What is Organizational Knowledge?

Organizational knowledge is much talked about but little understood. In this paper we set out to conceptualize organizational knowledge and explore its implications for knowledge management. We take on board Polanyi’s insight concerning the personal character of knowledge and fuse it with Wittgenstein’s insight that all knowledge is, in a fundamental way, collective. We do this in order to show, on the one hand, how individuals appropriate knowledge and expand their knowledge repertoires, and, on the other hand, how knowledge, in organized contexts, becomes organizational. Our claim is that knowledge is the individual capability to draw distinctions, within a domain of action, based on an appreciation of context or theory, or both. Organizational knowledge is the capability members of an organization have developed to draw distinctions in the process of carrying out their work, in particular concrete contexts, by enacting sets of generalizations whose application depends on historically evolved collective understandings. Following our theoretical exploration of organizational knowledge, we report the findings of a case study carried out at a call centre in Panafon, in Greece. Finally, we explore the implications of our argument by focusing on the links between knowledge and action on the one hand, and the management of organizational knowledge on the other. We argue that practical mastery needs to be supplemented by a quasi‐theoretical understanding of what individuals are doing when they exercise that mastery, and this is what knowledge management should be aiming at. Knowledge management, we suggest, is the dynamic process of turning an unreflective practice into a reflective one by elucidating the rules guiding the activities of the practice, by helping give a particular shape to collective understandings, and by facilitating the emergence of heuristic knowledge.     

Researching and developing practice traditions using reflective practice experiments

Building a science on the foundations of practitioners’ experimentation was one of Donald Schön’s abiding interests. This paper outlines a method of reflective practice research on which this kind of science can be built. Its basic elements are: (1) A focus on the “sense” practitioners make of their situations. This allows for a much richer explication of practitioners’ understanding. (2) Formally differentiating between kinds of reflective thinking to demonstrate rigorous reliance on our practice, as experienced, as we reflect. (3) Use of a non-standard logic and a distinctive grammar in describing the “sense” we make of our practice situations, as this enables a much more faithful rendering in models and theories of our sense of orientation. (4) A method of combining these in an experimental practice that enables models of practice traditions to evolve, taking in insights from innovative practice, and experiences from diverse cases.     

Influence of personal mastery on organizational performance through organizational learning and innovation in large firms and SMEs

This paper analyzes the influences of personal mastery on organizational performance, both directly and indirectly through the dynamic capabilities of organizational learning and innovation. Although these indirect interrelations are very important for improving organizational performance, they are not usually explored in research. We confirm these influences empirically in both large firms and SMEs, basing our research on a sample of 401 Spanish firms. The results reveal that in both types of firms: (1) personal mastery influences organizational performance directly and indirectly through organizational learning and innovation; (2) organizational learning influences organizational performance positively, both directly and indirectly through organizational innovation; (3) organizational innovation influences organizational performance positively.     

An exploration of branding approaches in UK universities

• This exploratory paper considers the current state of UK HE branding, in particular, conceptualisations and approaches. It is driven by calls in the literature for clearer understanding and application of branding in Higher Education (HE).Objectives of the research, drawn from literature, were to explore conceptualisations of branding in the UK HE sector, as well as current challenges to branding concepts/ practice in UK HE. The methodology was based upon depth interviews with fifteen opinion leaders and opinion formers, specifically Heads of Marketing or External Relations in UK HE. Findings suggest that branding is a key issue for UK universities, but an overall conceptual model for brands in the HE sector remains challenging, although parallels with corporate branding are drawn. However, simplistic adoption of corporate branding does not offer a clear solution, and the requirement for a conceptual framework particular to the sector is evident. In exploring conceptual frameworks, experiential branding and internal branding are discussed as possible approaches that may offer a route for differentiation that universities seek. Whilst developing a clear conceptual model is the key challenge identified, limited and variable understanding of the branding concept and limited genuine differentiation around which to build a brand were also notable challenges. Overall, significant branding opportunities and challenges in a changing sector are discussed. Conclusions argue that corporate branding, experiential branding and internal branding literature all have a degree of applicability, but clearly further empirical work is needed to advance this important field.

Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flash连线交互课件的设计与实现

随着多媒体技术的发展,把现代教育技术引进课堂,让学生通过自主操作计算机以趣味游戏的方式进行选择题的练习,可以有效地激发学生的兴趣,加深对相关知识的理解和掌握,提高学习效率,促进教学质量的提高。本文以依据色环判断电阻阻值flash连线练习测试动画为例,分析flash连线交互动画课件的制作方法。     

Model combinations through revised base rates

Standard selection criteria for forecasting models focus on information that is calculated for each series independently, disregarding the general tendencies and performance of the candidate models. In this paper, we propose a new way to perform statistical model selection and model combination that incorporates the base rates of the candidate forecasting models, which are then revised so that the per-series information is taken into account. We examine two schemes that are based on the precision and sensitivity information from the contingency table of the base rates. We apply our approach on pools of either exponential smoothing or ARMA models, considering both simulated and real time series, and show that our schemes work better than standard statistical benchmarks. We test the significance and sensitivity of our results, discuss the connection of our approach to other cross-learning approaches, and offer insights regarding implications for theory and practice.     

Are Austrian returns to education falling over time?

In this paper, we make a systematic presentation of returns to education in Austria for the period 1981–1997. We use consistent cross-sections from the Mikrozensus and find falling returns over time. These falling returns are neither caused by changes in the sample design and reduced willingness to reveal personal incomes in the survey, nor by a declining quality of education. Moreover, it is shown that especially returns to tertiary and secondary education have fallen. Estimating quantile regressions provides further interesting insights: returns fall for all quantiles alike, but the spread of returns is much lower for females. The overall picture of falling returns is consistent with a rise in the supply of highly educated workers in the last two decades.     

Fostering entrepreneurship: impact of specialization and diversity in education

The present research aims to enhance our understanding of how prospective entrepreneurs benefit from specialized entrepreneurship education combined with a diversified educational experience. We find intriguing evidence that depth or specialization of entrepreneurship education is not enough for wealth creation from future entrepreneurial activities. Instead, it is breadth or diversity of educational experiences that positively influences future wealth creation, in terms of both the entrepreneur’s personal income as well as personal net worth. The results of the study have important implications for entrepreneurship educators and their students, researchers, policy makers, as well as nascent entrepreneurs.     

A multi-level model of withdrawal: Integrating and synthesizing theory and findings

Major changes occurring within the modern organization have served as a catalyst for redefining withdrawal behavior and expanding its focus. Traditionally, investigators examined lateness, absence, and withdrawal either individually or in combination with each other. Besides new insights into understanding each of these components, it is suggested that withdrawal today needs to include so-called ‘minor withdrawal behaviors' such as social loafing, lack of effort, long lunch breaks, and surfing on the Internet during the workday. The present paper presents an interactionist approach that utilizes multi-level antecedents as predictors. By borrowing concepts from several areas of organizational psychology, the model proposes that withdrawal cognitions and, in some cases, cost/benefit calculations serve as mediators between individual (attitudes and personal), group/organizational, extra-organizational variables acting as antecedents/moderators and withdrawal behavior. Methodological issues characteristic of withdrawal research as well as techniques for testing the model are discussed.     

我国工商管理探索性案例研究的发展现状及规范性评估

鉴于工商管理学科实践性与应用性强的特点,国内学界对于开展理论贡献与应用价值相融合的学术研究已达成广泛共识,探索性案例研究作为基于情境性管理实践的科学研究是关键的实现途径之一.由于舶入国内工商管理领域的时间有限,当前对该方法使用规范的准确认识与掌握仍是做出高水平案例研究的重要基础.首先系统梳理了2010—2019年十年间...     

