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1 – 10 of over 1000Julie Labatut, Franck Aggeri, Jean‐Michel Astruc, Bernard Bibé and Nathalie Girard
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of instruments defined as artefacts, rules, models or norms, in the articulation between knowing‐in‐practice and knowledge, in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of instruments defined as artefacts, rules, models or norms, in the articulation between knowing‐in‐practice and knowledge, in learning processes.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper focuses on a distributed, knowledge‐intensive and instrumented activity at the core of any collective action: qualification. The particular case of breeding activities in the livestock sector has been studied, where collective practices of animal qualification for collective breeding have been studied. Qualitative data stemming from in‐depth interviews and observation of daily practices have been analysed, combining practice‐based approaches on knowing processes and science philosophers' theories on the use of instruments during action.
Findings
The study of instruments used in daily practices allows us to go beyond the dichotomy between opposite types of knowledge, i.e. scientific knowledge seen as a stock, and sensible knowledge seen as purely tacit and equated to non‐instrumented practices. Instruments are not merely mediators in learning processes; they also take an active part in shaping and activating knowledge and learning processes.
Research limitations/implications
Further research is needed on the designing of reflexive instrumentation, which takes knowing and knowledge articulation into account better.
Practical implications
Using instruments as a key concept to analyse knowing‐in‐practice processes has both methodological and managerial implications for identifying those instruments that favour learning processes.
Originality/value
This paper complements more classical practice‐based approaches by proposing a new perspective on instruments in learning processes, which is particularly relevant to the study of pluralistic organisations where power is diffuse.
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Shenmeng Xu, Xianwen Wang, Zeyuan Liu and Chunjuan Luan
– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the network structure of technology in and between different fields, as well as the evolution of their relations.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the network structure of technology in and between different fields, as well as the evolution of their relations.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the patent data in Derwent Innovation Index (DII) from 1991 to 2010, this paper analyzes the co-classification of Derwent Manual Code (DMC) of patents in all technology fields. Large-scaled co-classification matrices are employed to generate the DMC co-classification networks. In addition, analyses are pursued at different levels of aggregation in four five-year windows: 1991-1995, 1996-2000, 2001-2005 and 2006-2010. Using Girvan-Newman algorithm in the clustering process, the structure transformations over time are detected.
Findings
The paper identifies the key technological knowledge in certain fields and finds out how different technological fields are connected and integrated. What is more, the dynamic evolution between networks in different time periods reveals the trend of generic technology development in the macroscopic level.
Originality/value
The paper investigates a large quantity of data – all the patent data in DII from 1991 to 2010 in this paper. The paper applies Girvan-Newman algorithm in the co-classification analysis and uses co-classification networks to reveal technology network structures. Evolution coincident with the realistic technological shifts can be observed.
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Ulrich Herb and Matthias Müller
The purpose of this article is to describe the open access archiving of scientific primary and secondary literature on the institutional and the disciplinary repository of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to describe the open access archiving of scientific primary and secondary literature on the institutional and the disciplinary repository of the Saarland University and State Library. The challenges, opportunities and success factors of both repositories are compared and evaluated.
Design/methodology/approach
The article is based on the findings and experiences of eight years of open access archiving practice.
Findings
Basic requirements for success and acceptance are: quality control and standardisation that could be proved for example by an official certificate; and visibility and dissemination – researchers emphasize that their documents are indexed by the databases most common within their community. This applies especially to disciplinary repositories.
Originality/value
Universities should undoubtedly offer an institutional repository. Usually the university library runs this repository. The article lists some key points that should be considered when an organisation plans to start and run an institutional or disciplinary repository.
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This case study aims to investigate how locally additively manufactured functional parts can make African metrology institutes more sustainable and independent. These institutes…
Abstract
Purpose
This case study aims to investigate how locally additively manufactured functional parts can make African metrology institutes more sustainable and independent. These institutes provide calibration services, which links the measurement units to industrial and everyday measurements. This traceability is critical to overcome technical barriers to trade and industrialisation. Most African countries have such a designated institute that requires advanced scientific instrumentation. These instruments are custom-built for a specific application, hard to procure or sometimes obsolete. Servicing these instruments or obtaining spare parts are also difficult. The purpose aims to evaluate if three-dimensional (3D) printing can significantly improve this situation, by providing six institutes with a 3D printer and training.
