L’objectif de cette thèse est de montrer comment se transmet une connaissance commune de la notion de « travail bien fait » au sein de l’entreprise. Dans les économies modernes, la question de la connaissance est l'une des plus essentielles mais également l'une des plus complexes à gérer pour les organisations. Le propre de l’entreprise est d’assurer la production continue de la qualité des produits ou service dans lesquels elle se spécialise. Pour cela, le travail doit être évalué et valorisé à différents niveaux, ce qui permet d’appréhender la question du travail bien fait. Cette thèse se focalise sur la constitution et l’apprentissage d’une notion commune du travail bien fait. Cette approche s’éloigne d’une compréhension abstraite des connaissances pour intégrer la réalité subjective, objective et collective du travail dans l’entreprise.La recherche empirique consiste en une étude qualitative approfondie du travail au sein de différents sites d’ENEDIS (ex-ERDF), société qui gère et exploite le réseau électrique français. L’analyse des données issues de l’observation du travail et des entretiens montre que la notion de travail bien fait est transmise parce qu’elle est appliquée, justifiée, incarnée, éprouvée par une communauté de travail. C’est donc moins l’organisation et le management que la mémoire des communautés de travail qui expliquent la transmission de la notion de travail bien fait. Le modèle théorique qui émerge des données empiriques indique que la mémoire des communautés de travail se compose de quatre types de connaissances communes : les recettes conventionnelles du travail bien fait, la mémoire des fondements identitaires, la mémoire des épreuves communes, la mémoire des figures du travail. La description détaillée de chaque composante de la mémoire communautaire restitue une vision générale mais précise et concrète des relations de transmission. Elle met aussi en évidence la structure nécessaire pour qu’une communauté de travail élabore et transmette une connaissance partagée du travail bien fait. La thèse précise les conditions de l’apprentissage et du développement chez les travailleurs moins expérimentés d’une aptitude au travail bien fait. Finalement, il apparait qu’en l’absence de communautés de travail vivantes, un niveau de qualité partagé ne peut être maintenu dans l’entreprise. / The objective of this doctoral research is to show how a common knowledge of the concept of work well-done is transmitted within companies. In modern economies, knowledge is one of the most essential yet also one of the most complex issues for organizations to manage. A defining feature of companies is to ensure the continued quality of the products or services in which it specializes. In order to do so, work must be assessed and valued at different levels, allowing to tackle the question of work well-done. This thesis focuses on the formation and on the learning process of a common notion of work well-done. This approach departs from a conceptual understanding of knowledge and moves towards considering the subjective, objective and collective reality of work in companies.The empirical research is based on an in-depth qualitative study of work led in different sites at ENEDIS (formerly ERDF), a large company which manages and operates the French electric grid. The analysis of data from the observation of work and interviews shows that the concept of well-done work can only be transmitted because it is applied, justified, embodied, proven by a working community. It is less management and organizing principles than the memory of these communities which explain the transmission of the concept well-done work. The theoretical model that emerges from the empirical data indicates that the memory of the working communities consists of four types of common knowledge: the conventional recipes of well-done work, the memory of founding principles, the memory of common tests, the memory of work figures. The detailed description of each component of this community memory offers a general but precise and concrete view of transmission relations. It also highlights the necessary structure for a working community to develop and to convey a notion of well-done work. The thesis specifies the conditions in which less experienced workers can learn and develop an ability for well-done work. Finally, it becomes apparent that without lively working communities, a common level of quality cannot be maintained in the company.

