Integrating Knowledge in Organizations: A Lessons Learned Case Study

El paper del coneixement comú a les organitzacions (CKO, en la sigla en anglès) és creixent en la literatura com un tema important; tanmateix, la seva formalització és lenta. Aquesta tesi presenta un model de CKO que descriu la seva relació amb la capacitat organitzativa en el context de les teories de l’empresa. Disseny, metodologia i enfocament Tenint en compte l’estat no sistematitzat del coneixement a les organitzacions i els diversos enfocaments de què és objecte la capacitat organitzativa, en aquest treball s’analitzen textos de les teories del coneixement i de les teories de l’empresa, seguint mètodes de codificació de la grounded theory, amb vista a emmarcar un model per tal d’observar i avaluar casos de CKO que participen en la pràctica productiva. El component de recerca empírica d’aquesta tesi segueix l’estratègia de l’estudi del cas per a la recopilació de dades i de la grounded theory per a la seva anàlisi. El cas correspon a un programa de cooperació internacional interuniversitari, que va durar deu anys, en què s’integren els coneixements en forma de lliçons apreses. Les dades inclouen l’extensa documentació del programa, tres sèries d’enquestes, 16 entrevistes filmades i 36 històries. Aquí, la grounded theory segueix el concepte de sensibilització de Charmaz (2000)per guiar la codificació inicial utilitzant com a referència el marc conceptual desenvolupat. Conclusions El CKO es caracteritza per: a) la tensió en la integració dels coneixements en la pràctica productiva; b) la lògica d’instrumentalitzar eines organitzacionals (OT), y c) els processos pels quals es reconeixen els coneixedors. El CKO funciona com a mediador entre les OT (directives, plans, estructura, arquitectura i rutines) i l’eficiència de la capacitat organitzativa. El CKO apareix no com una eina organitzativa, sinó com els processos relacionats que els instrumentalitzen i per mitjà dels quals els coneixedors són reconeguts i donen forma al sistema interpretatiu de l’organització. Aquesta tesi ofereix criteris de gestió orientats a l’eficiència del CKO (sorgits d’aquesta concepció), amb vista a aplicar eines organitzatives que integren el coneixement en la pràctica productiva, i proposa: a) una visió organitzacional integral de les teories existents del saber; b) un model d’observació d’instàncies del saber a les organitzacions; c) un esquema per tal d’emmarcar les teories de l’empresa, i d) un model per entendre el rol del coneixement comú a les organitzacions.El papel del conocimiento común en las organizaciones (CKO por sus siglas en inglés) se acentúa en la literatura como un tema importante; sin embargo su formalización está rezagada. Esta tesis presenta un modelo de CKO que describe su relación con la capacidad organizacional en el contexto de las teorías de la firma. Diseño, metodología y enfoque: Teniendo en cuenta el estado no-operacionalizado del conocimiento en las organizaciones y los variados acercamientos a la capacidad organizacional, este trabajo entrevista textos de las teorías del conocimiento y de las teorías de la firma, siguiendo métodos de codificación de “grounded theory”, para enmarcar un modelo para observar y evaluar instancias de CKO que participan en la práctica productiva. El componente de investigación empírica de esta tesis sigue la estrategia de estudio de caso para la recopilación de datos, y “grounded theory” para su análisis. El caso corresponde a un programa de cooperación internacional Interuniversitario, que duró diez años, en el que se integra conocimientos en lecciones aprendidas. Los datos incluyen la extensa documentación del programa, 3 sets de encuestas, 16 entrevistas filmadas y 36 historias. Aquí, “grounded theory” sigue el concepto de sensibilización de Charmaz (2000) para guiar la codificación inicial utilizando como referencia el marco conceptual desarrollado. Hallazgos: CKO está caracterizado por la (a) tensión en la integración de conocimientos en la práctica productiva, (b) la lógica de instrumentalizar herramientas organizacionales (OT) y (c) los procesos por los cuales se reconocen a los conocedores. CKO funciona como mediador entre OT (directivas, planes, estructura, arquitectura y rutinas) y la eficiencia de la capacidad organizacional. CKO emerge, no como una herramienta organizacional, sino como los procesos relacionados que los instrumentalizan, y por medio de los cuales los conocedores son reconocidos y dan forma al sistema interpretativo organizacional. Esta disertación ofrece criterios de gestión orientados a la eficiencia (surgidos de esta concepción) de CKO) para aplicar herramientas organizacionales que integran el conocimiento en la práctica productiva, y propone (a) una visión organizacional integral de teorías existentes del saber, (b) un modelo de observación de instancias del saber en organizaciones, (c) un esquema para enmarcar teorías de la firma, y (d) un modelo para entender el rol del conocimiento común en las organizaciones.The role of common knowledge in organizations (CKO) is emphasized in literature as an important topic; however, its formalization has been neglected. This dissertation presents a model of CKO that depicts its relationship with the capability of the organization within the context of theories of the firm. Design/methodology/approach: Considering the un-operationalized status of knowledge in organizations and the several approaches to organizational capability, this work interviews text of the theories of knowing and the theories of the firm, following grounded theory coding methods, to frame a model to observe and assess CKO instances that participate in the productive practice. The research empirical component of this dissertation follows case study strategy for data collection and grounded theory for data analysis. The case corresponds to a ten-year International Inter-university Cooperation Program that integrates knowledge into lessons learned. Data include program extensive program documentation, 3 sets of surveys, 16 filmed interviews, and 36 stories. Grounded theory follows Charmaz (2000) sensitizing concept approach to guide initial coding using the developed framework. Findings: CKO is characterized by the (a) tension of integrating knowledge into the productive practice, (b) logic of instrumentalizing organizational tools (OT), and (c) processes by which knowers are recognized. CKO also operates as mediator between OT (directives, plans, structure, architecture and routines) and the efficiency of the organizational capability. CKO emerges, not as an organizational tool, but as the related processes that instrumentalize them, or by which knowers are recognized and shape the organizational interpretative system. Dissertation offers efficiency oriented managerial criteria (emerged from the CKO conception) for applying organizational tools to integrate knowledge into the productive practice, and proposes (a) an integrated organizational view of extant theories of knowing, (b) a model for observing knowing instances in organizations, (c) a scheme for framing theories of the firm, and (d) a model for understanding the role of common knowledge in organization

