Knowledge management in project-base organizations: the interplay of time orientations and knowledge interventions

The common perception is that all types of work and work organizations appear to involve knowledge: knowledge intensive work, knowledge workers, knowledge products, customerrelated knowledge and knowledge intensive organizations. Therefore, as organizations increasingly organize their activities in the form of projects, effective ways of knowledge management are needed to deliver successful and timely outcomes. However, little research has been done in the area that integrates time orientations into the process of knowledge management. Using the approach of grounded theory, this paper investigates the interplay between time orientations and knowledge interventions through interviews with international project managers drawn from different types of project-based organizations in Sweden and Italy. The perceptions and experiences of the managers are used to construct a model of time orientation and knowledge interventions in project-based organizations. Time orientations are shown to play a critical role in the success or failure of projects. The model integrates time orientations into the project life cycle and illustrates how effectively knowledge interventions can be used to achieve project milestones and meet overall deadlines

Review of 'Beyond Common Knowledge' edited by Erik J. Jensen & Thomas C. Heller

Following in the Stanford tradition of socio-legal studies, Beyond Common Knowledge brings together an impressive array of international scholars and practitioners for a timely study of judicial reform and “rule-of-law assistance” (...)

Dreamer Loan Programs: The Power of Partnerships with Community Development Credit Unions

This report provides an overview of five Dreamer Loan programs, identifies their common and distinguishing features, and underscores timely financial empowerment opportunities presented by DACA. In addition to helping individuals afford the DACA application fee, the programs' loan products help largely unbanked immigrants avoid predatory lenders, gain financial knowledge, and begin to establish credit and savings. This report also considers how philanthropy can help replicate such loan programs in various regions of the country. With the prospect of expanded administrative action on the horizon, as well as possible large-scale legalization through future legislation, DACA loans provide an important test-run for the effort that would be required to help upwards of 11 million immigrants along the path to legal status and citizenship, which is likely to include thousands of dollars in fines and fees

Innovation and Employability in Knowledge Management Curriculum Design

During 2007/8, Southampton Solent University worked on a Leadership Foundation project focused on the utility of the multi-functional team approach as a vehicle to deliver innovation in strategic and operational terms in higher education (HE). The Task-Orientated Multi-Functional Team Approach (TOMFTA) project took two significant undertakings for Southampton Solent as key areas for investigation, one academic and one administrative in focus. The academic project was the development of an innovative and novel degree programme in knowledge management (KM). The new KM Honours degree programme is timely both in recognition of the increasing importance to organisations of knowledge as a commodity, and in its adoption of a distinctive structure and pedagogy. The methodology for the KM curriculum design brings together student-centred and market-driven approaches: positioning the programme for the interests of students and requirements of employers, rather than just the capabilities of staff; while looking at ways that courses can be delivered with more flexibility, e.g. accelerated and block-mode; with level-differentiated activities, common cross-year content and material that is multi-purpose for use in short courses. In order to permit context at multiple levels in common, a graduate skills strand is taught separately as part of the University’s business-facing education agenda. The KM portfolio offers a programme of practically-based courses integrating key themes in knowledge management, business, information distribution and development of the media. They develop problem-solving, communications, teamwork and other employability skills as well as the domain skills needed by emerging information management technologies. The new courses are built on activities which focus on different aspects of KM, drawing on existing content as a knowledge base. This paper presents the ongoing development of the KM programme through the key aspects in its conception and design

Evaluating diverse electronic consultation programs with a common framework.

