bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Ethics of Knowledge Management
Authors: Land Frank , Amjad Urooj , Nolas Sevasti-Melissa
Published: February 2011

KM motivations and behaviour are intertwined with power relations and the self-interests of engaged actors, including researchers, and where during the design, implementation use and research into KM systems, dilemmas, sometimes explicit, but more often tacit, may affect behaviour. The public discussion around the relationship between business organizations and “social responsibility” is a relatively recent phenomenon. The discussion has been a useful one for reminding business organizations, and government at times, of their position, relationship, and responsibility to a social world beyond their corporate boundaries. In doing so the discussion introduces the concept of accountability which is helpful for thinking about the ethical dimensions relating to KM systems, processes and research. Furthermore, the article draws attention to the distinction between the subject matter of Knowledge Management and the much older topic, not specifically articulated within the IS discipline, of the Management of Knowledge. The latter is more concerned with the manipulation (and often distortion) of knowledge to obtain desired outcome (Land, Amjad & Nolas, 2004). The article draws from examples where the design, implementation, and use of KM systems and processes overlooked questions of accountability — what we have called the dark side of knowledge management (Land, Amjad & Nolas, 2005a, 2005b) and draws on examples from both business organizations and government. The first part of the article establishes why an ethics dimension is necessary in KM theory and practice and the second section identifies questions on how an ethics dimension could be integrated with current KM research and practice.
Discontinuity in Organizations
Authors: Ibrahim Rahinah , Nissen Mark
Published: February 2011

Tacit knowledge attenuates particularly quickly in organizations that experience discontinuous membership: the coming and going of organizational roles or positions during a workflow process. Because knowledge flows enable workflows, and workflows drive performance, theory suggests that dynamic knowledge—particularly tacit knowledge—is critical for competitive advantage. This research seeks to extend established organization theory, through integration of emerging knowledge-flow theory, to inform the design of discontinuous organizations. Toward this end, we build a computational model based upon ethnographic study of an affordable housing project that experienced severe discontinuous membership. Analysis of this model reveals problematic theoretical gaps, and provides insight into how scholarly understanding of knowledge flows can extend organization theory to address discontinuous organizations. This research contributes new knowledge for designing knowledge-based organizations in discontinuous contexts.
The Social Reality of Business Activity
Authors: Jackson Paul , Webster Ray
Published: February 2011

This article describes a contingent methodology developed for the elicitation of working knowledge from policy makers within an Australian government agency. The purpose of the knowledge elicitation was to create an inventory of the kinds of knowledge required to develop complex policies for natural resource management. This inventory was then to be used for investigating knowledge management solutions to address information loss, staff attrition and operational effectiveness. Therefore a methodology was developed to combine soft systems methodology, causal cognitive mapping, and brainstorming to provide a set of knowledge requirements. The methodology appears to offer an effective platform for making sense of nonroutine, yet rigorous knowledge work, identifying all forms of relevant knowledge and articulating challenges to managing that knowledge. We locate our discussion within the conceptual space of social constructivist ontology.
Multi-Organizational Networks
Authors: Priestley Jennifer Lewis , Samaddar Subhashish
Published: February 2011

Researchers have demonstrated that organizations operating within formal networks are more likely to experience knowledge transfer, and the associated benefits of knowledge transfer, than would organizations operating outside of a network. However, limited research attention has been given to how the established antecedents of knowledge transfer are affected by the different forms that multi-organizational networks can assume. Using two case studies, we develop six testable propositions regarding how three of the established antecedents of knowledge transfer —absorptive capacity, shared identity and causal ambiguity—would be affected by the different characteristics, which define multi-organizational network form. We discuss these propositions and raise issues of relevance for researchers and practitioners.
An Evaluation of Factors that Influence the Success of Knowledge Management Practices in U.S. Federal Agencies
Authors: Rhoads Elsa , O'Sullivan Kevin J. , Stankosky Michael
Published: February 2011