Syfte: Branschen tampas fortfarande med kvalitetsbrister och har därför börjat uppmärksamma de fördelar som följer med industriellt byggande och standardiserade arbetsprocesser. Med industriella arbetsprocesser kan företagen ge frihet till arbetare att få ansvara för de arbetsprocesser som de medverkar i, och således bidra till att de förbättrar lösningar och standardiseringar. Ett koncept som lämpar sig väldigt väl för detta är The Toyota Production system (TPS), också kallat Lean production. År 2016 utfördes en samling fallstudier bland Lean-arbetande byggföretag där de visade att kvalitet och strävan efter standardiserade arbetsprocesser var högt prioriterat. Lean production och dess processer i företag omfattar informations – och kunskapsöverföringar och kan vara svårt att tillämpa. Därför motiveras vidare forskning på tillämpbarheten av principerna och dess verktyg i byggföretag. Studiens mål är att analysera hur företag inom prefabindustrin som arbetar med Lean kan utveckla sitt förbättringsarbete i produktionsprocessen. Metod: Rapporten är en kvalitativ fallstudie utförd på Ulricehamns Betong AB. Studiens datainsamlingsmetoder har varit litteraturstudier, deltagande observationer, semistrukturerade intervjuer och dokumentanalyser. Resultat: Utifrån studiens analys kunde vissa problem i förbättringsarbetet identifieras, samt leda till en analys över hur det förbättras och göras mer kunskapsdelande. Det framkom att inställningen till förbättringsarbete varierade stort bland medarbetarna. En gemensam syn på förbättringsarbetets betydelse krävs för fortsatt utveckling, något som kan uppmuntras från organisationens håll tydligare. Genom rollen som handledare kan företag säkra att det arbetas efter standardiserade arbetssätt. Konsekvenser: Avgörande för ett kunskapsdelande och utvecklande förbättringsarbete är att alla medarbetare är motiverade till att bidra till en förbättring. För att motivera medarbetarna bör statusen på individuell kunskap följt av inställning till kunskapsdelande att höjas. Medarbetare ska ha tillgång till kontinuerliga förbättringsmöten eller andra forum där de kan utbyta erfarenheter och idéer. Begränsningar: Fallstudien har genomförts på ett företag som använder sig av Lean-konceptet. Studien begränsas till att endast behandla förbättringsarbete i produktionen av prefabricerade betongelement.  Studien redogör alltså inte för hur andra prefab-företags förbättringsprocesser ser ut i produktionen. / Purpose: The industry is still struggling with reoccurring deficits regarding quality and has therefore began to pay attention what benefits that comes with an industrial building process. With industrial building processes the companies using it can let the workers be in charge of their work processes that they find themselves in and thus help to improve and standardise them. A concept that fits these conditions very well is The Toyota production system (TPS), also known as Lean production. In the year 2016 several studies were made that showed that among Lean working construction companies it was the reach for higher quality and standardised working processes that was prioritized. Lean production and its processes contains a lot of information- and knowledge transfers and may be hard to practice in a company. Therefore further studies on how to implement these principles and tools properly are recommended. The aim with this study is to analyse how companies in the precast industry who works with Lean can evolve their continuous improvement process in the production process.   Method: This report is a qualitative case study accomplished at Ulricehamns Betong AB. The chosen methods on how to collect data are literature studies, participating observations, semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Findings: From the analysis of this study some problems in the improvement process could be identified, but also how they could be improved and how they could be more knowledge sharing. It was shown that the will to participate in the improvement process did varied a lot among the co-workers. A common attitude for the importance of the improvement process is needed for the continuous development, something that can be more encouraged by the organisation. Through the implementation of a mentor the company can ensure that the production process is more standardised. Implications: The number one thing that is most important for an evolving and knowledge sharing improvement process is that the co-workers stay motivated to participate. To motivate them, the status of individual knowledge should be raised and heard. Furthermore they should have access to continuous improvement meetings or other forums where they can exchange experiences and ideas. Limitations: The case study has been accomplished at a company that are using the Lean concept. The study limits to only study the improvement process in the production process of precast concrete elements. Furthermore the study is focused on how one specific company uses their improvement process and not how other companies uses theirs.