BackgroundElectronic consultation is an emerging mode of specialty care delivery that allows primary care providers and their patients to obtain specialist expertise without an in-person visit. While studies of individual programs have demonstrated benefits related to timely access to specialty care, electronic consultation programs have not achieved widespread use in the United States. The lack of common evaluation metrics across health systems and concerns related to the generalizability of existing evaluation efforts may be hampering further growth. We sought to identify gaps in knowledge related to the implementation of electronic consultation programs and develop a set of shared evaluation measures to promote further diffusion.MethodsUsing a case study approach, we apply the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) and the Quadruple Aim frameworks of evaluation to examine electronic consultation implementation across diverse delivery systems. Data are from 4 early adopter healthcare delivery systems (San Francisco Health Network, Mayo Clinic, Veterans Administration, Champlain Local Health Integration Network) that represent varied organizational structures, care for different patient populations, and have well-established multi-specialty electronic consultation programs. Data sources include published and unpublished quantitative data from each electronic consultation database and qualitative data from systems' end-users.ResultsOrganizational drivers of electronic consultation implementation were similar across the systems (challenges with timely and/or efficient access to specialty care), though unique system-level facilitators and barriers influenced reach, adoption and design. Effectiveness of implementation was consistent, with improved patient access to timely, perceived high-quality specialty expertise with few negative consequences, garnering high satisfaction among end-users. Data about patient-specific clinical outcomes are lacking, as are policies that provide guidance on the legal implications of electronic consultation and ideal remuneration strategies.ConclusionA core set of effectiveness and implementation metrics rooted in the Quadruple Aim may promote data-driven improvements and further diffusion of successful electronic consultation programs

The precursor to an industrial software metrics program

A common reason for why software metric programs dasiafailpsila is through lack of participant support and commitment. In this paper, we describe the results of a study which examined the knowledge that subjects had and the opinions they had formed of previous metrics initiatives in the same organization. The research was undertaken by one of the authors as a precursor to a planned metrics initiative in the same large, UK-based company. The study attempted to understand the likely issues that would have to be addressed by that planned metrics program. A key theme to emerge from the analysis was the importance of all participants being aware of the program objectives, and the purpose and use of the data being collected. As part of the analysis, the study also draws on the role that "timely" involvement plays within a metrics program and how that can influence its associated practicalities

Knowledge Transfer in Distributed Software Support with a Traceability Framework

Distributed software support has become increasingly common especially due to the rampant globalization of the software development process. Transfer of contextual knowledge across stakeholders involved in such distributed environments is critical to successful product development and support. Timely transfer of appropriate knowledge about issues faced in production environments to support teams and within support teams can result in significant economic benefits. Failure to share contextual knowledge and lack of common understanding significantly impact the quality of support. We draw from the literature on knowledge transfer and adaptive structuration theory to develop a theoretical basis and an approach to knowledge transfer in distributed software support contexts. Based on a multi-site case study, we develop a traceability framework to enhance shared understanding among team members. A qualitative evaluation of the usefulness of our traceability-based approach to knowledge transfer is presented

Challenges Associated with Qualitative Interviews: Perspectives of Graduate Students

Background: Qualitative interviews are a common method of data collection used in healthcare research to gain in-depth knowledge of people’s experiences from their own perspectives. While qualitative interviews provide an excellent mean to gain knowledge about a particular research topic, a few potential risks can emerge during their conduct. Method: In this article, we present an in-depth exploration of three common risks associated with qualitative interviews from the perspective of nursing graduate students.  Results: Three common risks include: the risk of bias, risk of harm, and power imbalance. We also outline strategies recommended in the literature to prevent or minimize these risks. Conclusion: Nurse researchers and particularly graduate students need to have a plan in place to timely prevent and address these risks. Nurse researchers are in a unique position to engage with research participants in a relation of equality and to recognize and honour their contributions to knowledge development

What defines “successful” university brands?

Purpose. Branding in universities has become an increasingly topical issue among practitioners, with some institutions committing substantial financial resources to branding activities. Although it is receiving increased academic investigation, to date this has been limited. The particular characteristics of the sector present challenges for those seeking to build brands and it therefore seems timely and appropriate to investigate the common properties of those universities perceived as having successful brands. Design. The study employs qualitative research techniques in an exploratory study, examining the institutions perceived to be ‘successful’ in terms of brand management, and seeking to explore any commonalities of approach or circumstance. Findings. The findings and conclusions identify issues surrounding university branding activity. It was found that even among those brands considered ‘successful’, challenges such as lack of internal brand engagement and limited international resonance may be apparent. Certain common positive success factors are also suggested, however. Research limitations/ implications. Exploration of the literature does point to a gap that makes this work challenging– a seeming lack of knowledge underpinning the precise objectives of university branding programmes – in other words; it is hard to measure how successful university brands are when there is little empirical literature on the aims of branding in universities. Originality/ value. From an academic viewpoint gaps in current literature on branding in the education context are identified and the need for a model of brand management that addresses the particular qualities of higher education is reinforced