Investigating Knowledge Management practices in software development organisations – An Australian experience

This study, using both quantitative and qualitative methods, investigates current practice of Knowledge Management (KM) in Software Engineering (SE) processes in two Australian companies on the basis that they both claimed to apply KM practices in their software development work. It also describes the KM activities and KM process used in SE practice, and examines the enablers of KM process for SE in terms of leadership, technology, culture, process and measurement.One of the main findings showed that software developers believe in the usefulness of knowledge sharing; however, their ability to utilise some of the KM systems was limited. The most commonly used systems included personal networks, informal networks, groupware and third-party knowledge. There is a need to formalise knowledge sharing of practices, while also supporting informal and ad-hoc knowledge sharing. While KM was considered to be important, the tools, techniques and methodologies currently employed for software development were inadequate to address effective management of knowledge in these organisations. In both organisations, a uniform model of the KM process did not exist. Among the four KM enablers, leadership was considered to be the most significant as top-down KM strategies were seemingly being pursued by management. Technology was also considered to be an obvious mechanism for KM, despite some of their current KM systems either being unsuitable or inaccessible. In addition, the crucial role that personal networks played in accessing tacit and implicit knowledge was seen as a key reason to foster a culture that encourages participants to share their knowledge with others.     

Mapping knowledge sharing traits to business strategy in knowledge based organisation

Globalization has resulted in increasing use of knowledge as competitive weapon in many organizations nowadays. In this context, an increasing number of organizations are focusing on communities of practice (CoPs) orientated knowledge management (KM) studies and the links between KM and organizational business strategy. This link is an important determinant of organizational performance. While KM business strategy (linked to organization business strategy) is important, knowledge sharing behavior of knowledge workers is a critical enabler of effective knowledge management and organizational performance. That is, organizations invest resources in creating CoPs for competitive advantage and lack of suitable candidates will result in loss of momentum and less knowledge sharing in CoPs and there by underutilizing the resources. The aim of this research is to identify the personality traits to portrait the features of knowledge workers suitable for CoPs oriented KM and business strategy. Four KM business strategies have been established in this paper in light of organization performance orientation and KM implementation mode and traits of knowledge workers are mapped to different business strategies. The most significant personality traits of knowledge sharing behavior have been analyzed to determine the suitable traits for different type business strategies. Thus contributions of this paper include (a) defining a model which links four business strategies with CoPs orientated KM model and knowledge sharing behavior model (based on revised Five Factor Model); (b) mapping of personality traits of knowledge workers with four business strategies; (c) providing a guideline to knowledge based organizations for seamless integration of business strategy with CoPs oriented KM and compatible knowledge workers and d) more effective utilization of organizational resources to facilitate improvement in organizational performance.     

Developing strategies for overcoming barriers to knowledge sharing based on conversational knowledge management: A case study of a financial company

Knowledge management involves the systematic management of vital knowledge resources and the associated processes of creating, gathering, organizing, diffusion, utilizing and exploiting information. A key challenge emerging for organizations is how to encourage knowledge sharing within an organization because knowledge is an organization’s intellectual capital and is of increasing importance in gaining a competitive business advantage. Isolated initiatives for promoting knowledge sharing and team collaboration without taking into consideration the limitations and constraints of knowledge sharing can halt any further development in the KM culture of an operation. This article investigates knowledge sharing bottlenecks and proposes the use of conversational knowledge sharing as an effective instrument for knowledge sharing. And to develop strategies, this paper determines the causes and effects of knowledge barriers and proposes solutions by using HOQ. The article introduces a financial company case study as a best practice example of conversational knowledge sharing. Then, the paper analyzes the case study to provide evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

基于本体论的动态参与型知识管理系统

知识管理(KM)系统是一种综合利用信息技术以实现知识的俘获、存储和重用的技术。提出了一个动态参与型知识管理系统体系结构，旨在以较强的动态参与性推动知识管理的实用化。该体系体系结构主要从三维即知识的共享型建立、知识的开放性集成和知识的随注意连接，系统化地研究了实现KM的理论和方法，并在此基础上给出了一个这种体系的实例——ICSRP系统。     

Retracted: Critical Human Factor Evaluation of Knowledge Sharing Intention in Taiwanese Enterprises

Knowledge management (KM) is important in the Taiwan business world. Only 0.1% of SMEs, however, have been guided by the Small and Medium Enterprise Administration (SMEA) to introduce knowledge management from 1993 through 2008. The population of KM‐implementing SMEs is low. The climate of knowledge sharing has been recognized as the critical factor to successful KM. According to the research results obtained in this study, relation‐based motivation is positively related to one's intention to share knowledge. Individual workers can have increased relation‐based motivation to become leaders of SMEs building the culture of interpersonal trust and offering group‐based reward mechanisms in an organization. This research can help business managers to identify the motivational elements that can encourage investment and propose pragmatic suggestions for introducing initiatives to reinvigorate the number of SMEs implementing KM in Taiwan. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Recommender systems for personal knowledge management in collaborative environments

Personal knowledge management (PKM) is different from the traditional centralized knowledge management (KM) modes. The PKM is suitable for distributed collaborative KM environments. This paper makes an explorative study on the PKM, and analyzes various forms of personal knowledge resources in the product development process. Then a model of recommender systems for PKM is proposed for knowledge sharing among members in the collaborative environment. The key function of the PKM recommender systems is to supply potentially useful personal knowledge resources from the sites where these knowledge resources are created to the sites where the members may need the knowledge. The PKM is in a mode of distributed control rather than a mode of centralized control, which is widely used by traditional KM methods and tools. This study paves a way for developing an advanced mode of KM platforms for PKM sharing in collaborative environments.     

Understanding moderating effects of collectivist cultural orientation on the knowledge sharing attitude by email

This paper investigates the moderating effects of collectivist cultural orientation introduced in the information systems and knowledge management (KM) literature to fully understand the important factors and relationships in knowledge sharing in the online learning environment. Social norms and collectivist cultural orientation are hypothesized as direct and moderating factors to the system users’ (or learners’) attitude toward sharing knowledge by email. An empirical test of large student samples (n = 566) with multiple cultural backgrounds in the most diverse university was implemented by PLS. The test confirmed that collectivist cultural orientation moderates the effects of social norms on the attitude toward sharing knowledge by email. Furthermore, the test results show that group norms are stronger than the instructor or classmate norms. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings for online learning and KM are discussed in the paper.     

SimKnowledge—Analyzing impact of knowledge management measures on team organizations with multi agent-based simulation

Even though there is abundant literature on successful cases of organizations applying knowledge management (KM) measures, many KM initiatives have failed to achieve their knowledge and business goals. In order to foster decisions about the design of such initiatives, information is required on success factors and barriers when selecting KM measures. Multi agent-based simulation (MABS) is suggested as instrument to investigate potential effects of KM measures on dependent variables such as sharing of knowledge in organizations or business performance. For such a simulation, the concept of knowledge sharing, influencing factors and their impact on business and knowledge goals are modeled based on an extensive multi-disciplinary literature survey. An extensive domain model is operationalized in a simulation model which is then further simplified and implemented in a MABS tool used for a series of experiments contrasting results with/without KM measures, specifically skill and experience management. Skill management is found highly sensitive with respect to conditions of application and has no significant impact on knowledge or business goals. Experience management positively impacts knowledge and business goals. Personal documentation leads to specialist, project debriefings to generalist knowledge workers. Finally, the paper discusses the simulation’s limitations and further areas of application.     

