Nonaka meets Giddens: A critique

Abstract Nonaka's recent incorporation of Giddens into the knowledge movement is superficial and problematic. The incorporation accepts uncritically Giddens's controversial conceptions of structure and agency, avoids his concerns of power and domination, exaggerates his elaboration on contradictions, and shares with him the search for an omelette-like theoretical totalising. Using Giddens as an illustrative vehicle, this paper analyses the pattern of Nonaka's recent borrowing of others' work and the consequent tensions built up in his simplistic model of the knowledge creating company

Soft OR in China: A critical report

As China's reform steps into the 'deep water zone' where value complexity becomes paramount, general-purpose decision-making aids such as Operational Research (OR) are increasingly confronted with the challenge of dealing with interest conflicts. However, due to historical events and institutional circumstances, OR in China to date is largely constrained by a technocratic approach which is not fit for purpose. Encouragingly, recent OR innovations inside China signify a conscious move to embrace value plurality and tackle social conflicts. OR is not merely a neutral tool for solving technical problems, but a world-building discourse that shapes society. The future of OR, particularly Soft OR, in China will be determined by whether OR workers are willing and capable to act as institutional entrepreneurs promoting scientific and democratic decision-making that deepens the reform toward an open, just and prosperous society. The implications go beyond the OR community and China's borders. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

The genome evolution and domestication of tropical fruit mango

Background: Mango is one of the world’s most important tropical fruits. It belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, which includes several other economically important species, notably cashew, sumac and pistachio from other genera. Many species in this family produce family-specific urushiols and related phenols, which can induce contact dermatitis. Results: We generate a chromosome-scale genome assembly of mango, providing a reference genome for the Anacardiaceae family. Our results indicate the occurrence of a recent whole-genome duplication (WGD) event in mango. Duplicated genes preferentially retained include photosynthetic, photorespiration, and lipid metabolic genes that may have provided adaptive advantages to sharp historical decreases in atmospheric carbon dioxide and global temperatures. A notable example of an extended gene family is the chalcone synthase (CHS) family of genes, and particular genes in this family show universally higher expression in peels than in flesh, likely for the biosynthesis of urushiols and related phenols. Genome resequencing reveals two distinct groups of mango varieties, with commercial varieties clustered with India germplasms and demonstrating allelic admixture, and indigenous varieties from Southeast Asia in the second group. Landraces indigenous in China formed distinct clades, and some showed admixture in genomes. Conclusions: Analysis of chromosome-scale mango genome sequences reveals photosynthesis and lipid metabolism are preferentially retained after a recent WGD event, and expansion of CHS genes is likely associated with urushiol biosynthesis in mango. Genome resequencing clarifies two groups of mango varieties, discovers allelic admixture in commercial varieties, and shows distinct genetic background of landraces

The genome evolution and domestication of tropical fruit mango

Background: Mango is one of the world’s most important tropical fruits. It belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, which includes several other economically important species, notably cashew, sumac and pistachio from other genera. Many species in this family produce family-specific urushiols and related phenols, which can induce contact dermatitis. Results: We generate a chromosome-scale genome assembly of mango, providing a reference genome for the Anacardiaceae family. Our results indicate the occurrence of a recent whole-genome duplication (WGD) event in mango. Duplicated genes preferentially retained include photosynthetic, photorespiration, and lipid metabolic genes that may have provided adaptive advantages to sharp historical decreases in atmospheric carbon dioxide and global temperatures. A notable example of an extended gene family is the chalcone synthase (CHS) family of genes, and particular genes in this family show universally higher expression in peels than in flesh, likely for the biosynthesis of urushiols and related phenols. Genome resequencing reveals two distinct groups of mango varieties, with commercial varieties clustered with India germplasms and demonstrating allelic admixture, and indigenous varieties from Southeast Asia in the second group. Landraces indigenous in China formed distinct clades, and some showed admixture in genomes. Conclusions: Analysis of chromosome-scale mango genome sequences reveals photosynthesis and lipid metabolism are preferentially retained after a recent WGD event, and expansion of CHS genes is likely associated with urushiol biosynthesis in mango. Genome resequencing clarifies two groups of mango varieties, discovers allelic admixture in commercial varieties, and shows distinct genetic background of landraces

The influence of learning styles on knowledge acquisition in public sector management