Syftet med studien är att beskriva möjligheter och hinder för kunskapsutbyte blanddistansarbetare när kunskapsutbytet sker över digitala medier. Tio semistrukturerade intervjuergenomfördes med fem privatanställda och fem offentligt anställda. I intervjuerna fickrespondenterna dela med sig av sina upplevelser av digitala medier och kunskapsutbyte. Detempiriska materialet analyserades genom att använda media richness, närvaro i digitalinteraktion, formella och informella organiseringsprocesser, det strukturella perspektivet samtnätverksteori som teoretiska utgångspunkter. Resultatet visar att videosamtal lämpar sig bäst för överföring av mer komplex kunskap närkommunikation ansikte-mot-ansikte inte är möjlig. Telefon och chattar erbjuder snabbtillgång till kunskap som är lätt att tolka. Användandet av digitala medier ger större möjlighetför dokumentation av kunskap som är möjlig att samla, använda och dela vid senare tillfälle.Ett annat resultat är att formella strukturer med etablerade rutiner, uttalade roller,formaliserade möten och samarbeten möjliggör för kunskapsutbyten. Brist på strukturer somär anpassade efter distansarbete hindrar kunskapsutbyten. Informella sammanhang bär medsig störst möjlighet för kunskapsutbyte mellan kollegor med personliga relationer. Ökatansvar för kunskapsutbyte läggs på anställda när det finns en brist på formella strukturer ochutrymme för informella strukturer i den digitala interaktionen. / The purpose of this study is to describe the possibilities and obstacles to knowledge sharingamong teleworkers when the knowledge sharing takes place through digital media. Ten semistructured interviews took place with five employees from the private sector and fiveemployees from the public sector. During the interviews the respondents shared theirexperience of digital media and knowledge sharing. In the analysis of the empirical materialthe theoretical perspectives of Media Richness Theory, Presence in MediatizedCommunication, formal and informal organization processes, the structural perspective andnetwork theory was used. The result shows that video calls are most suitable to transfer complex knowledge when faceto-face communication is not possible. Telephone calls and chats offers quick access toknowledge that is easy to interpret. The use of digital media provides greater opportunities fordocumentation of knowledge that is possible to collect, use and share at a later time. Anotherresult is that formal structures with established routines, pronounced roles, formalizedmeetings and collaborations enable the exchange of knowledge. A lack of structures adaptedfor teleworking is an obstacle to knowledge sharing. Informal contexts offer the greatestopportunity for knowledge sharing between colleagues with personal relationships. Anincreased responsibility for knowledge sharing is placed on employees when there is a lack offormal structures and space for informal structures in the digital interaction.

No description available.

As the source of economic wealth continues to transition from a late industrial era to an early knowledge era, the foundation of success in the 21st century relates to a dependency on knowledge-based assets such as ideas, processes, and information (Alavi & Leidner, 2001; Sallis & Jones, 2002; Søndergaard, Kerr, & Clegg, 2007; Sveiby, 1997). During this transition, the emergent discipline of knowledge management in business and in education has evolved from a techno-centric approach (Alavi & Leidner, 2001; McAdam & McGreedy, 1999; McElroy, 2000) to a holistic social process oriented toward meeting institutional demands for new knowledge and geared toward learning and innovation (McElroy, 2003; Sallis & Jones, 2002). Prior research has indicated a need to examine the use of a community of practice model as a knowledge management strategy (Ramchand & Pan, 2012; Roberts, 2006; Ropes, 2009). This qualitative research study presented an examination of the knowledge-sharing perceptions of members of a public postsecondary state university system (SUS) community of practice comprised of university registrars. Data collection used in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Analysis of data strongly indicated that the registrars were engaged in collective learning with a strong emphasis on problem-solving. Furthermore, data analysis provided evidence that the participants’ community of practice had synergistic value within the SUS. Moreover, data analysis substantiated that the significant engagement in knowledge sharing activities and the subsequent knowledge development were facilitated by social processes. As a result, this study of the SUS registrar community of practice can serve as a knowledge management strategy.