Communities of practice model driven knowledge management in multinational knowledge based enterprises

Existing research in intelligent manufacturing literature has highlighted the need for linking organizational culture, business strategy with Knowledge Management (KM) as well as measuring the performance of knowledge management systems for best practice. Communities of Practice (CoPs) are accepted as best practice and distinct from organizational structures while implementing KM. Besides, employing CoPs as an approach for linking business strategies with KM design, CoPs can be the prevailing way for group learning and innovation building within firms. As firms grow in size, scope, and complexity, CoPs members who regularly engage in sharing and learning based on common interests, could improve organizational performance. The purpose of this work is to design a CoPs model for KM which addresses issues related to organization culture, business strategy and performance measurement reported in earlier publications in intelligent manufacturing. A CoPs evaluation hierarchy for KM is developed. It includes four dimensions and sixteen criteria for studying and evaluating organizational culture and business strategy. Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach has been employed to quantitatively analyze various criteria priorities and business strategy preferences of CoPs. In order to validate the CoPs model, a case study has been undertaken in two multinational knowledge based organizations and the results are compared to differentiate strategic preferences. The contributions of this paper include: a) Definition of a CoPs model based on sixteen criteria which helps to understand an organization’s KM culture or CoPs; b) Employing these criteria to link an organization‘s KM culture with four business strategies; c) Develop a quantitative method for measuring KM performance in the context of four business strategies, and d) Validating the CoPs model through its application in two multinationals in Taiwan and Japan. The CoPs model thus can be used by organizations to understand their KM culture, allocate resources towards the chosen business strategy and measure KM performance in the context of the chosen business strategy.     

一个面向软件过程的知识挖掘与管理系统

软件过程的知识密集性特征要求组织人员的密切协作、交流，并能够有效地重用组织的实践经验。数据挖掘技术能够从大规模数据中发现有意义的知识，能够为知识管理提供有益的支持，从而得到更好的知识共享和重用效果。在对软件过程进行分析的基础上，提出了协同知识管理模型。介绍了一个集成的面向软件过程的知识挖掘与管理系统iKnow。对iKnow的知识表示、知识挖掘、知识服务和个性化知识检索进行了论述。系统使软件组织的实践经验成为可视、可控和可重用的知识资源。     

Information technology to support informal knowledge sharing

The knowledge management (KM) literature largely focuses on the explicit and formal representation of knowledge in computer‐based KM systems. Informal KM practices are widespread, but less is known about them. This paper aims to redress this imbalance by exploring the use of interactive information technology (IT) applications for informal knowledge sharing (KS). We develop theoretical propositions to highlight the key facets of informal KS processes, and illustrate them through an interpretive case‐study analysis of KS in two public relations firms in China. We then discuss the implications of our findings for practice in both China and beyond. Finally, we recommend a research agenda to further investigate informal, relationship‐based knowledge sharing.     

基于Multi-Agent的虚拟组织知识管理研究

引入Multi-Agent平台于虚拟组织知识管理体系,研究提出了一种具有战略柔性的虚拟组织知识管理概念模型,强调对知识管理目标、组织、方法、过程、信息和文化等六要素的有机融合;并且,利用两状态Markov链描述了各A-gent之间的动态协作机制。     

Knowledge management for occupational safety,health, and ergonomics

The critical challenge for occupational safety, health, and ergonomics (OSHE) in contemporary industry is management of the existing individual (personal) knowledge, structural knowledge (i.e., knowledge codified into manuals, reports, databases, and data warehouses), and organizational knowledge (activity of learning within the organization) in the vast domain of practical applications. Therefore, the principles and tools of knowledge management (KM) should be used to facilitate the management of OSHE. The authors discuss the requirements for effective knowledge management, review the existing models of KM and their structures, and introduce a model for KM in OSHE. The proposed model of KM for OSHE is based on a strategy that establishes knowledge as the central resource to achieve the goals of OSHE management. The model includes the systems of organizational knowledge, organizational learning (knowledge creation, distribution, elaboration, and consolidation), development of knowledge workers, KM processes (review, conceptualization, reflection, and acting), and relevant information‐technologies. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 16: 309–319, 2006.     