Institutional entrepreneurship and permaculture: A practice theory perspective

Permaculture is a growing but little researched phenomenon emphasising care for the environment, equity, fair treatment of people and working with—and not against—nature. It thus represents a potential alternative to business as usual, capable of addressing fundamental challenges posed by human-made climate change. The paper examines a previously ignored site of entrepreneurship by taking a practice perspective, exploring connections between the practice and growth of permaculture and institutional entrepreneurship. It assesses practice-related and institutional factors affecting the start-up and operation of permaculture enterprises in the United Kingdom. The study maps and surveys UK Permaculture Association members who have started up their own business and reports on qualitative data from personal interviews with twenty of them. Data analysis employs NVivo software and involves thematic analysis pertaining to the practice, institutional biographies and institutional portfolios of permaculture entrepreneurs. The findings show the importance of permaculture activists' institutional biographies and institutional portfolios to the start-up and operation of permaculture enterprises and for shaping permaculture-related practice. The contribution of the paper lies in how it balances attention to individual agency with subfield-specific, organisational field and macrosocial factors in understanding ‘beyond profit’ entrepreneurship.     

Forecasting,uncertainty and risk; perspectives on clinical decision-making in preventive and curative medicine

Should we screen the population routinely for the presence of breast or prostatic cancer? This simple proposition masks a landscape of complexities, including the economics of screening, the prevalence and probability of the disease, desired frequencies of intervention and a willingness to adopt preventive screening. These ‘risk factors’ form part of a broader landscape of uncertainty that characterises the intricacies of clinical decision-making. Deepening our understanding of the way in which clinicians evaluate risk and uncertainty requires a framing of insights into language, communication, psychology and epistemology. This paper explores perspectives in forecasting and uncertainty as a basis for understanding individuals’ perceptions of risk when assessing their options in both preventative and curative medicine. At the heart of the issue is the prevalence of diagnostic error; this paper argues for the use of systematised approaches to medical error management and inclusive approaches to research in the field. The advantages of augmenting the management of unforeseen consequences through an improved understanding of the issues that are of concern to patients, carers, and medical practitioners alike forms a key construct in this paper. We conclude with an exploration of potential opportunities for improvements in medical practice: changes that may reduce the disbenefits of uncertainty and enhance the management of the general risks associated with clinical decision-making.     

推行“学分制”与建立“学分银行”的研究述评

本文从课题的研究背景及意义入手,对本课题研究的理论与实践进行了综合分析与评价,并提出了自己建设性的意见。推行"学分制"与建立"学分银行"教育制度的改革是社会发展的需要,也是当前我国实现科教兴国和人才强国战略的有效途径,它更是一项复杂的系统工程,需要渐次推进,逐步完善。希望我们广大的研究学者们多结合我国国情与地方特点进行科学论证,多出一些具有实践指导意义的研究成果,更希望我们各地的教育改革少一些功利与盲从,多一些责任与坚持。     

Some theoretical results on forecast combinations

This paper proposes a framework for the analysis of the theoretical properties of forecast combination, with the forecast performance being measured in terms of mean squared forecast errors (MSFE). Such a framework is useful for deriving all existing results with ease. In addition, it also provides insights into two forecast combination puzzles. Specifically, it investigates why a simple average of forecasts often outperforms forecasts from single models in terms of MSFEs, and why a more complicated weighting scheme does not always perform better than a simple average. In addition, this paper presents two new findings that are particularly relevant in practice. First, the MSFE of a forecast combination decreases as the number of models increases. Second, the conventional approach to the selection of optimal models, based on a simple comparison of MSFEs without further statistical testing, leads to a biased selection.     

构建企业的边界:权力与能力的过程观——嘉华公司案例研究

本文关注组织边界的权力观和能力观,基于纵向和过程探索两个概念间关联与企业边界演化。纵向考察了一个在行业中保持10年快速发展的企业案例,对企业边界演化进行一个过程研究,揭示权力观与能力观被交替强调的关系,得到企业边界构建的演进趋势图。研究发现,双过程连续分布在企业发展的各个阶段,分别表现为权力观/能力观主导、"权力观-能力观"相互转移和确立企业边界三个过程。研究的理论贡献在于,为组织边界理论带来了动态非平衡理解和过程观,展示出企业在形成自己边界过程中两种不同行为逻辑的交替与协同。在战略性视角下,本研究揭示出权力观与能力观的内在联系的"双元性",阐释了"双元性"下的"权力-能力"转换与交替主导的非平衡过程规律,得到了两种观点的协同演进,强调了企业家精神在推动演进趋势持续向上的作用。     

The impact of supply chain quality management practices and knowledge transfer on organisational performance: an empirical investigation from China