The objectives of this study were to (1) establish whether a relationship exists between individuals’ perception of organisational culture, measured by the South African Cultural Instrument (2005) and lifelong learning, measured by the Dimensions of the Learning Organisation Questionnaire (2003); and (2) determine whether the participants differed with regard to these variables in terms of sociodemographic contextual factors such as age, race, gender, education, years of service, disability status and job level. A quantitative study, using primary data, was conducted on a convenient sample (N=257) of full-time public service officials in a South African public service organisation. Correlational and inferential statistical analyses revealed statistically significant positive relationships between individuals’ perception of organisational culture and lifelong learning. Significant differences were found in the perception of these variables for individuals with different years of service and for individuals of different age groups. The findings should contribute valuable knowledge to the field of organisational behaviour, which could be used to promote a lifelong learning culture in public service organisations. The study concludes with recommendations for future practice / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Many people face difficulties in remembering knowledge, which is complex and abstract. This is especially important when the descriptions of knowledge are to be stored in searchable knowledge bases. But if complex knowledge can be transferred through real life stories, it is more understandable and easier to retrieve for the knowledge acceptor. Moreover, if the stories follow a certain pattern like ‘intentional suspense’ it may be more useful. This study investigates how far a story with intentional interruption is helpful in transferring complex computer science knowledge through processing of information that compares similarities between new and well-understood concepts. The data collection was done by applying framework analysis approach through the interview of 40 students of Stockholm University. Results of this study is assumed to help organizations to design, store and retrieve complex knowledge structures in knowledge bases by using a specific pattern of the stories used in the narrative pedagogy known as 'Zeigarnik effect' which is a form of creating suspense. Interviews with managers showed that they are positive to using the type of knowledge transfer as is proposed in the results of this thesis. Transcribed interviews with students show that the students appreciate and understand the use of analogies in combination with the ‘Zeigarnik effect’ as is described in the result of this thesis. After analysis of the data collected from the experiments, it was confirmed that ‘Zeigarnik effect’ has a small positive effect for a group of people as better results have been found in most of the time when ‘Zeigarnik effect’ was used as compared to when the ‘Zeigarnik effect’ was not used. The participants that experienced the ‘Zeigarnik effect’ answered in a better way which proved that their understanding and memory regarding the subject have been enhanced using it.

This single case study explores the adoption of a wiki knowledge management system at a mid-sized IT retailer and consultancy. In exploring what factors affect how and if employees interact with the wiki six key areas are identified as crucial to enabling successful knowledge transfers with such a system: 1. Clearly linking the knowledge management to tangible business value 2. Clarifying for users the purpose and usage of the wiki 3. Aligning desired wiki use with the pre-existing corporate culture 4. Verifying that employee incentives are aligned with desired behavior 5. Making sure knowledge management is a part of existing processes 6. Effectively using technology to aid the users Additionally the study includes a comparison with previously conducted studies on implementations of traditional non-collaborative knowledge management systems and finds a high degree of similarity with the issues that have previously been faced within the field. This thesis therefore argues that the new technology present in a wiki type system does not solve the pre-existing problems facing knowledge management practitioners. Instead, the same issues facing the implementation of any such system need to be resolved before the potential of a wiki knowledge management system can be realized.

This Master thesis in Science of Engineering and of Education at KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) in Stockholm is conducted on the basis of a Minor Field Study financed by the Swedish International Development Agency, SIDA. The thesis aims to describe and analyze the process of learning and the knowledge exchange that occurs in a technical assistance project. The studied project is a water supply project in Syrdarya region in Uzbekistan. In every project of this kind, as well as projects of domestic character, the concept of knowledge sharing and management is essential for the success of the project. In the case of technical assistance projects and human aid projects, there is a discussion whether the projects help developing the country or if they rather make the countries weaker as regards to their own abilities. This study analyzes the transposition of learning and management of knowledge components incorporated in the goals of the World Bank and the interaction between international consultants and local engineers. Previous research has highlighted the importance of this interaction and of the informal