Changing the Game : A Case for Gamifying Knowledge Management

Purpose: This exploratory paper investigates gamification as a medium for knowledge workers to interact with each other. The paper aims to open the discussion around the sustaining impact that gamification might have on knowledge management. Design/methodology/approach: The paper employs an exploratory literature review investigating the current state of the art in relation to knowledge management and gamification; this literature review serves as the starting point of subsequent theorizing. Findings: Based on the literature review we theorize that the use of gamification in knowledge management can go far beyond the motivational aspects. To name just a few uses of gamification, it can help in: supporting flexibility, facilitating transparency and therefore improving trust, visualizing skills and competences as well as generating requirements for new competences, and promoting a collaborative environment among the knowledge workers. Research limitations/implications: This paper opens the discussion around knowledge management and gamification and suggests a wide range of areas for further research. Practical implications: In this paper we argue that by looking at gamification as more than just a set of tools for improving motivation and engagement a company can address some pitfalls of a particular type of knowledge workers. Social implications: Originality/value: Gamification is a new, but increasingly popular approach, which has been shown to be to be powerful in many areas. This paper is novel in that it initiates a dialogue around the impact that gamification might have on knowledge management

Interagency collaboration models for people with mental ill health in contact with the police: a systematic scoping review

Objective: To identify existing evidence on inter-agency collaboration between law enforcement, emergency services, statutory services and third sector agencies regarding people with mental ill-health. Design: Systematic scoping review. Scoping reviews map particular research areas to identify research gaps. Data sources and eligibility: ASSIA, CENTRAL, the Cochrane Library databases, Criminal Justice Abstracts, ERIC, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PROSPERO and Social Care Online and Social Sciences Citation Index, were searched up to 2017, as were grey literature and hand searches. Eligible articles were empirical evaluations or descriptions of models of inter-agency collaboration between the police and other agencies. Study appraisal and synthesis: Screening and data extraction were undertaken independently by two researchers. Arksey’s framework was used to collate and map included studies. Results: One hundred and twenty-five studies were included. The majority of articles were of descriptions of models (28%), mixed methods evaluations of models (18%) and single service evaluations (14%). The most frequently reported outcomes (52%) were ‘organisational or service level outcomes’ (e.g. arrest rates). Most articles (53%) focused on adults with mental ill-health, whilst others focused on adult offenders with mental ill-health (17.4%). Thirteen models of inter-agency collaboration were described, each involving between 2-13 agencies. Frequently reported models were ‘pre-arrest diversion’ of people with mental ill-health (34%), ‘co-response’ involving joint response by police officers paired with mental health professionals (28.6%) and ‘jail diversion’ following arrest (23.8%). Conclusions: We identified 13 different inter-agency collaboration models catering for a range of mental health related interactions. All but one of these models involved the police and mental health services or professionals. Several models have sufficient literature to warrant full systematic reviews of their effectiveness, while others need robust evaluation, by RCT where appropriate. Future evaluations should focus on health related outcomes and the impact on key stakeholders

Towards a mixed method approach for the multidisciplinary investigation of management processes

This paper presents the development of a mixed methods approach by a multidisciplinary group of academics to understand and so model management processes with a view to enabling informed management decision making. Considering management processes as one of three categories of business processes (CIMOSA Standards Committee, 1989), the literature in this area is reviewed to identify current management modelling techniques. The researchers conclude that these do not adequately address both the 'hard' and 'soft' characteristics of management processes as well as the methodological viewpoints of the group. The development of a mixed method approach designed to address these issues is presented, along with an explanation of its application in practice. The paper concludes with a critical evaluation of the method and outlines future developmental work planned by the research group. The value in this approach is that it informs both academia and the business community by proposing a transparent and repeatable method of understanding the subjective topics of management practices and processes that is grounded in both a priori theory and practical data

Business process re-engineering in UK universities

The thesis starts by examining the environment surrounding UK universities and concludes that external pressures are forcing universities to change. Internal pressures, largely resulting from rapid growth and lack of business systems are also adding to the argument for change. Having concluded that UK universities do indeed need to become more: customer focused; flexible; and efficient - the thesis then puts forward the hypotheses that: • Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) may provide UK universities with a methodology for change; but that the contextual differences between UK universities and business enterprises are so great that existing BPR methodologies couldn't be easily adopted by universities in the UK; • yet, existing methodologies may be used as a basis for creating a methodology designed specifically for UK universities. On reviewing existing BPR methodologies in light of the contextual differences between UK universities and business enterprises, it was concluded that existing methodologies were indeed inappropriate for the university context. The remainder of the thesis documents work carried out in order to develop a more appropriate methodology for the UK university sector. Firstly the results of a quantitative survey aimed at establishing how many UK universities have tried to use Business Process Re-engineering are reported. Secondly the results of a more in-depth, qualitative, investigation are documented. The qualitative research took the form of in-depth interviews with personnel involved in "BPR" exercises in ten UK universities. The drivers for change, the methodologies employed, the problems and the success factors are documented in this thesis. Having analysed the results of this research, a methodology for Business Process Re-engineering in UK universities is developed and documented. Based on feedback received from academics, practitioners and consultants alike, the thesis concludes that the methodology represents a contribution to current knowledge.The thesis starts by examining the environment surrounding UK universities and concludes that external pressures are forcing universities to change. Internal pressures, largely resulting from rapid growth and lack of business systems are also adding to the argument for change. Having concluded that UK universities do indeed need to become more: customer focused; flexible; and efficient - the thesis then puts forward the hypotheses that: • Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) may provide UK universities with a methodology for change; but that the contextual differences between UK universities and business enterprises are so great that existing BPR methodologies couldn't be easily adopted by universities in the UK; • yet, existing methodologies may be used as a basis for creating a methodology designed specifically for UK universities. On reviewing existing BPR methodologies in light of the contextual differences between UK universities and business enterprises, it was concluded that existing methodologies were indeed inappropriate for the university context. The remainder of the thesis documents work carried out in order to develop a more appropriate methodology for the UK university sector. Firstly the results of a quantitative survey aimed at establishing how many UK universities have tried to use Business Process Re-engineering are reported. Secondly the results of a more in-depth, qualitative, investigation are documented. The qualitative research took the form of in-depth interviews with personnel involved in "BPR" exercises in ten UK universities. The drivers for change, the methodologies employed, the problems and the success factors are documented in this thesis. Having analysed the results of this research, a methodology for Business Process Re-engineering in UK universities is developed and documented. Based on feedback received from academics, practitioners and consultants alike, the thesis concludes that the methodology represents a contribution to current knowledge