In recent years, both quality management practices (QMP) and knowledge transfer (KT) have been studied extensively from inter-organisational and intra-organisational perspectives. However, to the best of our knowledge, the interaction between QMP and KT in a supply chain and their joint effects on organisational performance have not been addressed fully. The purpose of this paper is to provide insights for improving performance by mapping the relationship between supply chain quality management practices (SCQMP) and KT. A survey of 157 Chinese manufacturing firms is used to test a conceptual model that proposes relationship among SCQMP, KT and organisational performance (including operational performance and innovation performance). Structural equation modelling reveals that internal QMP have significantly positive effect on internal KT, while QMP at supply chain level have highly positive effect on cross-organisational KT. Furthermore, the results show that both internal KT and cross-organisational KT can promote operational and innovation performance, although the influence from internal KT is much more significant than cross-organisational KT for Chinese firms. The findings contribute to theory as well as practice by increasing understanding of how to improve the operational and innovation performance through enhancing SCQMP and KT.     

Exploring the dynamics of value and fit: Insights from project management

The strategic management literature has struggled with how to recognize, measure, and even understand the concept of “fit” between strategy, structure, and environment. Nevertheless, the concept of fit was fundamentally important from the beginning of the Value of Project Management project. In this article, we compare the “fit” construct defined by Miles and Snow (1984) with our concerns with value direction (Thomas & Mullaly, 2008). A comparative analysis of these two constructs provides insights into how both dimensions improve overall organizational understanding. We demonstrate that while each of these dimensions independently provides useful information, it is their intersection that provides a means of interpreting not just current realities but appropriate future actions.     

高职教育的几点思考

本文是本人短短几年的教学实践活动的一些教学反思,主要结合2009年暑期高校教师岗前培训教育学和心理学的学习体会,对目前我院的高职学生的教育和学习状况的一些粗浅的思考和对当前教师职责的一些认识。他山之石可以攻玉,本文算是抛砖引玉吧。主旨是与各位交流,向大家学习。     

The structure of the IS discipline reconsidered: Implications and reflections from a community of practice perspective

The motivation of this paper is to advance the recent discussion about the identity of the Information Systems field with a social analysis of its community structures. It seeks to shed new light on the reasons why the field continues to debate its identity and to voice concerns about its recognition by other disciplines. For that purpose the paper adapts selected concepts from the community of practice literature for improving our understanding of the ways in which the IS research community differentiates itself into diverse constituencies, called communities of practice and knowing (CoP&K), and how these interact in the field’s complex processes of knowledge creation and dissemination. Our second purpose is to derive some tentative, actionable recommendations for the field from applying the concepts presented in the first part of the paper. The recommendations expand three fundamental ideas: (i) why a continuously updated history of the field could be an important contribution to support boundary spanning and identity formation; (ii) what the nature and role of fundamental criticism is for the IS research community and why it is necessary for the field’s future to pay more institutional attention to it; and (iii) how to improve understanding and communication within each paradigm constituency across a broad subset of different CoP&K through building a shared sense of collective historical accomplishments. The conclusions summarize the principal results which follow from our examination of the field’s community structures and insist that the CoP&K perspective concomitantly helps to better appreciate the underlying conditions from where the current IS disciplinary challenges have arisen; it also helps to suggest new priorities and possible strategies for dealing with these challenges.     

A Temporal Approach to Retrenchment and Successful Turnaround in Declining Firms

This study extends current understanding of the retrenchment–turnaround relationship in declining firms by introducing a temporal approach and arguing that the effectiveness of retrenchment as a strategy is contingent on its adoption early in turnaround attempts. Drawing from the two‐stage turnaround model and insights from the literature on downward spirals in organizations, we develop and test a theoretical model that explains how temporal considerations in retrenchment influence the likelihood of successful turnaround. Using a matched pair sample of 96 US firms, we find that declining firms that implement retrenchment actions early have a higher likelihood of successful turnaround. The findings also indicate that while two specific retrenchment actions, early divestments and early geographic market exits, significantly contribute to the likelihood of successful turnaround, early layoffs do not. Overall, the findings shed some light on the importance of timing strategic actions in organizational turnarounds. Implications for research and practice are discussed.