Design/methodology/approach
Therefore, a 3D printer pilot project was launched, involving six African metrology institutes, with the aim of developing the basic manufacturing capabilities of these institutes so that they can produce functional parts. The project included training on both digital part modelling and 3D printer usage. This case study reviews the technology selection method, project risks, needs, challenges and results, with the aid of research questions.
Findings
The results of the project illustrate how additive manufacturing (AM) has started to enable metrology in Africa and how it can be expanded to the general scientific endeavour on the continent.
Social implications
The success of this project can be used to motivate the further adoption of AM in African National Metrology Institutes, as well as other scientific institutes.
Originality/value
The project is the first AM project of its kind for African National Metrology Institutes.
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A major restructuring program helped a developer and manufacturer of advanced scientific instrumentation to reduce its huge backlog of work, improve on‐time delivery and regain…
Abstract
A major restructuring program helped a developer and manufacturer of advanced scientific instrumentation to reduce its huge backlog of work, improve on‐time delivery and regain its place as a world leader in its field. Central to the restructuring at the UK’s 420‐employee Oxford Instruments Superconductivity (OIS), which specializes in designing and manufacturing superconducting magnets and cryogenic systems, was the recruitment of 85 new technical staff.
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Isabella Nocella, Roberto Linzalone, Salvatore Ammirato and Alberto Michele Felicetti
Large scale research infrastructures (LSRIs) are rising in the competitive and globalized research environment, since they offer to external researchers-users, inputs and services…
Abstract
Purpose
Large scale research infrastructures (LSRIs) are rising in the competitive and globalized research environment, since they offer to external researchers-users, inputs and services for cutting-edge, large scale researches. Such researches would not be possible with usual infrastructures and budgets of single universities and research institutions. However, despite the strategic relevance acknowledged to LSRI by the nascent literature and by national policymakers, there is a lack of understanding of configurations and key performances of a LSRI. This paper aims to bridge this gap by identifying key morphologies of LSRIs and analysing their performances.
Design/methodology/approach
The research is carried out adopting a mixed research methodology, merging a literature review with a survey conducted on a sample of 11 LSRIs; they provided the data set for the parametrization of a morphological matrix.
Findings
The research led to the identification of seven LSRIs morphologies, with different performance linked to their structure.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper originally proposes the data set needed to develop a morphological analysis of LSRIs.
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J. Zender, G. Schwehm and M. Wilke
Besides the technological challenge of flying a space probe for ten years before arriving at the final mission destination, one is confronted with a potential loss of knowledge…
Abstract
Purpose
Besides the technological challenge of flying a space probe for ten years before arriving at the final mission destination, one is confronted with a potential loss of knowledge during this period. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the general knowledge management applied for such a mission. It aims to give details for a new approach, the video approach, to capture expertise knowledge of engineers and scientists.
Design/methodology/approach
The video approach included the visit of all instrument teams for several days, executing interviews with engineers, technicians and scientists. During the interviews a table of content (/toc/) with attached keywords was generated. The final video was transferred into a computer‐readable form and connected with the table of content. The methodology that was used to prepare and execute the interviews, the final video material and the storage and structure of the table of content and keywords is presented.
Findings
The experimenter interviews and the follow‐up work are finished. The paper finds that feedback received so far is positive and some experimenter teams use the approach for internal work.
Research limitations/implications
The existing videos are not integrated into the existing standard office environment. Another technology step needs to integrate video capture, search and play into the existing, e.g. document processing, environment. The quality of the approach is difficult to estimate as the captured information might only be used in the years to come.
Practical implications
Proof of concept is given and lessons‐learned listed.
Originality/value
An new approach is documented giving technical implementation, setup, execution and approach details. Suitable as a reference paper for any organization with similar knowledge management requirements.
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Summarises the report of a Sensors Task Force which was formed as part of the UK Technology Foresight exercise. Examines the various markets for sensor technology, both globally…
Abstract
Summarises the report of a Sensors Task Force which was formed as part of the UK Technology Foresight exercise. Examines the various markets for sensor technology, both globally and in the UK. Details the opportunities and challenges, market pull factors, and the most promising technologies and application areas.
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