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21 – 30 of over 27000Louisa Ha, Raphael Nnajiofor Okigbo and Primus Igboaka
The purpose of this experimental study is to examine the effects of using broadband internet technology for creating and disseminating agricultural knowledge in Nigeria. A free…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this experimental study is to examine the effects of using broadband internet technology for creating and disseminating agricultural knowledge in Nigeria. A free broadband service Knowledge Center was established in the village of Ihiala with volunteer college students aiding the farmers in using the internet.
Design/methodology/approach
Pre‐ and post‐test interviews of a panel of female farmers were conducted before and after the establishment of a free broadband internet access service center and experimental web site. A survey of another 97 farmers in the village was conducted to examine awareness and perception of the Knowledge Center.
Findings
The data from the interviews show that farmers who visited the experimental web site evaluated the site positively as giving them relevant knowledge. Most importantly, the broadband service facility was unanimously rated by the users as a great place for socializing with and learning from other fellow farmers. They all encouraged their friends and relatives to use the center and said they would miss the center if it was discontinued.
Research limitation/implications
The limited funding can only examine the short‐term impact of the technology on the farmers. The demonstration of broadband internet's potential as an infrastructure in facilitating the creation and dissemination of knowledge among Nigerian farmers through this experiment can be deemed successful.
Practical implications
Customized information and socialization functions in a knowledge creation program are important to win the support of farmers.
Originality/value
This study is the first empirical study to examine the effects of technology on knowledge creation and dissemination based on a collaborative knowledge creation model.
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Michelle McLeod, David Roger Vaughan, Jonathan Edwards and Miguel Moital
The purpose of this paper is to examine the information flows, in terms of content and process, underpinning the sharing of knowledge by managers and owners. Such an examination…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the information flows, in terms of content and process, underpinning the sharing of knowledge by managers and owners. Such an examination reveals similarities and differences that will influence the generation and dissemination of knowledge used in tourism business operations and contribute to innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper examines information flows within the theoretical and methodological framework of social network analysis. The findings were derived from a quantitative study of tourism managers and owners of a tourism hub in South-West England.
Findings
The main finding was that network structure characteristics determine the flow of information within owners’ and managers’ social networks. The owners of smaller businesses received information from several sources and, therefore, had fewer structural constraints and reported larger structural holes. In comparison, the managers had more brokerage opportunities to disseminate the information within their social networks.
Research limitations/implications
This paper highlights knowledge sharing between tourism business managers and owners in an open network structure. First, an open network structure builds innovation through the provision of nonredundant information. This is determined through the effective size of structural holes and the dissemination of information through brokerage roles. Second, the knowledge capability of a destination is built up through the social networking of managers and owners. The generation and dissemination of knowledge in a tourism destination are facilitated by the social networking activities of managers and owners.
Practical implications
Managers and owners of tourism businesses require knowledge through information to assist with innovative business practices. The practical implication of this is that the social networks of managers and owners have different network characteristics, and that these differences result in consequences for the innovation of business practices. Another practical implication relates to the importance of managers in knowledge dissemination based on having several brokerage roles in the tourism destination.
Originality/value
These findings are important because an understanding of social networks and the flow of information is one of the keys to determining the influences on knowledge sharing within tourism destination knowledge networks of owners or managers and their potential contributions to innovation.
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T. Ramayah, Pedro Soto-Acosta, Khoo Kah Kheng and Imran Mahmud
Firms' knowledge-processing capabilities have a central role in achieving innovation performance and competitive advantage. Absorptive capacity capabilities and innovation are…
Abstract
Purpose
Firms' knowledge-processing capabilities have a central role in achieving innovation performance and competitive advantage. Absorptive capacity capabilities and innovation are viewed as essential for enterprise success. Absorptive capacity is deemed as a highly important organizational capability to recognize value and assimilate both external and internal knowledge in order to enhance firm innovation. The aim of this study is to determine if innovation performance can be improved through absorptive capacity (knowledge acquisition, dissemination and utilization), when it is supported by internal (firm experience) and external knowledge sources (R&D cooperation and contracted R&D).
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative methodology based on employing a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The proposed research model and its associated hypotheses are tested by using Partial Least Squares (PLS) structural equation modelling (SEM) on a data set of 248 manufacturing companies located in the Northern Region of Malaysia.
Findings
Results showed that firms' experience is significantly related to absorptive capacity, while for R&D cooperation and contracted R&D findings were mixed. In addition, absorptive capacity was found as a strong predictor of innovation performance.
