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1 – 9 of 9Linda M. Cloete, Retha Snyman and J.C. Cronjé
The appropriateness of utilising a training resource programme consisting of a mix of media and technologies for the training of cataloguing students is evaluated. The findings…
Abstract
The appropriateness of utilising a training resource programme consisting of a mix of media and technologies for the training of cataloguing students is evaluated. The findings from reported research and evaluation of the training resource programme made it possible to identify advantages and disadvantages of using such a programme. The results of the research enabled the researcher to derive guidelines for the design and development of a training resource programme consisting of a mix of media and technologies. The use of media and technologies, in a training research programme for cataloguing training, can be utilised in training cataloguing students in contact classes, distance education as well as in‐service training.
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Marian Cloete and Retha Snyman
Currently we are in the middle of the information age, suffering from information overload on the one hand and a lack of knowledge on the other. Enterprise portals (EPs) are seen…
Abstract
Currently we are in the middle of the information age, suffering from information overload on the one hand and a lack of knowledge on the other. Enterprise portals (EPs) are seen as the antidote to these problems by becoming more and more the ultimate knowledge management (KM) tool. The current hype about EPs is focused on their application as KM tools. Very little attention is given to other aspects of KM, namely the organisational, human and cultural aspects. The article will provide an overview of the technical and strategic relationship between EPs and KM and illustrate that EPs are only the technology component and should not be mistaken for the essence of KM. What is needed for successful KM in an organisation is not technology alone, but also a knowledge‐sharing culture, knowledge‐sharing policies, organisational processes, performance measurement and business strategies.
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Retha Snyman and Cornelius Johannes Kruger
The manner in which a business strategy was formulated ten or even as little as five years ago, no longer applies. This phenomenon can to a great extent be attributed to a shift…
Abstract
The manner in which a business strategy was formulated ten or even as little as five years ago, no longer applies. This phenomenon can to a great extent be attributed to a shift in the strategic importance of information and knowledge. The aim of this paper is to supply strategic thinkers with a holistic “bird’s eye view” of the interdependency between strategic management and strategic knowledge management. By analyzing the different perspectives with regard to strategy formulation from a business point of view, as well as a knowledge management perspective, a generic model incorporating knowledge management strategy formulation within business strategy formulation has been developed.
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Martie M. Squier and Retha Snyman
The article is a report of an investigation of the current state of knowledge management implementation in three South African financial organisations. Two data collection methods…
Abstract
The article is a report of an investigation of the current state of knowledge management implementation in three South African financial organisations. Two data collection methods were used, namely a questionnaire and face‐to‐face interviews with senior representatives of the organisations. Although some of the respondents felt that knowledge management is another fad, the majority of the respondents indicated that knowledge management is a major strategic imperative for staying competitive. They also regard their organisations as knowledge‐based businesses. Three‐quarters of the respondents reported that the most compelling reason for investing in knowledge management was increased value for customers. Although various barriers to knowledge management were identified, the results of the case studies indicated that knowledge management was seen as a new way to expose tacit knowledge, as well as a more effective way of creating and organising corporate knowledge.
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Hamilton Mphidi and Retha Snyman
The intranet has emerged as one of today's most effective tools for knowledge management. This article reports on the extent to which three South African academic libraries…
Abstract
The intranet has emerged as one of today's most effective tools for knowledge management. This article reports on the extent to which three South African academic libraries, selected by means of the purposive sampling method, utilise the intranet as a knowledge management tool. Based on the literature, knowledge management and an intranet are briefly defined. The advantages of the intranet as a knowledge management tool as well as the content of an intranet are discussed. The opinions about knowledge management and the utilisation of the intranet as a knowledge management tool in the three academic libraries are weighed up against the findings in the literature. It is clear that a strong awareness exists of the importance of knowledge management and the value of the intranet as a knowledge management tool. However, the potential of the intranet as a knowledge management tool is not utilised fully.
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Hazel van Rooi and Retha Snyman
The purpose of this paper is to report on the progress of research regarding the opportunities for librarians within the context of knowledge management.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report on the progress of research regarding the opportunities for librarians within the context of knowledge management.
Design/methodology/approach
A content analysis of 28 full‐length journal articles indexed by Library Literature in the past ten years was conducted.
Findings
Findings indicate that more researchers than practitioners are aware of knowledge management opportunities, utilised more literature reviews and based their findings on theory. In addition, an unexpected finding was that the majority of researchers communicated their findings in professional rather than scholarly journals. Practitioners should therefore give attention to studies conducted by researchers to become aware of opportunities they could not identify themselves.
Research limitations/implications
Only full‐length journal articles indexed by Library Literature were included. Thus the findings may have limitations in their generalisability.
Practical implications
Results of the study may assist in the improvement of teaching and research in library and information science. Additionally, librarians may become aware of the opportunities and acquire guidelines on how to attain the necessary requirements towards enhancing their role and ultimately boosting their image.
Originality/value
The study shows the progress of research regarding the knowledge management opportunities for librarians to researchers and practitioners interested in this field.
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Nicozaan Finestone and Retha Snyman
Knowledge management in South Africa is still a very new field of management and knowledge managers are experiencing difficulties with the added dimension of multiculturalism. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Knowledge management in South Africa is still a very new field of management and knowledge managers are experiencing difficulties with the added dimension of multiculturalism. The history of South Africa, along with its current focus on cultural equality, complicates the matter. This research seeks to look at the challenges facing knowledge managers in a multicultural South African corporate environment.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory study, using in‐depth interviewing and a focus group as information collection methods, was launched to explore South African knowledge‐management practices in a cross‐section of companies in the economy.
Findings
Results showed that companies were afraid to acknowledge cultural differences because of major cultural sensitivity and, as a result, corporate culture was seen as the great equaliser of cultural exchanges. Knowledge managers, along with top management's support, must rather create a cooperative knowledge‐sharing environment in which South Africa's diverse cultures can interact, learn from one another and innovate.
Research limitations/implications
Serves as a pilot study that aims to explore new territory. From this explorative research, a new and extensive study of the contributing factors should be conducted. This study does not proclaim to be representative of all companies, as only a cross‐section of the South African corporate market was targeted for participation.
Practical implications
Company management and knowledge workers will see the necessity of incorporating different approaches to knowledge‐management implementation to suit individual needs.
Originality/value
Very little research has been done on this subject from a South African corporate‐environment perspective. These researchers hope to make knowledge workers more sensitive to the influence of multiculturalism on potential implementation of a knowledge‐management strategy.
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Peter K.J. Tobin and Retha Snyman
The purpose of this paper is to report on research conducted into the use of stories and storytelling to share knowledge in a large mining company based in South Africa. The paper…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report on research conducted into the use of stories and storytelling to share knowledge in a large mining company based in South Africa. The paper shows how the use of oral methods combined with other media can be used to support a number of different objectives and yield a wide variety of benefits.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents the results of a case study which used a largely qualitative approach to gather data on a specific community of practice within the case study company.
Findings
The research identified an innovative approach being used to combine a number of approaches to sharing knowledge through the use of stories and storytelling, in particular graphical representation of the stories and the use of graphics in conjunction with oral storytelling methods.
Research limitations/implications
This research was conducted in only one company, in one country. Further research would be necessary to further test the effectiveness of the approaches identified in this case.
Practical implications
The innovative approach of combining media and methods for sharing knowledge through stories and storytelling represent an opportunity for other organisations to use similar techniques in their efforts to improve knowledge sharing.
Originality/value
This is the first time that a case study exploring the use of stories and storytelling in the South African mining industry has used empirical research findings to evaluate the use of stories and storytelling. Significant value may be gained by others seeking to understand how best to use stories and storytelling to share knowledge.
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The article is a report of an investigation of the business/practical world ’s perspective of the role and responsibilities of the information and knowledge manager and the…
Abstract
The article is a report of an investigation of the business/practical world ’s perspective of the role and responsibilities of the information and knowledge manager and the analysis of the findings against a theoretical/academic background. Information about employment opportunities and requirements for the position of information and knowledge managers was extracted from job advertisements,which appeared in the three weekly national newspapers with the highest circulation figures in South Africa. The findings revealed that employers seem to have a problem indefining the position and role of the information and knowledge manager in their organisations. It also indicated that organisations should be aware of the fact that what the communicate to the public via job advertisements can reflect on their knowledge of information and knowledge management.
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