On the technological, human, and managerial issues in sharing organizational lessons

Paper presented at The 14th International Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Society Conference, FLAIRS 2001: pp. 334-338.Lessons learned systems (LLS) are systems that support a lessons learned process (LLP) to collect, verify, store, disseminate, and reuse organizational lessons. In this paper we examine technological, human, and managerial problems that contribute to the limited reuse of lessons in deployed LLS. This analysis results in the identification of a set of requirements that when met tend to improve the reuse of lessons. These requirements are mainly related to the identification and representation of a lesson’s reuse components, i.e., what in a lesson is essential to promote reuse. We present and demonstrate a standardized format for lessons and a lesson elicitation tool (LET) that uses this format to collect lessons from human users and addresses some of the requirements while contributing to the satisfaction of other requirements. This tool illustrates how technological solutions can impact human and managerial problems

Project knowledge into project practice: generational issues in the knowledge management process

This paper considers Learning and Knowledge Transfer within the project domain. Knowledge can be a tenuous and elusive concept, and is challenging to transfer within organizations and projects. This challenge is compounded when we consider generational differences in the project and the workplace. This paper looks at learning, and the transfer of that generated knowledge. A number of tools and frameworks have been considered, together with accumulated extant literature. These issues have been deliberated through the lens of different generational types, focusing on the issues and differences in knowledge engagement and absorption between Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y/Millennials. Generation Z/Centennials have also been included where appropriate. This is a significant issue in modern project and organizational structures. Some recommendations are offered to assist in effective knowledge transfer across generational types.Accepted manuscrip

Electronic information sharing in local government authorities: Factors influencing the decision-making process

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in International Journal of Information Management. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2013 Elsevier B.V.Local Government Authorities (LGAs) are mainly characterised as information-intensive organisations. To satisfy their information requirements, effective information sharing within and among LGAs is necessary. Nevertheless, the dilemma of Inter-Organisational Information Sharing (IOIS) has been regarded as an inevitable issue for the public sector. Despite a decade of active research and practice, the field lacks a comprehensive framework to examine the factors influencing Electronic Information Sharing (EIS) among LGAs. The research presented in this paper contributes towards resolving this problem by developing a conceptual framework of factors influencing EIS in Government-to-Government (G2G) collaboration. By presenting this model, we attempt to clarify that EIS in LGAs is affected by a combination of environmental, organisational, business process, and technological factors and that it should not be scrutinised merely from a technical perspective. To validate the conceptual rationale, multiple case study based research strategy was selected. From an analysis of the empirical data from two case organisations, this paper exemplifies the importance (i.e. prioritisation) of these factors in influencing EIS by utilising the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique. The intent herein is to offer LGA decision-makers with a systematic decision-making process in realising the importance (i.e. from most important to least important) of EIS influential factors. This systematic process will also assist LGA decision-makers in better interpreting EIS and its underlying problems. The research reported herein should be of interest to both academics and practitioners who are involved in IOIS, in general, and collaborative e-Government, in particular

Knowledge Management What Can Organizational Economics Contribute?

Knowledge management has emerged as a very successful organization practice and has been extensively treated in a large body of academic work. Surprisingly, however, organizational economics (i.e., transaction cost economics, agency theory, team theory and property rights theory) has played no role in the development of knowledge management. We argue that organizational economics insights can further the theory and practice of knowledge management in several ways. Specifically, we apply notions of contracting, team production, complementaries, hold-up, etc. to knowledge management issues (i.e., creating and integration knowledge, rewarding knowledge workers, etc.) , and derive refutable implications that are novel to the knowledge management field from our discussion.Transaction costs, organizational economics

Quantity versus Quality in Project Based Learning Practices

In the midst of the turbulence wrought by the global economy, it has become common to see projects as an essential medium for achieving change. However, project based learning practices - as a subset of organizational learning practices- have not kept pace with this development. To explore this concern, we have carried out a study on practices adopted by organizations for learning through projects involving nineteen companies from across Europe and from a range of different industries. We use the concepts of variation, selection and retention in organizational learning to analyze our findings and report the challenges faced by project based organizations in each of the areas highlighted. We conclude that time pressures, centralization and deferral are the key characteristics of learning in project based firms and that these impede project based members in learning from and through projects.centralization;deferral;organizational learning;projects;reflection

