The Role of Organizational Culture, Leadership, and Infrastructure in Knowledge Creation

Knowledge management systems provide opportunities for organizations to obtain and manipulate their knowledge in order to impact their strategic initiatives. As these systems become more prevalent within organizational structures, the benefits of KM systems can be enhanced by reviewing the impact of organizational culture, organizational leadership, and organizational infrastructure components on the KM system and its processes. In this paper, the focus is on the current research regarding these components, their connection to the process of knowledge creation, and areas for future research agendas. Although there has been extensive research in knowledge processes, there is potential for researchers to continue contributing to future studies of the connection between organizational influences and the process of knowledge creation

Two-Method Planned Missing Designs for Longitudinal Research

We examine longitudinal extensions of the two-method measurement design, which uses planned missingness to optimize cost-efficiency and validity of hard-to-measure constructs. These designs use a combination of two measures: a “gold standard” that is highly valid but expensive to administer, and an inexpensive (e.g., survey-based) measure that contains systematic measurement bias (e.g., response bias). Using simulated data on four measurement occasions, we compared the cost-efficiency and validity of longitudinal designs where the gold standard is measured at one or more measurement occasions. We manipulated the nature of the response bias over time (constant, increasing, fluctuating), the factorial structure of the response bias over time, and the constraints placed on the latent variable model. Our results showed that parameter bias is lowest when the gold standard is measured on at least two occasions. When a multifactorial structure was used to model response bias over time, it is necessary to have the “gold standard” measures included at every time point, in which case most of the parameters showed low bias. Almost all parameters in all conditions displayed high relative efficiency, suggesting that the 2-method design is an effective way to reduce costs and improve both power and accuracy in longitudinal research

A Foundational Perspective on Core Competency Requirements for Project Management Initiatives

Many research studies have discussed critical factors which can affect project success or failure. In this paper, an examination of a limited number of these studies is conducted to emphasize the need to understand a foundational perspective of the human element influencing these factors. The result is the classification of three core competency areas which can lead toward more effective project management initiatives. An outline of these core competencies is provided based on the identification of key themes focusing on project critical success factors. Initial findings of the study are discussed and a foundation for future research agendas is provided

Exploring Student, Family, and School Predictors of Self-Determination Using NLTS2 Data

This study conducted secondary analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) to examine the degree to which student, family, and school constructs predicted self-determination outcomes. Multi-group structural equation modeling was used to examine predictive relationships between 5 student, 4 family, and 7 school constructs developed from NLTS2 data and self-determination outcomes (autonomy, psychological empowerment, and self-realization) across disability groups. The pattern of predictive relationship between the constructs and self-determination outcomes across disability groups was complex. Only one construct—self-concept—showed a positive predictive relationship with all three self-determination constructs across most disability groups. Implications of the complex pattern of findings for research and practice are discussed

Role of Knowledge Asset Indicators in Understanding Knowledge-Intensive Processes

Organizations are increasingly engaging in implementing knowledge management systems to create, store, retrieve, and apply knowledge in achieving organizational goals and objectives. In that regard, the ability to identify knowledge assets is essential. Knowledge-intensive business processes rely heavily on appropriate utilization of knowledge and are also a source for new knowledge creation. As such, understanding the value of knowledge assets through various indicators can prove immensely helpful in better managing knowledge-intensive processes and deriving value from knowledge management systems. This paper presents a conceptual framework, which emphasizes the link between knowledge asset indicators and management of knowledge-intensive processes within an organization. Through a pilot case study used to emphasis these connections, this paper discusses the importance of developing organizational understanding of both internal and external knowledge asset indicators in enabling knowledge-intensive processes, and to ultimately achieve organizational strategic goals

Exploring Essential Characteristics of Self-Determination for Diverse Students Using Data From NLTS2

This study explored the impact of race/ethnicity on three of the four essential characteristics of self-determination—autonomy, self-realization, and psychological empowerment—directly assessed in the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2. Specifically, the impact of race/ethnicity was examined with six disability groups established in previous research: high incidence disabilities (learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, speech language impairments, and other health impairments), sensory disabilities (visual and hearing impairments), cognitive disabilities (autism, multiple disabilities, and deaf-blindness); intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury, and orthopedic impairments. Measurement equivalence was established across groups, but significant differences in the latent means, variances, and covariances were found suggesting a complex pattern of differences based on race/ethnicity within disability groups. Implications for future research and practice are discussed

Multilevel Examination of Facility Characteristics, Social Integration, and Health for Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes

Objectives. Testing a model based on past research and theory, this study assessed relationships between facility characteristics (i.e., culture change efforts, social workers) and residents’ social networks and social support across nursing homes and examined relationships between multiple aspects of social integration (i.e., social networks, social capital, social engagement, social support) and mental and functional health for older adults in nursing homes. Methods. Data were collected at nursing homes using a planned missing data design with random sampling techniques. Data collection occurred at the individual-level through in-person structured interviews with older adult nursing home residents (N = 140) and at the facility-level (N = 30) with nursing home staff. Results. The best fitting multilevel structural equation model indicated that the culture change sub-scale for relationships significantly predicted differences in residents’ social networks. Additionally, social networks had a positive indirect relationship with mental and functional health among residents primarily via social engagement. Social capital had a positive direct relationship with both health outcomes. Discussion. To predict better social integration and mental and functional health outcomes for nursing homes residents, study findings support prioritizing that close relationships exist among staff, residents, and the community as well as increased resident social engagement and social trust

Dealing with homophobia in residence halls on college and university classess

Diversity is defined by Webster\u27s Dictionary as the condition of being different or having differences (Woolf, 1974, p. 215). Diversity is a major issue when discussing campus environments and can be seen as cultural, racial, economic, religious, gender, and sexual orientation. For many students, the college environment will be the first opportunity to be exposed to a wide range of diversity. Experiencing this diversity can sometimes be either enlightening or threatening for an individual, and it can be a learning opportunity