Developing a framework for adopting environmental manufacturing practices: learning from breweries

There is a growing desire to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing operations through implementing new practices. There is a reasonable literature on environmental practices and the benefits they can bring. However, the literature is weak in two respects: firstly, it is heavily reliant on practices of leading firms, secondly there is little focus on understanding the conditions that foster the adoption of such practices. This paper addresses these shortfalls by presenting evidence of how any firm can start to improve their resource efficiency using new practices. Studying organisations with similar market conditions and production systems allows us to look at a breadth of firms in a single supply chain tier, with a range of environmental maturity. A grounded approach employing interviews, workshops and observation uncovers the conditions that help and hinder adoption of new ways of working. Specifically, the motivations for cost reduction through resource efficiency, aided by communities of practice but hindered by organisational barriers. Combining this with learning from theory, this paper advances environmental practice in manufacturing through learning from the experiences of UK brewers. The work contributes to knowledge by framing how companies of all shapes and sizes within a sector (not just the leading companies) can advance by adopting practices and avoiding barriers

The dark side of business model innovation

Existing literature has tended to focus on the positive benefits and outcomes of business model innovation (BMI), despite emerging evidence that BMI can also have a dark side - with negative consequences. We systematically review the existing BMI literature, articulating it around three clusters of negative consequences: those affecting the firm as an entity; those affecting the firm’s stakeholders; and those that are specific or context-dependent. In a similar fashion, we identify the driving factors and circumstances leading to these negative consequences and group them into four clusters: (1) managerial choices and the processes; and three underpinning circumstances that influence such choices or processes: (2) trade-offs between the new and current business models; (3) managers’ ability to manage BMI; and (4) context within which BMI is situated. The paper provides the first attempt to gather prior research on the phenomenon and thereby develop a conceptual understanding of the dark side of BMI. Furthermore, by proposing a model that explains how the dark side of BMI may occur, we inform ongoing debates on the theorisation of the consequences that may derive from BMI and how these can be managed to support firms’ innovative growth, arguing how the disruptive innovation literature can only partially explain the phenomenon. Second, our model provides important foundations to further distil the complex link between BMI and performance. Finally, we suggest a number of future research avenues, accounting for different dimensions of the phenomenon

Local food supply chain resilience to constitutional change: The Brexit effect

Purpose: To investigate how local supply chains prepare for and respond to the threats and opportunities presented by constitutional change, thereby building resilience. Design/methodology/approach: Multiple case study analysis of 14 firms in the food sector is presented in the context of the United Kingdom’s impending exit from the European Union (Brexit). Organisations studied include farmers, processors, retailers, and non-government organisations (NGOs). Data from interviews and roundtable discussions has been interpreted using the dynamic capabilities perspective, covering the sensing, seizing, and transforming stages. Findings: The data highlights the importance of both vertical and horizontal collaboration between supply chain actors as they seek to anticipate the impact of the disruption and influence the future shape of the constitution. There is also evidence to suggest firms in possession of dynamic capabilities can innovate to build resilience and enhance their competitive position. Characteristics of the disruption posed by constitutional change are identified and contrast with those of many other threats more typically described in the literature. As a result, the process of building resilience is different. Research limitations/implications: The study could be extended to include post-Brexit interviews to further understand the seizing and transforming stages whilst the impact of Brexit on actors that remain within the EU could also be considered. Practical implications: Practitioners need to work together to influence the future shape of the constitution; and they need to reconfigure their operations and supply chains where necessary to become more resilient to the threat posed by Brexit, such as by reducing their reliance on EU funding streams and trade. The study also has policy implications. Originality/value: The first study of supply chain resilience to constitutional change and a rare empirical study of resilience across multiple supply chain tiers

Manage processes: what are they?

Motivated by earlier works on business process management in general and manage processes in particular, this paper seeks to understand the current state of knowledge on manage-processes and propose a research agenda that would lead to a better understanding of manage-processes. Our curiosity is motivated by the belief that the capabilities and competencies of manage processes are critical to sustaining competitive advantage. A point further elaborated in our discussions and conclusions

Learning to SEE : is scanning the external environment key to sustainability?

This paper examines the external environment and sustainability