Originality/value
One of the defining features of competition in many industries has been the extremely rapid pace of technological change, marked by a continuous stream of innovations. Manufacturing firms, therefore, face the challenge of nurturing existing knowledge and developing novel knowledge in order to create new business opportunities. This study makes valuable contributions with regard to understanding the behavioural of manufacturing firms towards process and product innovation.
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Consumers, be they individuals or companies, rely on professional advice supplied by surveyors. With specific commentary often required on individual local markets, it is…
Abstract
Consumers, be they individuals or companies, rely on professional advice supplied by surveyors. With specific commentary often required on individual local markets, it is imperative that we understand the limits to our knowledge and understanding of different areas. This paper examines the issues relating to the transportability and dissemination of knowledge. It considers how knowledge is disseminated, if local knowledge is transportable, and how these issues impact on practice.
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Beginning from the premise that organizations go through different stages of development and that different types of knowledge exist, this paper seeks to explore the extent to…
Abstract
Purpose
Beginning from the premise that organizations go through different stages of development and that different types of knowledge exist, this paper seeks to explore the extent to which organizations need to place greater emphasis on ensuring adequate and relevant access to knowledge, while protecting it from unwarranted dissemination.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a stage of development framework, a conceptual argument is presented. It is suggested that, while significant attention is paid to knowledge management in organizations, of even greater importance is the need to develop systems and structures to support access, while protecting it from unwarranted dissemination and possible loss of critical capabilities and competencies.
Findings
The paper suggests that there is no single knowledge structure that is appropriate. Instead, organizations must develop different knowledge structures depending on the stage of the organization's development and the type of knowledge under consideration. In so doing, all efforts must be made to facilitate access to knowledge by those who require it but also to recognize that systems must be employed to prevent unwarranted access. Such unwarranted access may erode competencies and capabilities critical to organizational success.
Originality/value
The ideas reinforce the need for organizations to better understand what knowledge they possess and the need to balance requirements for access and control.
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Francisco J. García‐Peñalvo, Carlos García de Figuerola and José A. Merlo
The purpose of this paper is to open the special issue of Online Information Review on open knowledge management in higher education. Its aim is to review the concept and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to open the special issue of Online Information Review on open knowledge management in higher education. Its aim is to review the concept and extension of the movement or philosophy of open knowledge in universities and higher education institutions.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach follows the reference model used by the University of Salamanca (Spain) to promote open knowledge in the institution through its Open Knowledge Office. This model comprises four areas: free software, open educational content and cultural dissemination, open science, and open innovation.
Findings
For each of the four areas mentioned above, milestones and the most significant projects are presented, showing how they are promoting publication and information transmission in an open environment, without restrictions and favouring knowledge dissemination in all fields.
Originality/value
Open knowledge is an approach which, although somewhat controversial, is growing relentlessly as cultural and scientific dissemination leave behind other interests or economic models. International organisations and governments are gradually embracing open knowledge as the way to share scientific advances with society and as an international cooperative way to assist development in third‐world countries.
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Compares the perceptions of both large organisations and small‐ to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) at a meta level in regard to knowledge management (KM) to improve overall…
Abstract
Compares the perceptions of both large organisations and small‐ to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) at a meta level in regard to knowledge management (KM) to improve overall understanding and synthesis of the philosophy and to develop sector‐specific learning in the SME sector. First, identifies and describes the key dimensions of KM using a socially constructed KM model. Second, uses a survey of large (> 250 employees) and SME (< 250 employees) organisations to investigate the perceptions of the KM dimensions. Third, reviews a series of qualitative social constructionist workshops, involving both large and SME organisations which were run to gain a deeper insight into the sectoral comparisons. The results indicate that KM is understanding and implementation is developing in the large organisation sector and knowledge is recognised as having both scientific and social elements. However, the SME sector was less advanced with a mechanistic approach to knowledge and a lack of investment in KM approaches and systems.
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Alain Yee-Loong Chong, Keng-Boon Ooi, Haijun Bao and Binshan Lin
The aim of this research paper is to evaluate the effect of knowledge management on the adoption of the e-business in the supply chain of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this research paper is to evaluate the effect of knowledge management on the adoption of the e-business in the supply chain of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
Questionnaires were distributed to 200 Malaysian SMEs with a response rate of 68 percent. Data were analyzed by employing multiple regression analysis.
