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Article
Publication date: 1 February 2005

Ganesh Bhatt, Jatinder N.D. Gupta and Fred Kitchens

Aims to explore the relationships between groupware use and the knowledge management process.

3078

Abstract

Purpose

Aims to explore the relationships between groupware use and the knowledge management process.

Design/methodology/approach

The activities comprising the knowledge management process are conceptualized as: knowledge creation, knowledge maintenance, knowledge distribution, and knowledge review and revision. The data for this exploratory study were gathered through a telephone survey of managers at Fortune 1000 firm divisions. Based on the prior literature, it was expected that use of certain types of groupware and certain aspects of the knowledge management process would be significantly associated with each other.

Findings

The results of this exploratory study show that the groupware tools which enhance or support traditional aural media were significantly associated with most of the knowledge management processes we identified. However, e‐mail is the sole groupware tool that is significantly associated with knowledge distribution.

Originality/value

As an exploratory study, this research highlights some interesting trends in the knowledge management process, and suggests multiple lines of future research.

Details

Journal of Enterprise Information Management, vol. 18 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0398

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2003

Stefan Smolnik and Ingo Erdmann

Many of today's organizations already have a strong integration of groupware systems within their IT‐infrastructure. The shared databases of these groupware systems form…

1159

Abstract

Many of today's organizations already have a strong integration of groupware systems within their IT‐infrastructure. The shared databases of these groupware systems form organizational memories, which comprise the complete knowledge of an organization collected over the time of its existence. One key problem is how to find relevant knowledge or information in continuously growing and distributed organizational memories. In many cases, the basic functionalities and mechanisms of groupware systems are not sufficient to support users in finding required knowledge or information. Topic maps provide strong paradigms and concepts for the semantic structuring of link networks and therefore, they are a considerable solution for organizing and navigating large and, continuously growing organizational memories. The K‐Discovery project suggests applying topic maps to groupware systems to address the mentioned challenges. Thus, the K‐Discovery project introduces a conceptual framework, an architecture, and an implementation approach to create knowledge structures by generating topic maps from organizational memories and offers navigation tools to exploit the created structures.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 9 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1999

David C. Yen, H. Joseph Wen, Binshan Lin and David C. Chou

The term groupware is widely used but not clearly defined. Owing to ongoing rapid developments, a consistent definition of the term has proved elusive. However, there is a good…

2222

Abstract

The term groupware is widely used but not clearly defined. Owing to ongoing rapid developments, a consistent definition of the term has proved elusive. However, there is a good reason to view groupware as a technology that addresses the vast areas of collaboration, human‐computer interaction, and human‐human interaction through digital media to bring substantial improvement and transformation to organizations. This paper analyzes the definitions, implementation, and management of groupware. The focus is on the strategic considerations rather than technical solutions. Factors that contribute to the future development of groupware are also discussed.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 99 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 1999

Karin Olesen and Michael D. Myers

Discusses the use of information technology to facilitate communication and collaboration. In this action research project a groupware product called Lotus NotesTM was implemented…

6500

Abstract

Discusses the use of information technology to facilitate communication and collaboration. In this action research project a groupware product called Lotus NotesTM was implemented to facilitate communication and collaboration amongst the senior management team. Although there was a real need for change, and the project received strong support from senior management on the basis that it would enable radical changes in coordination within the workgroup, these radical changes did not occur. The authors analyse the reasons for failure, and suggest that the project failed because of institutional forces which inhibited dramatic changes in work habits.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 12 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 1995

Nereu F. Kock and Robert J. McQueen

Much of the evaluative research on groupware in organizations sofar has been preoccupied with the role of groupware as a new interactionmedium to replace or extend face‐to‐face…

1502

Abstract

Much of the evaluative research on groupware in organizations so far has been preoccupied with the role of groupware as a new interaction medium to replace or extend face‐to‐face communication in groups. It has focused on gains and losses from a group interaction point of view, typically disregarding the impact of other functions such as group access, and contribution to information concerning the organization. Attempts to bridge this gap with an action research into the effects of the introduction of an asynchronous groupware system to support business process improvement groups in a service company based in Brazil. The research suggests that improvements in business redesign efficiency and effectiveness can be attained not only from asynchronous groupware support to group communication, but also from public sharing of historical information about previous business process improvement efforts, and by providing a repository of information about business processes which could be candidates for improvement. Concludes with the proposal of an explanatory model, describing the relationship between the introduction of technology, its integration with a business process improvement meta‐process, and its effects on the efficiency and effectiveness of that meta‐process.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 8 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2005