roles taken by participants. The result of this study concurs this and indicates proof of a reality with high proficiency of, and conversance with, technical skills and theories. However, the result also indicates a lack of awareness of knowledge sharing and the question of how it could be integrated within the project on a daily work basis. The conclusion is that the “signal”, that is, the goals and visions of the World Bank concerning knowledge transfer, is successfully received and transposed at project design level as well as successfully received at local level. However, responsibility and active measures for final implementation almost solely depend on the will and engagement of each individual consultant. Eventually, the study underlines the importance of a project community of practice and of tacit knowledge. Because of the difficulties regarding conscious, continuous learning and management of knowledge when executing technical assistance projects there is a need for further research on the implementation of sustainable knowledge sharing, focusing on the incentives’ of the international engineers working in development projects and on the process of recruitment. Universities of technology have an important role to play when preparing engineers working with development projects. Keywords: Knowledge sharing, community of practice, technical assistance project, water supply project, sustainable development, sustainable learning. / Som grund för denna masteruppsats inom civilingenjör- och lärarprogrammet vid Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan i Stockholm ligger en SIDA-finansierad Minor Field Study. Uppsatsen syftar till att beskriva och analysera processen av lärande och kunskapsutbyte inom ett tekniskt utvecklingsprojekt. Projektet som studerats är ett vattenförsörjningsprojekt i Syrdaryaregionen i Uzbekistan. Begreppen kunskapsdelning och kunskapshantering är väsentliga för den slutliga framgången hos varje projekt av detta slag och även i inhemska projekt. När det gäller tekniska utvecklingsprojekt och biståndsprojekt finns en diskussion gällande huruvida projekten hjälper landet ifråga eller om de snarare försvagar landet och dess egna resurser. Studien analyserar hur Världsbankens mål kring lärande och kunskapshantering överförs till internationella konsulter och lokala ingenjörer och hur samspelet mellan dessa ser ut. Tidigare forskning har pekat på betydelsen av detta samspel och på de informella roller som deltagarna tar på sig. Resultaten från denna studie understöder dessa slutsatser. Studien visar också på en teknisk verklighet som utmärks av yrkesskicklighet och förtrogenhet med tekniska teorier. Emellertid tyder resultaten även på att det finns en bristande medvetenhet kring kunskapsspridningen och kring hur denna skulle kunna integreras på daglig basis i projektet. Slutsatsen i uppsatsen är att ”signalen”, d.v.s. Världsbankens mål och visioner om kunskapsförmedling, överförs framgångsrikt till den nivå där projektet utformas konkret och även framgångsrikt förs över till den lokala nivå där projektet ska genomföras. Ansvaret och åtgärderna för det slutliga genomförandet är dock helt och hållet avhängigt den enskilde konsultens vilja och engagemang. I studien understryks slutligen vikten av en egen professionell arbetsgemenskap inom projektet och betydelsen av att ”se” även tyst kunskap. Svårigheterna kring medvetet och kontinuerligt lärande och kunskapshantering i samband med genomförandet av tekniska utvecklingsprojekt medför att ett behov av fortsatt forskning uppstår rörande hur en hållbar kunskapsspridning kan förverkligas, detta med fokus på de internationella ingenjörernas drivkrafter i utvecklingsprojekt och på rekryteringsprocessen. Tekniska universitet och högskolor har en viktig roll att spela i formandet av de ingenjörer som ska arbeta med utvecklingsprojekt.

In this master's thesis, we investigate the meaning and significance of professional networking to Swedish librarians in their everyday professional practices. In addition, we explore the relationship between librarians' networking needs and the needs or expectations presented by their institutional context (i.e. the workings of their specific library organization or, more broadly, the library sector and work life). The study consisted of 1) a pre-study through an online survey directed to librarians at seven public libraries and four research libraries in Sweden 2) qualitative interviews with 21 public and research librarians recruited through the pre-study survey and 3) an additional interview with the chair of the Swedish national library association (Svensk Biblioteksförening). Overall, participants in the study rated the importance of their professional networks highly. When asked the significance of professional networks to everyday professional practice, the responses given by the interviewed librarians favored explanations in terms of 1) knowledge provision and learning, 2) interlinkage of library organizations with the goal of raising the standards of library service and 3) as a means of providing both professional and organisational support. Many of the study's participants also reported an expectation that they should network, citing either a direct expectation from library management or general trends in contemporary Swedish work life. Librarians' professional networking needs were related by respondents to characteristics of their institutional context, where some librarians pointed to factors such as sparse staffing or budget constraints as creating a need for professional support networks. This is a two years master's thesis in Library and information science.