This research note outlines a project designed to investigate the role of training institutions in providing effective training and development programmes for managers. The investigation is being carried out in the light of recent criticisms levelled against the nature of formal learning environments prevalent in most institutional settings. The traditional role of trainers and developers as the providers of knowledge and skills for the development of competent managers runs contrary to recent findings, which suggest that managers learn more effectively in informal settings, rather than the formal settings evident in many development programmes. The idea that explicitly extracted competencies are the target every manager should aim for to improve their effectiveness is also challenged because competencies alone are no longer regarded as a sufficient criterion for success. Recent research has attached greater importance to the need for helping managers to see knowledge as a social phenomenon, and one factor that might distinguish successful managers from others is tacit knowledge (Wagner & Sternberg, 1987; Argyris, 1999). A major focus of this study is to explore the possibility that the level and content of tacit knowledge acquired by managers may be influenced by their individual learning styles, and the degree to which their dominant styles are matched with the context of their work environment

From marketing systems to systems marketing

This thesis attempts to explore an alternative taking us beyond the paradigmatic tension which currently dominates and stagnates the discipline of marketing study.This is done in the light of Habermas's critical theory and contemporary critical systems thinking (CST). It is argued that there is an urgent need to bring together the strengths of 'critical' and 'systems' so as to facilitate collective complementarity while at the same time preserving opportunity for pursuing individual development among heterogeneous approaches.Based upon an investigation of how systems approaches have been employed as analytical techniques for improving marketing efficiency, as conceptual models facilitating comprehensive understanding of marketing activities, and as a guide to theoretical development to co-ordinate divergence and convergence in research, the thesis contends that systems approaches can be employed in a perhaps more rewarding way to investigate, address and tackle the present paradigmatic tension.The thesis proposes a critical systems reconstruction of marketing study: first reorienting marketing as a communicative action system driven and constituted by rationally contesting human technical, practical and emancipatory interests in consumption needs, then suggesting a conceptual typology for categorising marketing approaches into technical, practical and normative marketing which systematically nurtures technical enhancement, subjective experience and social norm formation inmarketing activities.It is asserted that under such reconstruction, mutual understanding and support among heterogeneous approaches is not arbitrary, but is an inherent feature of marketing knowledge inquiry. The thesis urges marketing researchers to enter into a critical dialogue to establish plurality in the long term, to promote mutual learning through fusion of horizons, and to pursue complementarity in practical problemsolving intervention.In the effort to revitalise systems approach as a facilitating model, the thesis concludes that given the stagnating paradigmatic unease currently prevailing in marketing study, the future for competitive marketing systems lies in systems marketing - serving human contestable interests in consumption needs through communicative reasoning among various marketing systems

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: A PRACTICAL GUIDE

Knowledge is increasingly regarded as the only sustainable source for continuous innovation and competitive advantage of persons, organisations and nations in the 21st century where economies and human-ecology well-being are said to be knowledge-based, and knowledge management as an indispensable means for survival, growth and betterment. Adopting a pragmatist and holistic perspective, this article introduces readers to the theories and practices of knowledge-oriented management in organisations, which covers purposeful coping of three differentiated yet related areas: knowledge assets, knowing processes and knower relations. It suggests that a systems approach that promotes synergy between efficiency, creativity and legitimacy will increase opportunities for organisations in the search for competitive advantage and sustainable prosperity

The JAIST School : Continuity and Future

This article invites readers to the conversation and action that nurture and maintain the continuity of Nonaka’s foundation work and make innovation upon it in order to develop JAIST into an outstanding intellectual school of thought.The original publication is available at JAIST Press http://www.jaist.ac.jp/library/jaist-press/index.htmlProceedings of KSS'2007 : The Eighth International Symposium on Knowledge and Systems Sciences : November 5-7, 2007, [Ishikawa High-Tech Conference Center, Nomi, Ishikawa, JAPAN]Organized by: Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technolog

Theorizing systems methodologies across cultures

People across cultures solve problems differently, so do they theorize systems methodologies. Mainstream systems research has thus far managed to ignore the cultural dimension, which generates frustrations in cross-border conversation and application. Exploring how representative systems methodologies are theorized in different cultural settings, this paper aims to (1) stress that systems methodologies, like other management thoughts and practices, are cultural artefacts, (2) propose that a heightened sensitivity towards cultural differences is essential to systems research and practice in an era of deepened globalization. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd