From information, to data, to knowledge – Digital Scholarship Centers: An emerging transdisciplinary digital knowledge and research methods integrator in academic and research libraries

IFLA Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-14
Author(s):  
Zheng (John) Wang ◽  
Xuemao Wang

In this essay, the authors will discuss the similarities and differences of knowledge management and librarianship. They will propose and articulate the emerging role of academic and research libraries as the integrators of digital knowledge and research methods among academic enterprises, a role which they believe will transform librarians to knowledge professionals. The authors will try to answer or stimulate further discussion of multi-dimensional and provocative questions such as: What are the critical differences between knowledge management and library and information science? Will emerging functions or services, such as digital scholarship centers and research data management practices, allow academic and research libraries to more fully perform the functions of knowledge management? Will libraries’ emerging role in the knowledge creation ecosystem help define their new value proposition, from a collection-centric to knowledge-centric service model? How should libraries position library-based digital scholarship centers to be digital integrators for enterprise-wide digital learning, research, and knowledge creation?

Author(s):  
Aimee Denise Loya ◽  
Deborah Stansbury Sunday

When new employees join an organization, a great deal of information must be provided to support their success. While clarifying job duties, outlining operational procedures, and reviewing benefits details are priorities, integrating employees into the culture of the organization is perhaps the most critical, and most often overlooked, aspect of orientation programs. In the ever-expanding field of information science and knowledge management, it is imperative that organizations provide comprehensive orientation programs that not only welcome new employees but successfully integrate them to their long-term contributions to the organization and the profession. This chapter examines the importance of orientation programs and discusses how current orientation programs in several academic and research libraries are effectively focusing on organizational culture and employee integration.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gema García-Piqueres ◽  
Ana-M. Serrano-Bedia ◽  
Marta Pérez-Pérez

This study, by the application of a linear regression by ordinary least squares (OLS), aimed to explore the relationships between knowledge management practices (KMP) and innovation outcomes (product, process, organizational, and commercial), and how they can be moderated by two dimensions of the entrepreneurial orientation (proactiveness and risk taking). This empirical study used survey data from a sample of 288 Spanish family small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The results revealed a positive effect of all the KMPs studied for at least one of the innovation variables studied. Regarding the moderating effect of proactiveness and risk taking on the KMP-innovation outcomes relationship, proactiveness negatively moderated the relationship between knowledge creation and product/process innovation. Moreover, a positive moderating effect was found for the case of knowledge application and process innovation. With regard to risk taking, the evidence found was mixed, and confirmed for some KMPs and all the innovation measures, with the exception of process innovation. The only positive moderating effect found was for knowledge storage and product innovation, whereas, contrary to expected, a negative moderating effect was found for knowledge creation, transfer, and application practices and commercial, product, and organizational innovations, respectively.


Mousaion ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aderonke Olaitan Adesina ◽  
Dennis N. Ocholla

The purpose of this study was to review the socialisation, externalisation, combination and internalisation (SECI) model of knowledge management (KM), and to explore the trends of its use, challenges, and best practices in the model’s application in KM practice in the period from 1995 to 2018. Using the methodology known as the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA), we sought to do the following: establish whether the SECI model was more widely accepted than other KM models; examine specific demographic details of research studies on the SECI model; investigate the weaknesses of the model in practice; and generate a compendium of the use of the model in respect of the period we reviewed. Four databases were explored to search for open access, peer-reviewed, empirical journal articles. The study found that the SECI model continued to be widely accepted and used in spite of criticism levelled at it. Weaknesses that we noted in our review included the limitations of certain modes of the model in some areas of application and the non-linearity of the model in other areas. The study found evidence of exponential growth in the SECI model’s usage in the period reviewed. Also noted was the wide application of the model in knowledge creation studies in Africa. The study suggested that organisations could employ the model for their knowledge creation activities, but with the support of factors that enabled knowledge sharing. The model’s socialisation mode stood out as a mode of high impact, implying that the management teams of organisations needed to pay a lot of attention to it for effective organisational KM. This study generated a compendium for the practical application of the SECI model.  


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (02) ◽  
pp. 1750015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khurshid Ahmad

This study explores the general perspectives of library and information science (LIS) professionals on knowledge management in the university libraries of Pakistan. The study specifically examines the perceptions, understandings, role and responsibilities of Pakistani LIS professionals toward knowledge management. A questionnaire was used as an instrument to evaluate the perceptions, understandings, role and responsibilities of LIS professionals toward knowledge management. The questionnaires were administered to subject librarians who were included in the sample at the universities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Generalising the findings of this study over the population of LIS community in Pakistan reveals that knowledge management is for the improvement of library services and productive purposes. Accordingly, the Pakistani LIS professionals use knowledge management practices for the improvement of their respective library service. The LIS community is also very familiar with the term “knowledge management”. It succeeded mainly to generalise that majority of the LIS professionals mentioned that they have used knowledge management in their libraries.


Author(s):  
Himasha Erandi ◽  
Vilani Sachitra

Purpose: Knowledge Management (KM) can be defined as capturing, distributing, and effectively using knowledge. Organizations become more knowledge intensive and they are hiring “minds” more than “hands”. The organization practice has shown that knowledge, when properly used and leveraged, could drive it to become more innovative and thus, more competitive. The investments on intangible resources and the creation of capabilities made by the SMEs are quite problematic. The main reason of conducting this study is to examine the effects of Knowledge Management Practices (KMP) to gain competitive advantage (CA) of SMEs in Sri Lanka. Methods: Explanatory research approach was utilized followed with quantitative research method. Knowledge Creation, Knowledge Validation, Knowledge Presentation, Knowledge Distribution and Knowledge Application were considered as Knowledge Management Practices. The study was conducted with 32 SMEs in Colombo District.  Findings: According to the overall assessment of Knowledge Management Practices in SMEs, 12.5 percent of respondents were never heard about Knowledge Management while 6.3 percent were thinking that it is just a management activity that organizations are already engaging with. Further, 34.4 percent opined that Knowledge Management is a strategic part of the business while 15.6 percent stated Knowledge Management is not existence at their organizations. Fortunately, 40.6 percent believed that Knowledge Management Practices could be beneficial for the organizations. Correlation analysis result indicated moderate positive correlation among knowledge creation, validation, presentation, distribution, application and competitive advantage of SMEs. Regression analysis results revealed that of knowledge distribution was the only significant determinant of competitive advantage of SMEs.   Research Implications:  The findings could be beneficial to SMEs to share and manage tacit and explicit knowledge and information effectively within their entity to achieve competitive advantage. Organizational learning will help them to enhance their decision-making process more effectively. The smooth and accelerate access to information and knowledge and manages to engage in work will be bonuses of having a good Knowledge Management Practices in the society. Limitations: The study was conducted based on the sample of SMEs in Colombo District, as in Colombo area population is relatively high and it is the business hub of Sri Lanka. Generalizability of the findings might be restricted.


Author(s):  
Hsiu-Mei Huang ◽  
Shu-Sheng Liaw

Abstract: In today’s competitive global economy characterized by knowledge acquisition, the concept of knowledge management has become increasingly prevalent in academic and business practices. Knowledge creation is an important factor and remains a source of competitive advantage over knowledge management. Information technology facilitates knowledge management practices by disseminating knowledge and making codified knowledge retrievable. Thus, this paper proposes a framework of knowledge creation in online learning environments. In addition, the features and issues of knowledge creation in these environments are discussed.


Author(s):  
Grace Syontheke Mburia ◽  
Shadrack Bett

Public infrastructure projects have taken a moderate pace since freedom. The records from the Kenya government 2014 on vision 2030 towards an internationally serious and prosperous Kenya demonstrate that the moderate pace in execution of open foundation ventures has prompted unsatisfactory street systems; under normalized open pleasantries; non network of the national matrix line to mechanical expected regions; inadequate relief measures in agrarian territories; and ruined motorization of the once serious enterprises that are going under. A major problem facing county governments is how to maximize on knowledge management in project management. The main objective of this study is to determine the effect of knowledge management practices on project performance in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The study sets out to determine the effect of knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, knowledge acquisition and knowledge storage on project performance in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The study was anchored on Knowledge-Based View Theory the Resource-Based Theory and the Organization Learning Theory. The study adopted cross sectional, explanatory and descriptive research designs targeting 120 management staff and employees of Tharaka Nithi County. A census study of all the targeted staff was carried out. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaire. The questionnaires were piloted with 12 staff from the neighboring Embu County to determine their return rate. The study used multiple regression analysis, frequencies, bar graphs, means and standard deviation measures. The study established that knowledge sharing influence project performance in Tharaka Nithi County. The study found that knowledge acquisition influences project performance in Tharaka Nithi County to a great extent. The study found that knowledge acquisition influences project performance in Tharaka Nithi County to a great. The study concludes that knowledge creation has a positive and significant influence on project performance in Tharaka Nithi County.The study will be used by project management team in other counties as it will help in formulation of proper knowledge management practices that promote effective project delivery.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 426-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piera Centobelli ◽  
Roberto Cerchione ◽  
Emilio Esposito

Purpose This paper aims to propose a taxonomic scheme of knowledge management systems (KMSs) and a set of technologies and managerial practices supporting supply firms in knowledge management processes. Design/methodology/approach Based on a field analysis involving a sample of suppliers operating in high-tech manufacturing and service industries, this paper investigates the use of KMSs in the sample investigated. Findings The paper shows that suppliers are generally reluctant to use updated and innovative KMSs replacing traditional ones. This gap confirms that suppliers have difficulties in facing rapid technological changes. The field analysis also points out that suppliers investigated perceive knowledge management mainly as an issue of knowledge transfer and knowledge storage while appear to be neglected the phase of knowledge creation. Originality/value Moreover, the paper highlights a misalignment between the intensity of use of knowledge management practices that support the phase of knowledge creation and knowledge management tools that should support such practices.


Author(s):  
Shahnawaz Muhammed ◽  
William J. Doll ◽  
Xiaodong Deng

Organizational level studies of knowledge management have been hampered by the lack of measures of individual level knowledge management practices and outcomes that can be used as success criteria to determine whether, or to what degree, specific organizational knowledge management practices enhance individual knowledge creation, sharing, and application at the individual level. This paper explores how the knowledge management practices of individuals are related to the task knowledge they use to complete their work processes. The measures presented can be used as one way to evaluate the success of organizational knowledge management practices. Specifically, the paper explores the individual practices of knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, and knowledge application and how these practices are related to the task knowledge (conceptual, contextual, and operational knowledge) of individuals. A model of the relationships among knowledge management practices and task knowledge components is proposed and tested. Structural equation modeling is used. Results suggest that engaging in knowledge creation enhances an individual’s task knowledge through the practices of sharing and applying knowledge. Knowledge sharing and application enhance operational knowledge indirectly through changes in conceptual and contextual knowledge.


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