A Design Theory for Knowledge Transfer in Business Intelligence

Information Systems (IS) have often been the mechanism by which Knowledge Transfer (KT) has beenaccomplished within organizations. However, in the case of Business Intelligence (BI) it is also often the source or theknowledge required to be transferred. While the IS profession has effectively studied explicit knowledge, the conversion oftacit to explicit knowledge (Champika et al. 2009; Parent et al. 2007; Swee 2002) or knowledge creation (Nambisan et al.1999; Nonaka 1994) a gap remains in regards to knowledge adoption and application of transferred tacit knowledge. Thispaper will contribute a design theory to support future research for KT in BI

Virtual Communities of Practice – Experiences from VCoP

Online systems for sharing knowledge and for organizing communities of practice are increasing in numbers. In this paper, we claim that the system alone will not be sufficient regarding the knowledge sharing process, if fundamentals of creating and maintaining communities of practice are not attended to. This paper presents the experiences from two Norwegian organizations that have used an online system for sharing knowledge, for the purpose of building a community of practice within the organization. This is a pilot study of a larger project and the main focus has been on the role of the facilitator and on the key features of the facilitator role that supports the creation and maintenance of what is defined as Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoP). “Ordinary” Communities of Practice, as Lave and Wenger define it, are based on voluntary encounters between practitioners (Wenger, 1998a, Lave and Wenger, 1991). We investigate to what degree the Virtual Communities of Practice are voluntary, if at all. The research is mainly qualitative and data is collected through interviews. The respondents are users and administrators of the system. The system is called Noddlepod™ and is a Norwegian developed Knowledge Management Syste

Can CoP theory be applied? Exploring praxis in a community of practice on gender

Kurt Lewin, father of social learning theory, once stated ‘There is nothing so practical as a good theory’. Communities of Practice are widely recognized and promoted as vehicles for learning in and across organizations. However it has been well documented that it is easier to describe their existence than to use that knowledge to bring one into being. Various authors have explored and described factors that seem useful to make a CoP work. The context is an agricultural research-for-development organization, in which low gender capacity at institutional level had been identified as a weakness that needed addressing. The author followed step by step the advice laid out by scholars and practitioners of CoP theory to explore whether engaging in ‘praxis’ (i.e. the enactment of a theory) would be effective to nurture a CoP to raise gender research capacity. After 18 months of being nurtured according to theory, the CoP may be considered successful for this point in its history. It has an identity, regular meetings in which experiences are shared and problems discussed, increasing membership and a growing number of products generated by and shared among its membership. The implications of this case study are that careful study of the theory can lead to better practice and more effective learning. The steps taken to go from theory to practice, outlined in this paper, may be useful to other aspiring CoP practitioners

Exploratory Systematic Review on the Exchange of Knowledge in Virtual Communities of Practice