People, Land, Arts, Culture and Engagement: Taking Stock of the Place Initiative

This report serves as a point of entry into creative placemaking as defined and supported by the Tucson Pima Arts Council's PLACE Initiative. To assess how and to what degree the PLACE projects were helping to transform communities, TPAC was asked by the Kresge Foundation to undertake a comprehensive evaluation. This involved discussion with stakeholders about support mechanisms, professional development, investment, and impact of the PLACE Initiative in Tucson, Arizona, and the Southwest regionally and the gathering of qualitative and quantitative data to develop indicators and method for evaluating the social impact of the arts in TPAC's grantmaking. The report documents one year of observations and research by the PLACE research team, outside researchers and reviewers, local and regional working groups, TPAC staff, and TPAC constituency. It considers data from the first four years of PLACE Initiative funding, including learning exchanges, focus groups, individual interviews, grantmaking, and all reporting. It is also informed by evaluation and assessment that occurred in the development of the PLACE Initiative, in particular, Maribel Alvarez's Two-Way Mirror: Ethnography as a Way to Assess Civic Impact of Arts-Based Engagement in Tucson, Arizona (2009), and Mark Stern and Susan Seifert's Documenting Civic Engagement: A Plan for the Tucson Pima Arts Council (2009). Both of these publications were supported by Animating Democracy, a program of Americans for the Arts, that promotes arts and culture as potent contributors to community, civic, and social change. Both publications describe how TPAC approaches evaluation strategies associated with social impact of the arts in Tucson and Pima County. This report outlines the local context and historical antecedents of the PLACE Initiative in the region with an emphasis on the concept of "belonging" as a primary characteristic of PLACE projects and policy. It describes PLACE projects as well as the role of TPAC in creating and facilitating the Initiative. Based on the collective understanding of the research team, impacts of the PLACE Initiative are organized into three main realms -- institutions, artists, and communities. These realms are further addressed in case studies from select grantees, whose narratives offer rich, detailed perspectives about PLACE projects in context, with all their successes, rewards, and challenges for artists, communities, and institutions. Lastly, the report offers preliminary research findings on PLACE by TPAC in collaboration with Dr. James Roebuck, codirector of the University of Arizona's ERAD (Evaluation Research and Development) Program

From the field to headquarters: What is learned from nursing insight on quality of care in humanitarian settings?

Quality of care in humanitarian healthcare is a challenge requiring a partnership between the project and the operational center, necessitating a way to bridge the divide between “on the ground” knowledge and the understandings in headquarters (HQ). Médecins Sans Frontières’ (MSF) data collection from internationally recruited nurses (IRN) leaving humanitarian healthcare projects is meant to addresses this challenge. The objectives of this study are to appraise if MSF’s “End of Mission” (EoM) survey is an effective means of harvesting knowledge about the quality of care in projects and analyze the disjuncture or congruence between MSF field and HQ perceptions. This study uses a mixed methods approach combining survey analysis and interviews with key informants, including nurses and MSF HQ coordinators. Findings indicate that the EoM survey data is effective at transferring some knowledge but lacks the breadth of nurses’ experience-based knowledge that can be found in stories which create context