Thesis (MA (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:
When studying information and knowledge management case studies, it becomes
evident that barriers to information and knowledge sharing persist, even in organisations
that are lauded for their IKM initiatives. This study set out to probe why this is the case.
To this end the study explored persistent barriers to information and knowledge sharing
through an investigation of a Most Admired Knowledge Enterprise (MAKE) award
winning organisation. It was predicted that the persistent barriers would correspond to
the characteristics of organisations as complex social systems. Results indicated that the
persistent barriers identified in the MAKE award winning organisation mirror the
characteristics of complex social systems.
The findings suggest one possible explanation for the persistence of barriers to
information and knowledge sharing, namely that these barriers are rooted in the nature
of organisations as complex systems. Viewing poor information and knowledge flows
through a complex social systems lens draws attention to the ‘wicked’ nature of the
issue, i.e. the reality that persistent barriers form interacting meshes that can at best be
mitigated but not eliminated. Also, viewing persistent barriers as inherent in
organisations suggest alternative ways of attending to these barriers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:
‘n Oorsig van inligting- en kennisbestuur (IKB) gevallestudies wys duidelik dat
hindernisse tot inligting- en kennisdeling gedurig volhou, selfs in organisasies met
hoogs aangeskrewe IKB inisiatiewe. Die oogmerk van hierdie studie was om vas te stel
waarom dit so is. Die studie het daarom hardnekkig volhoudende hindernisse tot
inligting- en kennisdeling binne ‘n erkende Most Admired Knowledge Enterprise
(MAKE) organisasie ondersoek. Dit is voorspel dat die volhoudende hindernisse sou
ooreenstem met eienskappe van organisasies as komplekse sosiale stelsels. Die
bevindinge het gewys dat volhoudende hindernisse wat binne die erkende MAKE
organisasie identifiseer is, wel die eienskappe van komplekse sosiale stelsels
weerspieël.
Die bevindinge wys op een moontlike verklaring vir die hardnekkig volhoudende
bestaan van hindernisse tot inligting- en kennisdeling, naamlik dat hierdie hindernisse
spruit uit die aard van organisasies as komplekse stelsels. Deur na suboptimale
inligting- en kennisvloei deur die lens van ‘n komplekse sosiale stelsel te kyk, word die
‘wicked’ aard van die probleem uitgewys, dit wil sê ‘n realiteit waar volhoudende
hindernisse interaktiewe strikke vorm wat bloot aangespreek, maar nie elimineer kan
word nie. Alternatiewe maniere word voorgestel hoe sulke hindernisse aangepak kan
word.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1981 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Kruger, Hilda |
| Contributors | Muller, Hans Peter, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. Information Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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