Using micro-blogging to dismantle knowledge hierarchies in product development teams

The traditional assumption by academics and industrialists that ‘Experts’ are more valuable to an organisation than inexperienced workers is one which should be challenged. Typically, those considered experts employ tried and tested methods for production success passed on by elders with wisdom, while inexperienced knowledge workers often remain unheard and their knowledge under-utilised. However, less experienced workers with an openness to creativity and fresh perspectives to engineering practice might possess the knowledge required to innovate manufacturing projects and sustain competitive advantage. This article extends the research of Tempest [1] and Evans et al. [2] by challenging the unilateral transfer of knowledge seen in traditional product development teams. A methodological framework is presented aimed at dismantling knowledge hierarchies by creating an ‘Anonymous Worker’ environment using micro-blogging which can be embedded into production departments. Potential limitations to the successful implementation of the framework are reported, identifying that the framework would be most beneficial applied to the start of a product’s lifecycle during the conceptualisation of ideas phase

The role of coaching and mentoring in transformational change, focusing on housing association mergers

Coaching and mentoring have grown rapidly in the last twenty years, reflecting increased level of interest in these fields. The widespread popularity, however, has been largely attributed to the anecdotal feedback about their effectiveness due to considerable gaps in the empirical research base. The aim of this study was to explore the role of coaching and mentoring in relation to transformational changes with particular reference to housing association mergers in the UK. As a result of constant merger activity, the largest twenty housing associations own 30% of the market share and the trend is likely to continue, making the research outcomes useful for future strategic planning of housing association mergers. This thesis includes empirical work through data gathered by semi-structured interviews and analysed by constructivist grounded theory methodology. The study found that coaching and mentoring play an important role in housing association mergers and transformational changes especially in creating a new shared identity and staff integration after housing association mergers. Integration can keep the merged housing associations together, thus reducing the merger failures in the housing associations. This study makes an original contribution to knowledge by presenting a conceptual framework. The framework incorporates different forms of coaching and mentoring, such as, one to one coaching, team coaching, executive mentoring and peer mentoring used in housing associations for the transformative learning of the housing officials

Spectroscopic studies of laser generated plasma X-rays and their effects on polymeric materials

Surface modification of polymers by X-rays produced from laser plasma can put a wide range of changes and are magnificently used in effectively all industries ranging from coatings, semiconductors, household appliances, automotive, and biomedical implants. Polymeric materials commonly have outstanding bulk physical and chemical properties. Different properties like electrical, chemical and physical properties can be modify when an extreme dose of X-rays is exposed on the surface of polymers. Currently X-rays are irradiated on the surface of two different polymers including polypropylene and polyethylene. These X-rays are detected with pin photodiode (BPX-65), generated from laser generated Cu plasma where Nd: YAG laser (1064 nm, 10 mJ) is focused on copper. Polymer surface is exposed to X-rays by different shots of laser which are varied from 100 to 400 with a gap of 100. Morphological structure has been studied by using optical microscopy and four point probes are used for studying the resistivity and conductivity. It has been observed that irradiation of X-rays from laser produced plasma produce changes in the bonding structure of polymers due to cross linking and chain-seasoning which are highly responsible for breakage or formation of a bond. A similar type of a result is deduced from four-point probe method that the resistivity of polymers is decreased due to the breakage of the H-C bond

Analysing Success Factors in the Development of Absorptive Capacity in Pharmaceutical Organisations based in Pakistan

Absorptive capacity is a developing research topic within the knowledge management field, whereby different models and methods of capturing new knowledge is being explored. Business Processes and human-centered systems at macro level, in relation to absorptive capacity, have been explored by researchers, but typically in a generalised form. Antecedents highlighting the successful implementation of absorptive capacity processes have not been studied extensively so far. Therefore, this study, through critical exploration of existing success factors within pharmaceutical organisations based in Pakistan, attempts to highlight the requirements for the effective development of absorptive capacity in the workplace. The results show that factors relating to employees and management, both mid-level and senior, are critical in the successful development of absorptive capacity. Furthermore, this study explores new pathways for critical evaluation of absorptive capacity in relation to employees and management within pharmaceutical organisations

Should Organisations Compete or Collaborate when Absorbing New External Knowledge?

Organisations possessing significant resources (Resource Based View) or knowledge, as their significant capability (Dynamic Capability View), are often unaware of their own ability to acquire new knowledge entering the enterprise (level of absorptive capacity); this unawareness can lead to reduced marketplace performance and incorrect decision making, which may result in the wastage of organisational resources, including employee knowledge. This study highlights the key differences in absorptive capacity which firms possess, in the context of resource based and dynamic capability views. Based on these differing perspectives, options are provided for companies who wish to compete or mate/merge with competitors in the market, while discussion is given on the considerations that organisations must take before adopting a suggested option

Karo Kari : the murder of honour in Sindh Pakistan : an ethnographic study

This paper aims to discuss the wider context, in which honour murders occur, the social structures which contribute to the occurrence and perpetuation of the practice of honour murders. An ethnographic fieldwork was conducted in Jacobabad Sindh, Pakistan. The study found that honour murders were not solely driven by customs and traditions, but also by a feudal culture, male-dominated social structures, the complicit role of state institutions and law enforcement agencies and a web of vested interests. Therefore, honour murders may be prevented by reducing the influence and interference of feudal lords on state institutions, in particular law enforcement agencies, and by promoting education that challenges a patriarchal and feudal mind-set in the community

Enhancing Knowledge Acquisition in Pharmaceutical Organisations based in Pakistan

Absorptive Capacity (ACAP) depicts the sequential order of activities connecting externally generated knowledge into an organisation; this involves a company’s ability to acquire new knowledge from an external source, assimilate and transform it, and eventually exploit it via its industrial processes and products/services. The sandwiched role of middle managers, being interlinked between decision makers and employees, has been argued as vital to organisational success. However, their role is often viewed as having conflicts astride management i.e. between employees and decision makers. This study, using a thematic analysis approach, explores and identifies the common and conflicting role of middle managers, as viewed by different respondents in organisational hierarchies. Results, based on a sample of 33 employees operating in the Pakistan Pharmaceutical sector, indicate that conflicting roles of middle managers also persist with more common roles in organisations

Long-Term Trend of the All-Bangladesh Summer Monsoon Rainfall, and its Association with the ENSO Index

Rainfall data for the summer monsoon season (May through October) at 15 weather stations in Bangladesh, for the 60 year period from 1951 to 2010, and ENSO Index data coinciding with the summer monsoon season for the corresponding years were analyzed in order to determine the long-term trends of summer monsoon rainfall and ENSO Index, and association between them. In this study, summer monsoon rainfall in Bangladesh has been expressed as “All-Bangladesh” summer monsoon rainfall, which is an aggregate of the average rainfall at 15 weather stations for the months of June through October, in each year of the 1951-2010 period. Results indicate (a) a very slow increasing trend of All-Bangladesh summer monsoon rainfall, at a rate of 0.2073 mm per year over the 60-year period from 1951 to 2010, (b) a very slow decreasing rate of ENSO Index at a rate of –0.027 per year over the same period, and (c) there is no relationship between All-Bangladesh summer monsoon rainfall and ENSO Index during the same period. Keywords: All-Bangladesh summer monsoon rainfall; summer monsoon rainfall trend; ENSO Index trend; association between All-Bangladesh summer monsoon rainfall and ENSO Index)