Integrative approach to regional water schemes in South Africa

This article explores the use of a System Dynamics model as a boundary object in a case study regarding decision-making on water scarcity in South Africa. The model integrates expertise from the hydrological and ecological sciences with socio-economic information for a specific area, the Mossel Bay region. The model proved to be adaptable to multiple stakeholders, robust enough to maintain identity across stakeholders, and succeeded in allowing different stakeholders to work together without necessarily requiring consensus. This study supported communication between the stakeholders and enhanced the democratization of the decision-making processes by improving deliberation1 on contentious issues. Further applications of boundary spanning activities using system dynamics modeling in other cases is recommended.Policy AnalysisSystem Engineerin

Dynamic Service Reconfiguration and Enactment Using an Open Matching Architecture (extended abstract)

Multi Actor SystemsTechnology, Policy and Managemen

Exploration of multi-layered knowledge sharing participation: the roles of perceived benefits and costs

This paper explores participants’ perceived benefits and costs that influence the quantity and the quality of voluntary participation in knowledge networks in a resources-constrained economy. A conceptual model of perceived benefits and costs of knowledge sharing is designed on the basis of literature. The influence of perceived benefit and cost on perceived quantity and quality of knowledge sharing are assessed on the basis of a survey with 283 participants in a business context within a resource-restrained economy. The results indicate that reputation, reciprocity, and altruism are perceived to benefit quantity of participation, while reciprocity, altruism, and knowledge self-efficacy are perceived to benefit the quality of participation in knowledge networks. Effort and time have a negative impact on both quantity and quality of participation in knowledge sharing.Economics of Technology and InnovationSystem Engineerin

Exploration Participants Engagement in Organisational Knowledge Sharing

The importance of knowledge sharing within most organisations is well recognised. While abundant KM systems have been matured to encourage individual engagement in knowledge sharing, practical evidences show a low success rate of KM systems. This paper reports on a qualitative exploratory multi-case study to explore level participants’ engagement in knowledge sharing along the design principle for engagement of participatory systems. Results show that KM systems using a combined approach of supply- and demand side KM strongly influence participants’ engagement for knowledge sharing.Economics of Technology and InnovationSystem Engineerin

Employees’ participation in electronic networks of practice within a corporate group: perceived benefits and costs

This paper explores benefits and costs of knowledge exchange perceived by individuals in connected electronic networks of practice (ENoP) in a corporate setting. The results of 25 semi-structured interviews show 9 perceived benefits and 5 perceived costs to be of importance for knowledge exchange. Altruism and reciprocity are the two main perceived benefits from the knowledge providers’ perspective; problem solving is the main perceived benefit from the knowledge seekers’ perspective. Five perceived costs are identified for both knowledge seekers and knowledge providers; time and effort are the most frequently cited.Economics of Technology and InnovationSystem Engineerin

A Framework for Developing Agent-Based Distributed Applications (extended abstract)

Multi Actor SystemsTechnology, Policy and Managemen