Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Knowledge is generally regarded as a new competitive business resource in the information age.
The leveraging of this resource has therefore become a significant concern of knowledge
management. Knowledge management is not culturally neutral, however, and there seem to be
differences between Western and Eastern knowledge management practices. In order to address
these differences and determine their cultural roots, a comparative analysis of the cultural
influences on knowledge management approaches in Western and Eastern corporations is needed.
To fulfil this objective, it was firstly necessary to clarify the basic concept of knowledge,
knowledge management and some relevant cultural issues. Secondly, specific Western and
Eastern corporations were chosen as case studies, and their knowledge management approaches
were analysed. In a third step, a comparative analysis was done between Western knowledge and
Eastern knowledge management practices. The culturally determining factors are presented.
In the second part of the study, the relationship between knowledge management and cultural
issues was discussed. Since knowledge management is still in its infancy, this means that a
common language is being established. Although the importance of corporate culture has been
recognised, national cultural influences on knowledge management practices still need
considerable scholarly attention.
In the third part of the study, three national cultures were chosen to represent the Western and
Eastern cultures. America and Sweden represent Western culture, while Japan represents Eastern
culture. Several corporations, including IBM, Skandia, Toshiba, Sharp, were presented as case
studies and their knowledge management approaches were analysed, e.g. tacit knowledge
management focus, explicit knowledge management focus, knowledge creation, knowledge
reuse, internal acquirement of knowledge, external acquirement of knowledge, etc. Based on the
analysis of the Western and Eastern corporations' knowledge management practices, a
comparative analysis was conducted to identify the role that national culture plays in corporate
knowledge management.
In the last part of the study, the conclusions indicated that national cultures do influence
knowledge managers in their choice or omission of certain approaches to knowledge
management. Following from this conclusion, several future research suggestions were proffered. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kennis word oor die algemeen as 'n nuwe mededingende bron van die inligtingsera beskou. Die
invloed van hierdie bron het dus 'n betekenisvolle aangeleentheid vir kennisbestuur geword.
Kennisbestuur is egter nie kultureel-neutraal nie en daar is toenemende bewyse van verskille
tussen Westerse en Oosterse kennisbestuurpraktyke. 'n Vergelykende analise van kultuurinvloede
op die kennisbestuurbenaderings van Westerse en Oosterse ondernemings is nodig om hierdie
verskille te bepaal en hul grondslae te ondersoek.
Om aan hierdie doelstelling te voldoen was dit nodig om eers die basiese kennis- en
kennisbestuurbegrippe en fundamentele kultuurdimensies te verklaar. Tweedens is spesifieke
Westerse en Oosterse ondernemings gekies as gevallestudies en is hul onderskeie
kennisbestuurbenaderings geanaliseer. Derdens is 'n vergelykende analise van Westerse en
Oosterse kennisbestuurpraktyke gemaak.
In die tweede gedeelte van hierdie studie word die verhouding tussen kennisbestuur en kulturele
kwessies ontleed. Aangesien kennisbestuur nog in sy kinderskoene staan beteken dit dat 'n
gemeenskaplike terminologie gebou moet word. Alhoewel die belangrikheid van korporatiewe
kultuur al herken is, benodig die invloede van 'n nasionale kultuur op bestuurspraktyke nog
aandag.
In die derde gedeelte van hierdie studie word drie lande as die verteenwoordigers van Westerse
en Oosterse kulture gekies. Amerika en Swede verteenwoordig Westerse kultuur, terwyl Japan
Oosterse kultuur verteenwoordig. Verskeie ondernemings soos IBM, Skandia en Toshiba word as
gevallestudies behandel en hul kennisbestuurbenaderings word geanaliseer, bv. onuitgesproke
kennisbestuurfokus, eksplisiete kennisbestuurfokus, kennisskepping, kennisherverbruik, interne
kennisverkryging en eksterne kennisverkryging. 'n Vergelykende analise, gebaseer op die
onderskeie analises van Westerse en Oosterse kennisbestuurpraktyke, word gedoen om die rol
van nasionale kultuur in korporatiewe kennisbestuur te identifiseer.
Die bevindings, gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings van die studie toon dat kennisbestuurders wel
deur hul nasionale kultuur beïnvloed word in hul keuse, al dan nie, van sekere benaderings tot
kennisbestuur. Verskeie voorstelle vir toekomstige navorsing, afgelei van die gevolgtrekkings en
aanbevelings, word hierna voorgelê.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51558 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Liu, Nan |
| Contributors | Leibold, M., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Business Management. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 111 pages |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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