Fit and Social Construction in Knowledge Management Systems

This paper proposes a study of the effects of knowledge management systems (KMS) on individual and organizational performance. The study seeks to answer the following question: Which factors determine the impact of KMS on performance by individuals and groups? A model for KMS and performance is developed. This model takes the special characteristics of KMS into account, and extends the theory of task technology fit with concepts from adaptive structuration theory. The paper presents four key propositions that are to be tested through a survey: 1. Task-KMS fit will impact faithfulness of appropriation; 2. Consensus on appropriation will impact faithfulness of appropriation; 3. Faithfulness of appropriation will moderate the impact of task-KMS fit to performance; 4. Consensus on appropriation will impact KMS use. The study will compare existing models with a composite model, and will contribute to our general knowledge of KMS through an empirical study of their effect on performance

Supporting Shared Information Systems: Boundary Objects, Communities, and Brokering

Organizations increasingly rely upon integrated and shared information systems and databasessuch as ERP systems and data warehouses. Such shared systems pose new and unique support challenges for systems professionals. A review of the literature reveals that comprehensive models to study the support of shared information systems do not yet exist. Based on the theory of communities of practice, and on the concepts of convergence and divergence of systems and practice, the boundary object brokering model of shared information systems is developed. This model is applied to an interpretive case study of a large company, illustrating how shared systems can be seen as boundary objects that connect disparate communities of practice. The model and case study show how the traditional role of systems professionals has been augmented to include brokering tasks, providing new issues and implications for theory and practice

Primary Traits Of Oral Business Presentation: Translatable Use For Assessment In A Virtual Learning Environment

As more and more classes are taught on-line, new challenges for assessment of student learning have come about. In this paper on the use of digital video (DV) as an acceptable means to assess student oral business presentation skills, content analysis was used to test for the presence of primary traits inherent in effective formal business presentation. A specific set of traits was identified through a comprehensive literature review. Primary traits: eye contact or absence of reading, vocal variety, credibility or confidence, appearance of nervous mannerisms, and the purposeful use of the body represented the five independent variables in a one-level experiment. The five factors were accumulated into a survey instrument for use by study assessors experienced in evaluating formal business presentation skills. Study assessors looked at each speaker to determine if they could assess the five traits. Overall results indicated the five primary traits were noticeable 88.8% of the time, thereby rejecting the null hypothesis. This suggests that digital video may offer a technological solution for oral presentation skills assessment. This is an important finding for faculty in time and distance constrained environments. Future research is suggested to isolate quality characteristics in the digital film environment and to examine the impact that digital video has on student learning and skills

Creating Sustainable Education Projects in Roatan, Honduras Through Continuous Process Improvement

The investigators worked together with permanent residents of Roatán, Honduras on sustainable initiatives to help improve the island’s troubled educational programs. Our initiatives focused on increasing the number of students eligible and likely to attend a university. Using a methodology based in continuous process improvement, we developed tutoring programs, college preparation workshops, long-term plans for a local school, and solicited involvement by an island educational coalition. Lessons learned from these initiatives may be used to expand other efforts on the island and can be generalized to other programs in Central America

Creating Sustainable Education Projects In Roat, Honduras Through Continuous Process Improvement

The investigators worked together with permanent residents of Roatán, Honduras on sustainable initiatives to help improve the island’s troubled educational programs. Our initiatives focused on increasing the number of students eligible and likely to attend a university. Using a methodology based in continuous process improvement, we developed tutoring programs, college preparation workshops, long-term plans for a local school, and solicited involvement by an island educational coalition.  Lessons learned from these initiatives may be used to expand other efforts on the island and can be generalized to other programs in Central America

Digital Video Presentation and Student Performance: A Task Technology Fit Perspective

The article presents findings of a study regarding the adaptation of the Task Technology Fit (TTF) model in the teaching and learning process in the U.S. It emphasizes the three dimensions of fit, which include the Ease of Learning, Task Match and Ease of Use, which were applied in the context of digital video for oral presentations in the classroom environment. It stresses the importance of the digital technology in education, wherein the results of the study showed significant improvements in the oral presentation skills with the application of digital tools

Im, Raven Fit and Social Construction Fit and Social Construction in Knowledge Management Systems Abstract

This paper proposes a study of the effects of knowledge management systems (KMS) on individual and organizational performance. The study seeks to answer the following question: Which factors determine the impact of KMS on performance by individuals and groups? A model for KMS and performance is developed. This model takes the special characteristics of KMS into account, and extends the theory of task technology fit with concepts from adaptive structuration theory. The paper presents four key propositions that are to be tested through a survey: 1. Task-KMS fit will impact faithfulness of appropriation; 2. Consensus on appropriation will impact faithfulness of appropriation; 3. Faithfulness of appropriation will moderate the impact of task-KMS fit to performance; 4. Consensus on appropriation will impact KMS use. The study will compare existing models with a composite model, and will contribute to our general knowledge of KMS through an empirical study of their effect on performance

Silence or Knowing in IT-Facilitated Face-to-Face Meetings Silence or Knowing in IT-Facilitated Face-to-Face Meetings

An increasing proportion of work in organizations has shifted from repetitive, structured, individually focused activities to what is now known as knowledge work. This has been accompanied by a stronger need for collaboration and coordination as well as new information technology (IT) tools. It has changed the nature of face-to-face meetings and the ways in which IT can support them. This study investigates how shared knowledge creation (SKC) operates and is supported by IT in face-to-face meetings. Two scenarios, “Silence” and “Knowing,” are used to illustrate the extremes of the types of collaboration that can take place. The article extends Wenger\u27s theory of communities of practice to the domain of IT-facilitated face-to-face meetings. It develops and operationalizes the community-behavior constructs of participation and documentation reification in this context. The article develops a number of hypotheses around SKC effectiveness. The hypotheses are tested in the context of new product development practices in two companies. The empirical results show that community behavior leads to higher speed of SKC and higher quality of output from SKC. The study further indicates that IT tools affect participation and documentation reification differently. IT tools are shown to only work for participation during formal meetings. The study shows the importance for a team to act as a community of practice in the SKC environment as well as the need for new IT tools and the better use of existing tools. The article concludes with implications for practice and research for IT support in face-to-face meetings