Findings
The results showed that knowledge management processes such as knowledge acquisition and knowledge application are significant in affecting Malaysian SMEs' decision to adopt e-business in their supply chain. Knowledge dissemination was found not to be significant in affecting the adoption of e-business among Malaysian SMEs.
Practical implications
This study has addressed the previous lack of literature on the relationship between knowledge management processes and e-business adoption among Malaysian SMEs.
Originality/value
Although existing literature has shown a relationship between knowledge management processes and technology adoption, this study empirically verifies an adoption model based on knowledge management processes. SMEs can use this model to do a pre-test baseline measurement and reassessment of effect by any KM changes on e-business adoption periodically. Organizations planning to adopt e-business would also be able to apply strategies based on the findings from this research.
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Makhmoor Bashir and Rayees Farooq
The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the linkage between knowledge management, business model innovation and firm competence. The study attempts to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the linkage between knowledge management, business model innovation and firm competence. The study attempts to summarize a few important and essential issues which future research should address.
Design/methodology/approach
Researchers have conducted an extensive review of the literature covering 50 journals from various databases like Scopus, ProQuest and Emerald. A total of 88 articles from 1997 to 2018 on knowledge management and business model innovation were selected and analyzed.
Findings
The study found that the integration of knowledge management and business model innovation leads to a sustainable competitive advantage. The relationship between knowledge management, business model innovation and firm competence seems to be fragmented because of various meaning and conceptualizations. The study endeavors to examine the relationship between the dimensions (knowledge acquisition, knowledge conversion, knowledge dissemination, knowledge application and knowledge reuse) of knowledge management and business model innovation (value proposition, assets and capabilities, revenue and cost architecture and actors in business networks). The study highlights that chief knowledge officers have a vital role to play in enhancing knowledge management orientation of a company so that knowledge regarding new ways of value creation and value capture is heard within an organization.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides a distribution schema of knowledge management and business model innovation articles based on different search criteria by highlighting different future research avenues. The study is believed to serve as a basis and be a valuable tool for researchers to understand the current and future scenarios about knowledge management and business model innovation. Researchers also acknowledge the limitations of this study with regard to exclusive search criteria, which might affect its generalizability.
Practical implications
The study argues that better knowledge sharing between departments could benefit value creation and therefore drive the organization toward business model innovation which would automatically boost firm competence. The study has made an attempt to highlight the role of Chief Knowledge Officer with regard to business model innovation. Therefore, the proposed model developed in this review will help the organization to better understand the role of knowledge management and business model innovation.
Originality/value
This is one of the first systematic reviews of knowledge management and business model innovation which provides a detailed understanding of the past and future research on the two.
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The purpose of this paper is to, first, investigate the cultural attributes of organizations that may have an effect on knowledge‐related activities. Second, to build a case based…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to, first, investigate the cultural attributes of organizations that may have an effect on knowledge‐related activities. Second, to build a case based on the literatures of knowledge management and learning which suggests that the phenomenon of cooperative learning may serve as an indicator of the existence of knowledge‐related activities such as knowledge creation and knowledge exchange. Finally, the paper seeks a better understanding of the linkages between these attributes and individual characteristics related to the development and transfer of knowledge throughout the enterprise, and ultimately, the organization's work products.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach of this study consists of two phases: first, development of a conceptual model based on the literature. Second, the hypothesized research model is presented and empirically tested by utilizing multiple regression analysis and simple regression analysis to investigate the climate of organizations, in order to understand the linkage between a set of organizational and individual characteristics and knowledge‐related activities found in cooperative learning groups and the resulting work outcomes. Data were collected from teams of information systems (IS) knowledge workers based at the information technology centers located in Jordanian universities. In total, 152 IS professionals from 15 system development teams across 12 universities participated in this study.
Findings
The survey instrument was shown to be both reliable and valid. Pertinent statistical analyses were then performed. The overall results from the empirical assessment were positive, thus reflecting the appropriateness of the proposed research model and hypotheses.
Practical implications
The findings of this study have implications for both academicians and managers who are interested in better understanding the nature of knowledge creation and knowledge exchange, as well as better understanding how one might prescriptively facilitate increased levels of knowledge creation and dissemination, organizational learning, and employee performance and satisfaction.
Originality/value
This study is probably one of the first to hypothesize a research model that integrates organizational climate, knowledge processes, cooperative learning and knowledge outcomes, then empirically investigate the relationships between these constructs.
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