steel industry. Various aspects of knowledge, knowledge management and organisational learning with specific relation to sustainable competitive advantage are discussed in the literature study. During the literature research several factors which either promote or hinder the effective management of knowledge were identified and a list of lessons learned by other successful knowledge focused companies, are discussed. The critical success factors for a successful knowledge management program are also discussed. Knowledge can create a sustainable competitive advantage within an organisation, if successfully applied to make value adding decisions and to enable learning, and if it is applied to make decisions which are superior to that of its rivals across the supply chain. An integrated approach needs to be followed when KM is pursued and the knowledge must be applied to make value added decisions and facilitate learning across all processes in the value chain. The focus must be to retain an organisation’s tacit knowledge as this is a key success factor to ensure a sustainable competitive advantage. The study includes research on whether knowledge management is effectively used as a sustainable competitive advantage in the South African steel industry. The maturity level of the application of knowledge and learning principles implemented within the South African steel industry is assessed and compared to the maturity level of ArcelorMittal, Monlevade, located in Brazil. A survey was designed and distributed to determine the knowledge management and organisational learning maturity levels at two steel facilities of ArcelorMittal in South Africa and one facility in Brazil. The key problem areas as identified through the empirical research are discussed and it is concluded that South African facilities do not effectively use knowledge management as a sustainable competitive advantage. The maturity level of knowledge management in ArcelorMittal, South Africa is low compared to the maturity at Monlevade and rival companies such as Tata and Posco steel. A significant effort needs to be made in order to allow the effective creation, acquisition, sharing and leveraging of knowledge within the South African steel facilities. The key factors which constrain effective knowledge management is related to ineffective Human Resource policies, organisation structure, lack of knowledge exchange forums, collaboration and communication, coaching, and a lack of incentives to share tacit knowledge. It is also evident that knowledge is not seen as a sustainable competitive advantage by many respondents and that they perceive they do not have the time or capacity to transfer knowledge. Ten practical design principles were constructed and a knowledge management framework was developed to guide South African steel companies during the design and execution of a knowledge management programme which will ensure that knowledge management will result into a sustainable competitive advantage. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.