Virtual Communities of Practice (VCOP) are environments widely recognized as knowledge management instruments, and their sociocultural contributions are being incipiently valued. However, VCOPs are complex participation contexts due to their sociotechnical and sociocultural nature. Participation mechanisms, particularly Knowledge Sharing Behavior (KSB), have been studied from heterogeneous theoretical foundations and practical research methods. Therefore, a wide dispersion of factors and dimensions has been identified. Goals: Present an overview that summarizes and systematizes the key drivers of KSB in VCOPs. Methods: This paper presents a systematic review of KSB in VCOPs, based on 42 studies retrieved from WOS, SCOPUS and Science Direct. The review was conducted using the PRISMA model. Results: The selection and qualitative synthesis of articles was enriched using Nvivo for coding and analysis of the full text documents. The results suggest that KSB in VCOPs have a multidimensional and multifactorial character that includes personal, interpersonal, contextual, and technological factors. Conclusions: The typology of factors presented could serve in academic settings to conduct new theoretical or empirical research, or in practitioner settings to implement VCOPs in institutions across diverse sectors. New assessment instruments of KSB in VCOPs could be based on this typology.Las Comunidades de Práctica Virtuales (VCOP) son entornos ampliamente reconocidos como instrumentos para la gestión de conocimiento y, de manera incipiente, se están empezando a valorar sus contribuciones desde el punto de vista sociocultural. Sin embargo, las VCOP son contextos de participación complejos por su naturaleza sociotécnica y sociocultural. Los mecanismos de participación, particularmente el comportamiento de compartir conocimiento (KSB), se han abordado desde fundamentos te ricos y m todos de investigación extremadamente heterogéneos. Como resultado, se ha identificado una gran dispersión de factores y dimensiones. Objetivo: Presentar una visión general que resuma y sistematice los factores clave del KSB en las VCOP. M todo: Este artículo presenta una revisión sistemática sobre el KSB en las VCOP, basada en 42 estudios recuperados de WOS, SCOPUS y Science Direct. La revisión se ha realizado utilizando el modelo PRISMA. La selección y síntesis cualitativa de los artículos se ha enriquecido utilizando Nvivo para codificar y analizar los artículos a texto completo. Resultados: Los resultados sugieren que el KSB en las VCOP tiene un carácter multidimensional y multifactorial que incluye factores personales, interpersonales, contextuales y tecnológicos. Conclusiones: La tipología de factores que se presenta podría ser utilizada en contextos acad micos para desarrollar nuevas investigaciones te ricas o empíricas, o como en contextos profesionales para implementar VCOPs en instituciones de diversos sectores. Nuevos instrumentos de evaluación sobre el KSB en las VCOP podrán basarse en esta tipología

Key factors in Knowledge Sharing Behavior in virtual communities of practice: a systematic review

Virtual Communities of Practice (VCOP) are environments widely recognized as knowledge management instruments, and their sociocultural contributions are being incipiently valued. However, VCOPs are complex participation contexts due to their sociotechnical and sociocultural nature. Participation mechanisms, particularly Knowledge Sharing Behavior (KSB), have been studied from heterogeneous theoretical foundations and practical research methods. Therefore, a wide dispersion of factors and dimensions has been identified. This paper aims to present an overview that summarizes and systematizes the key drivers of KSB in VCOPs. This paper presents a systematic review of KSB in VCOPs, based on 42 studies retrieved from WOS, SCOPUS and Science Direct. The review was conducted using the PRISMA model. The selection and qualitative synthesis of articles was enriched using Nvivo for coding and analysis of the full text documents. The results suggest that KSB in VCOPs have a multidimensional and multifactorial character that includes personal, interpersonal, contextual, and technological factors. The typology of factors presented could serve in academic settings to conduct new theoretical or empirical research, or in practitioner settings to implement VCOPs in institutions across diverse sectors. New assessment instruments of KSB in VCOPs could be based on this typology.Las Comunidades de Práctica Virtuales (VCOP) son entornos ampliamente reconocidos como instrumentos para la gestión de conocimiento y, de manera incipiente, se están empezando a valorar sus contribuciones desde el punto de vista sociocultural. Sin embargo, las VCOP son contextos de participación complejos por su naturaleza sociotécnica y sociocultural. Los mecanismos de participación, particularmente el comportamiento de compartir conocimiento (KSB), se han abordado desde fundamentos teóricos y métodos de investigación extremadamente heterogéneos. Como resultado, se ha identificado una gran dispersión de factores y dimensiones. Este artículo trata de presentar una visión general que resuma y sistematice los factores clave del KSB en las VCOP. Este artículo presenta una revisión sistemática sobre el KSB en las VCOP, basada en 42 estudios recuperados de WOS, SCOPUS y Science Direct. La revisión se ha realizado utilizando el modelo PRISMA. La selección y síntesis cualitativa de los artículos se ha enriquecido utilizando Nvivo para codificar y analizar los artículos a texto completo. Los resultados sugieren que el KSB en las VCOP tiene un carácter multidimensional y multifactorial que incluye factores personales, interpersonales, contextuales y tecnológicos. La tipología de factores que se presenta podría ser utilizada en contextos académicos para desarrollar nuevas investigaciones teóricas o empíricas, o como en contextos profesionales para implementar VCOPs en instituciones de diversos sectores. Nuevos instrumentos de evaluación sobre el KSB en las VCOP podrían basarse en esta tipología