Transformational leadership and innovation at the Lebanese banking industry

Purpose: Transformational leadership (TL) has been recognized as one of the most important factor influencing innovation. It is argued that this style plays an essential role in developing the process, structure and climate for organizations to become innovative. This research aims to examine the impact of TL on two aspects of innovation namely product and process innovation. Design/Methodology/Approach: The quantitative and explanatory analysis was taken by using the Structural equations modeling (SEM) with AMOS 20 to examine the relationship between TL and innovation. Research data were collected through a survey method. The sample result was determined by the probability stratified sampling technique of about 310 employees at 27 banks in Lebanon. Findings: The findings confirmed the importance of TL in enhancing innovation in banking sector. The main implication of the research highlights that individualized consideration is the most important predictor of product and process innovation followed by, inspirational motivation and idealized influence, respectively, whereas, intellectual stimulation has insignificant influence on product and process innovation. Practical Implications: Findings point to how transformational style of leadership produce better outcomes for the banks by mobilizing employees to engage in innovative products and processes. Originality/Value: These findings extends the understanding of the processes through which transformational styles of leadership stimulate innovation, and also highlight the benefits gained by cultivating more transformational styles of leadership to generate more innovative outcomes.peer-reviewe

Assessing Communities of Practice in health policy : A conceptual framework as a first step towards empirical research

Peer reviewe

The effect of transformational leadership on innovation : evidence from Lebanese banks

Purpose: Transformational leadership (TL) has been recognized as one of the most important factor influencing innovation. It is argued that this style plays an essential role in developing the process, structure and climate for organizations to become innovative. This research aims to examine the impact of TL on two aspects of innovation namely product and process innovation. Design/Methodology/Approach: The quantitative and explanatory analysis was taken by using the Structural equations modeling (SEM) with AMOS 20 to examine the relationship between TL and innovation. Research data were collected through a survey method. The sample result was determined by the probability stratified sampling technique of about 310 employees at 27 banks in Lebanon. Findings: The findings confirmed the importance of TL in enhancing innovation in banking sector. The main implication of the research highlights that individualized consideration is the most important predictor of product and process innovation followed by, inspirational motivation and idealized influence, respectively, whereas, intellectual stimulation has insignificant influence on product and process innovation. Practical Implications Findings point to how transformational style of leadership produce better outcomes for the banks by mobilizing employees to engage in innovative products and processes. Originality/Value: These findings extends the understanding of the processes through which transformational styles of leadership stimulate innovation, and also highlight the benefits gained by cultivating more transformational styles of leadership to generate more innovative outcomes.peer-reviewe

SMEs´ absorptive capacities and large firms´ knowledge spillovers: Micro evidence from Mexico

The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between large firms´ knowledge spillovers and small and medium enterprises absorptive capacities. We build ad-hoc indicators for these two concepts following a factor analysis methodology, and we carry out a structural equations analysis to determine the relationship between them. Based on firm level original data from a survey that focuses on SMEs in a Mexican locality, this paper argues that in a low-tech and mature sector, such as the machine shop sector, that operates in a loosely articulated local system, two knowledge spillover mechanisms are relevant: the backward linkages and the employees´ mobility. Regarding SMEs’ absorptive capacities they are strongly influenced by organizational capabilities and innovation and learning activities. We also argue that large firms’ knowledge spillovers are strongly correlated to SMEs absorptive capacities within the sector and locality analyzed.Absorptive capacities; Knowledge spillovers; SME-large firms interaction; Mexico

The Practice of Telecommuting: A Fresh Perspective

Telecommuting has been a popular practice for an increasing number of firms and governmental bodies over the past decade or more. This research paper reviews antecedents, implementation considerations, known consequences, barriers, and recommendations that need to be determined prior to the adoption of telecommuting practices. The paper demonstrates that the phenomenon of telecommuting is the result of historical, sociological, and technological shifts and advancements. While firms have successfully implemented various elements of telecommuting practices, challenges along the way have yielded insights and lessons that merit further examination and discussion. This paper asserts that with selected individuals, proper structure, and sufficient feedback mechanisms in place, the adoption of telecommuting has the capacity to strengthen a firm’s bottom line and provide tangible benefit for its employees. As a case in point, online learning, developed in parallel with the growth of telecommuting, yields substantial benefits for employees and the companies in which they serve. For employees, online learning is convenient, accommodates multiple learning styles, and is an engaging learning mechanism. For corporations, online learning encourages cost-effectiveness, uniformity in quality and flexibility, and enhanced cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary communications, all necessary to meet the challenges of the ever-changing global marketplace.telecommuting; technology; online learning; social media; innovation; institutional learning; cross-cultural communications.