Schahram Dustdar

In the last decade, bureaucratic organizational hierarchies have been increasingly replaced with flatter organizational forms, bringing together people from different disciplines…

1646

Abstract

Purpose

In the last decade, bureaucratic organizational hierarchies have been increasingly replaced with flatter organizational forms, bringing together people from different disciplines to form project teams within and between organizations. Distributed project teams often are self‐configuring networks of mobile and “fixed” people, devices, and applications. They are the natural next step in the evolution of distributed computing, after client‐server, web‐based, and peer‐to‐peer computing. Seeks to show that a newly emerging requirement is to facilitate not just mobility of content (i.e. to support a multitude of devices and connectivity modes) to project members, but also mobility of context (i.e. to provide traceable and continuous support of dynamic relationships between people, artifacts, and business processes).

Design/methodology/approach

The contribution of this paper is to present the design goals, the architecture, and implementation of a system aiming at supporting internet‐enabled workflow and groupware for project teams, enabling traceable and continuous support of associations (relationships) between people, artifacts, and business processes.

Findings

The findings indicate that building internet‐enabled workflow and groupware systems is valuable for virtual teamwork, since they provide a foundation for context‐aware and process‐aware information systems.

Originality/value

This article outlines some foundations of process‐aware collaborative work. Provides an analysis of current workflow and groupware shortcomings in respect of virtual teamwork, outlines the design goals, architecture and an implementation of a system aiming at supporting virtual teams on the internet.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 11 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 1996

Anne Williams

Notes that the phenomenon of office automation (OA) is continually evolving and that groupworking and computer‐supported co‐operative working, supported by groupware products such…

1033

Abstract

Notes that the phenomenon of office automation (OA) is continually evolving and that groupworking and computer‐supported co‐operative working, supported by groupware products such as Lotus Notes, are seen as the next phase in the OA saga. Explores the concept of the “office” in today’s changing business and technological environment, and further evaluates whether groupware can lead to truly flexible and co‐operative working by identifying some of the philosophical and managerial issues this topic raises.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 96 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2003

Gail Corbitt and Ben Martz

The use of teams and groups in the workplace continues to grow and trust and commitment to decisions remain desirable characteristics for team members. Group Support Software…

1536

Abstract

The use of teams and groups in the workplace continues to grow and trust and commitment to decisions remain desirable characteristics for team members. Group Support Software (GSS) or groupware software has been developed to automate the basic activities of group meetings and thus, help groups. This study combines the two sets of interests; specifically, it looks at the changes in trust and commitment to decisions exhibited by five teams using groupware. The data set was collected from five real‐world (federal, state and commercial) groups as they undertook their actual (Business Process Re‐engineering (BPR) and Joint Application Development (JAD)) projects using groupware. Using a case‐based research methodology, the data set was collected over a series of 41 meetings and organized around group characteristics such as commitment, trust, openness to express ideas, etc. The analysis hints at positive changes in desirable group characteristics over time when using GSS or groupware. However, the groupware characteristic of “more open expression of ideas” does not seem to be the source of the changes. Finally, based upon these findings, the authors suggest that GSS can impact the social components of a group as well as the production components but the cause of the impact resides deeper than a simple idea of providing an environment for more open expression of ideas.

Details

Team Performance Management: An International Journal, vol. 9 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1352-7592

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 November 1994

Bryan Smith and Bob Dodds

Looks back at developments in the European business environment over thelast ten years. Details some of the rapid changes, e.g. in use ofelectronic information systems. Also…

692

Abstract

Looks back at developments in the European business environment over the last ten years. Details some of the rapid changes, e.g. in use of electronic information systems. Also describes the introduction of advanced groupware systems and the differences in application across national boundaries. Considers the issues of human relationships and cultural change which underlie many of these differences.

Details

Industrial and Commercial Training, vol. 26 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0019-7858

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 1992

David Kolbus

Looks at how, at a time when efficiency is at an all time premiumand operational complexity is expanding exponentially, many companiesare coming to recognise that the key to…

Abstract

Looks at how, at a time when efficiency is at an all time premium and operational complexity is expanding exponentially, many companies are coming to recognise that the key to success is no longer simply to encourage exceptional individual performance but instead to assure effective co‐ordination both within an organization and among organizations. Discusses software designs that are beginning to build systems that facilitate and support group collaboration.

Details

Work Study, vol. 41 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0043-8022

Keywords

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