Learning from sociability-intensive organizations: An ethnographic study in a coffee organization

Sociability is quintessential to some types of organizations, such as cafes, clubs, sports associations, gyms, bars, nightclubs, and festivals. If sociability is broadly theorized and discussed in the Social Sciences, it is indirectly, fragmentally, and diffusely considered in Organization Studies. Our study aims to theorize on the centrality of sociability within organizations by developing the concept of sociability-intensive organization and by discussing its effects in terms of organizing and organizational space. We have produced three main conceptual axis: relation, experiences of space, and ambience. Based on an ethnographic study, sociability-intensive organizations are conceptualized from three organizing processes: the fabrication of spontaneity, the fluidity of spatiality, and the fertilization of dialogue. These processes emerge from the ethnographic interpretation and contribute to theorize sociability as a paramount key for understanding organizations

FACE Peace Design Brief #1: Communities of Practice On/Offline

The FACE Peace Initiative at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice intends to help peacebuilders answer questions about in-person and online collaboration with intention and care. This design brief combines desk research on best practices from other fields with observation of peacebuilding organizations to identify key debates and concerns and provide insight into how to navigate trade-offs between in-person and distanced peacebuilding activities and events. Peacebuilding organizations often attempt to gather members of the field into “communities of practice” (“CoPs”), which intend to increase skills and knowledge among members through long-term information-sharing and reciprocal mentorship. Facilitators of practice communities in peacebuilding and other fields frequently complain that the community falls moribund over time. This FACE Peace design brief considers the question of practice community success from the perspective of hybrid work and the tensions peacebuilders have come to feel between digital and in-person interactions in a truly global field. What does in-person interaction between practice community members accomplish? When are these benefits essential for success? When are they simply “nice to have”? What are the best ways to recreate the benefits of in-person meetings at a distance? Are there benefits only distanced work can provide? Answers depend in part on the goals, constraints and characteristics of the practice community. This design brief offers insights on two related questions. First, how should the facilitators of practice communities decide what happens in person and what happens at a distance? Second, how can facilitators administer the in-person and online aspects of their practice communities to maximum effect?https://digital.sandiego.edu/ipj-research/1059/thumbnail.jp