Retracted: Human factors of knowledge sharing intention among taiwanese enterprises: a preliminary study

Knowledge management (KM) is very important in the business world of today. The Taiwanese government has recognized the importance of KM in helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to innovate through both their internal core competencies and external resources. They have the KM promotion project to combine resources from the information service industry and the academic sector in order to assist SMEs, and have been attempting to introduce the process of KM since 1993. The motivation, opportunity, and ability (MOA) framework has been applied to study how this MOA availability drives knowledge sharing in large enterprises. This study investigates the factors or barriers that influence the intention of knowledge sharing in Taiwanese SMEs through the MOA framework. It should help business managers identify the motivational elements that can encourage investment in it, and then propose pragmatic suggestions for introducing KM initiatives in order to reinvigorate the numbers of KM‐implementing SMEs in Taiwan. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

基于Wiki的企业知识管理应用方法研究

Wiki是一种可供多人协同创作的超文本系统,最大的特点是开放性和共享性。它在建立企业知识系统、通过“心理契约”提高员工自主学习积极性、构建学习型组织、提供知识共享和协作平台等方面有着独特的优势。文章重新解构知识管理的过程,分析Wiki在知识管理中的作用,并通过对某知识型组织中心在企业知识管理方面的需求,构建针对该中心的Wiki管理体系,通过分析,探索Wiki在企业知识管理中的方法、优势以及需注意的问题。为Wiki在企业知识管理中的应用模式提供借鉴。     

Using e-portfolios to facilitate university students' knowledge management performance: E-portfolio vs. non-portfolio

The purpose of the present study was to use e-portfolios to enhance university students' knowledge management (KM) performance. Participants were 88 university students majoring in information technology. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted to examine the differences in KM performance between an experimental group (a total of 43 students learning with e-portfolio) and a control group (a total of 45 students learning without e-portfolio), and the covariate variable was students' grade of the last semester. The results revealed that the experimental group outperformed the control group in the performances of overall KM and five KM aspects (knowledge sharing, innovation, acquisition, application, and accumulation). This showed that e-portfolios significantly facilitated KM performance.     

Knowledge Management Models within Information Technology Projects

The purpose of this study is to address the use of knowledge management (KM) in project management (PM) to improve the success of IT projects in achieving organizational goals. The conceptual framework included the project knowledge management (PKM) model, which helped identify the knowledge sharing in IT software projects for a local insurance company in Baltimore, Maryland. Interview data were collected from 26 IT project stakeholders. The analysis revealed four themes of managing knowledge in the requirement process, code development process, testing process, and the helpdesk process for the success of the IT project. Each of the four processes used different KM repositories and face-to-face tools.     

What drives continued knowledge sharing? An investigation of knowledge-contribution and -seeking beliefs

Knowledge management (KM) research has yielded extensive explanations regarding the individual's motivation to share knowledge, each with different sets of factors. Yet the study of continued knowledge sharing is rare. There has been little research investigating this issue from contributing and seeking perspectives—the two distinct, but closely interrelated, facets of continued knowledge sharing. We propose that knowledge management system (KMS) users' beliefs are contextually differentiated, and thus a distinction between knowledge-contribution and knowledge-seeking behaviors and an adequate emphasis on their variance in terms of user belief is needed. By incorporating the knowledge-contribution and knowledge-seeking perspectives in a single study, we model and examine the differences among driving factors in two behavioral contexts, provide the conceptual comparisons and preliminary discussions, and thus advance our understanding of continued knowledge sharing via the KMS.     

J2EE平台上基于Web Services的数据集成研究

数据集成是共享分布的异构数据资源的核心问题.在分析常用数据集成技术的基础上,结合Web Services技术和组件技术,提出了基于Web Services和组件技术实现Mediated系统的数据集成方案.最后,以J2EE为平台给出了一种面向服务的低偶合的数据集成框架,中介器和包装器由EJB组件实现,由组件部署的Web服务为用户提供一个透明的统一的接口,实现异地异构数据资源的共享和整合.