Práticas de compartilhamento de conhecimento em comunidades de prática multialocadas: uma revisão integrativa.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand knowledge sharing practices used by communities of practice which have their points of contact spread geographically. These communities, denominated “multi-allocated Communities of Practice” (CoPs), need to use specific practices to share their knowledge.  Methodology:  Integrative review of articles accessed at the databases: Scopus, Web of Science and SciELO. The articles were analyzed by means of thematic analysis.Originality: Intraorganizational CoPs and their knowledge sharing initiatives have been widely studied. However, multi-allocated CoPs and their knowledge sharing practices still lack study.   Findings: Four dimensions of knowledge sharing practices were identified and discussed: "Integrative place", "From takers to knowledge sharers", "Promoting connections" and "Implementing and sustaining”.Contributions: This article presents contributions in two main aspects: 1) the dimensions which were identified can offer subsidies for the analysis of processes of knowledge sharing in communities of practice of this nature and 2) presented practices can collaborate with the qualification and enrichment of knowledge sharing practices in new or existing multi-allocated CoPs projects.Conclusions: There is no standard array of knowledge sharing practices in multi-allocated CoPs. The common denominator is that the choice of these practices must take in consideration the objectives of the community, it´s  members´ characteristics, the nature of knowledge to be shared, as well as knowledge sharing channels and resources that are available.Objetivo: Comprender las prácticas de intercambio de conocimientos utilizadas en comunidades de práctica que tienen puntos de contacto distribuidos geográficamente. Estos comunidades, llamadas “Comunidades de práctica de asignación múltiple (CoPs)”, necesitan usar prácticas diferenciadas para compartir sus conocimientos.Metodología / enfoque: Se realizó una revisión integradora, consultando las bases de datos Scopus, Web of Science y SciELO, con análisis temático de los artículos revisados.Originalidad / relevancia: Las CoPs intraorganizacionales y sus iniciativas de intercambio de conocimientos han sido ampliamente discutidas en la literatura. Sin embargo, las CoPs asignadas de manera múltiple y sus prácticas de intercambio de conocimientos aún están poco estudiadas.Resultados principales: Se identificaron y discutieron cuatro dimensiones de las prácticas de intercambio de conocimientos: 1) “Lugar de integración”, 2) “De los prestatarios al intercambio de conocimientos”, 3) “Promoción de conexiones” y 4) “Implementación y apoyo”.Contribuciones: El artículo tiene contribuciones en dos líneas principales: 1) las dimensiones identificadas pueden ofrecer subsidios para el análisis de los procesos de intercambio de conocimientos en comunidades de práctica multi-asignadas; 2) las prácticas presentadas pueden colaborar con la calificación y el enriquecimiento de proyectos de intercambio de conocimientos en CoPs multi-asignadas existentes o en creación. Conclusión: No existe un conjunto estándar de prácticas de intercambio de conocimientos en CoPs con múltiples asignaciones. El denominador común es que la elección de tales prácticas debe tener en cuenta los objetivos de la comunidad, las características de sus miembros, la naturaleza del contenido que se compartirá, los canales para compartir el conocimiento y también los recursos disponibles.Objetivo do estudo: Compreender as práticas de compartilhamento de conhecimento utilizadas em comunidades de prática que têm pontos de contato espalhados geograficamente. Tais comunidades, denominadas de “Comunidades de Prática (CoPs) Multialocadas”, precisam se valer de práticas diferenciadas para compartilhar seu conhecimento.Metodologia/abordagem: Realizou-se uma revisão integrativa, com consulta às bases de dados Scopus, Web of Science e SciELO, com análise temática dos artigos revisados.Originalidade/Relevância: As CoPs intraorganizacionais e suas iniciativas de compartilhamento de conhecimento têm sido amplamente discutidas na literatura. No entanto, CoPs multialocadas e suas práticas de compartilhamento de conhecimento ainda são pouco estudadas. Principais resultados: Foram identificadas e discutidas quatro dimensões de práticas de compartilhamento de conhecimento: 1) “Lugar integrador”, 2) “De tomadores a compartilhadores de conhecimento”, 3) “Promoção de conexões” e 4) “Implantação e sustentação”. Contribuições: O artigo tem contribuições em duas linhas principais: 1) as dimensões identificadas podem oferecer subsídios para a análise de processos de compartilhamento de conhecimento em comunidades de prática desta natureza e 2) as práticas apresentadas podem colaborar com a qualificação e enriquecimento de projetos de compartilhamento de conhecimento em CoPs multialocadas em formação ou já existentes.Conclusão: Não há um conjunto padrão de práticas de compartilhamento de conhecimento em CoPs multialocadas. O denominador comum é que a escolha de tais práticas deve levar em consideração os objetivos da comunidade, as características de seus membros, a natureza do conteúdo a ser compartilhado, os canais de compartilhamento de conhecimento e também os recursos disponíveis

RECORDS AS FORCE MULTIPLIER: UNDERSTANDING THE RECORDS CONTINUUM AS A FRAMEWORK FOR EXAMINING THE ROLE OF RECORDS IN A COMMUNITY

The central purpose of this dissertation is to examine an archival theory, the records continuum, to understand how the continuum highlights, reveals, or obscures qualities relevant to understanding community co-created records. Previous research related to the records continuum has been largely concerned with understanding the theory and with how records are created, captured, and organized using the continuum. Relatively few studies have looked at how community records can be understood using the records continuum, or how those records can be read through the dimension of pluralization, when they are shared with a broader societal audience. To address this concern, this research looked at the active behavior of the administrative team for an online forum of active duty military officers in shaping and re-presenting the community using records created and built on the forum. Taking an exploratory case study approach, this research draws connections between thematic threads and forum posts written by members of the community, and later reuse and reactivation of those writings for a different, broader audience. A key finding is that values embedded and inherent in the community records creation process are hidden, or not explicitly measured or made visible by using a continuum approach. This is significant because it could pose a problem for future understanding of the situated context of the records that have been infused with values and shaped by their communities of creation