This research article investigates the status of knowledge management (KM) practices imple-mented across federal agencies of the U.S. government. It analyzes the extent to which this status is influenced by the size of the agency, whether or not the agency type is a cabinet-level department or independent agency, the longevity of KM practices implemented in the agency, whether or not the agency has adopted a written KM policy or strategy, and whether the primary responsibility for KM practices in the agency is directed by a chief knowledge officer (CKO) or KM unit versus other functional locations in the agency. The research also tests for possible KM practitioner bias, since the survey was directed to members of the Knowledge Management Working Group (KMWG) of the Federal Chief Information Officers (CIO) Council who are KM practitioners in federal agencies.
Interdepartmental Knowledge Transfer Success During Information Technology Projects
Authors: Laframboise Kevin , Croteau Anne-Marie , Beaudry Anne , Manovas Mantas
Published: February 2011

This article reports on a study that investigates the knowledge transfer between an information systems/technology (IS/IT) department and non-IT departments during IT projects. More specifi-cally, we look into the link between the knowledge management capabilities of the IT department and the effectiveness and efficiency of the knowledge transfer to a client department. Knowledge management (KM) capabilities are defined by Gold, Malhotra, and Segars (2001) as the combina-tion of knowledge infrastructure capabilities (structural, technical, and cultural) and knowledge processes capabilities (acquisition, conversion, application, and protection). Data collected through a Web-based survey result in 127 usable questionnaires completed by managers in large Canadian organizations. Data analysis performed using partial least squares (PLS) indicates that knowledge infrastructure capabilities are related to the knowledge transfer success, and more specifically to its effectiveness whereas knowledge processes capabilities are only related to the efficiency of such transfer. Implications of our results for research and practice are also discussed.
Towards an Integrated Model of Knowledge Sharing in Software Development
Authors: Kautz Karlheinz , Kjærgaard Annemette
Published: February 2011

This article adds to the discussion on knowledge management (KM) by focusing on the process of knowledge sharing as a vital part of KM. The article focuses on the relationship between knowledge, learning, communication, and participation in action, and the role of social inter-action and technical media in the knowledge sharing process. We develop an initial theoretical framework of knowledge sharing on the basis of a literature study. Drawing on an empirical study of knowledge sharing in a software development company, we discuss what supports and what hinders knowledge sharing in software development. Finally, we use this knowledge to improve the theoretical framework.
Technology Trends in Knowledge Management Tools
Authors: Balmisse Gilles , Meingan Denis , Passerini Katia
Published: February 2011

A large number of tools are available in the software industry to support different aspects of knowledge management (KM). Some comprehensive applications and vendors try to offer global solutions to KM needs; other tools are highly specialized. In this paper, state-of-the-art KM tools grouped by specific classification areas and functionalities are described. Trends and integration efforts are detailed with a focus on identifying current and future software and market evolution.
Impact of Chinese Culture Values on Knowledge Sharing Through Online Communities of Practice
Authors: Li Wei , Ardichvili Alexandre , Maurer Martin , Wentling Tim , Stuedemann Reed
Published: February 2011

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how national (Chinese) cultural factors influence knowledge sharing behavior in virtual communities of practice at a large U.S.-based multinational organization. The data in this study come from interviews with the company’s employees in China, and managers who are involved in managing knowledge-sharing initiatives. The study results suggest that overall the influence of the national culture could be less pronounced in online knowledge sharing than what the literature has suggested. Although Chinese employees’ tendency to draw sharp distinctions between in-groups and out-groups, as well as the modesty requirements were barriers to knowledge sharing online, the issue of saving face was less important than expected, and attention paid to power and hierarchy seemed to be less critical than what the literature indicated. A surprising finding was that in the initially assumed collectivistic Chinese culture, the high degree of competitiveness among employees and job security concerns seem to override the collectivistic tendencies and are the main reasons for knowledge hoarding. The reasons for unexpected findings could be associated with differences between face-to-face and online knowledge sharing environments, the influence of the company’s organizational culture, and the recent rapid changes of the overall Chinese cultural patterns.
The Quality of Knowledge
Authors: Rech Jörg , Decker Björn , Ras Eric , Jedlitschka Andreas , Feldmann Raimund L.
Published: February 2011

Knowledge management is a relatively young discipline. Nevertheless, it has accumulated a valuable body of knowledge in the structuring of knowledge and in the design of socio-technical knowledge management systems. However, concepts to describe common, recurring patterns of how to describe, structure, interrelate, group, or manage knowledge elements are still missing. In this article, we introduce the concepts “knowledge pattern” and “knowledge antipattern” to describe best and worst practices in knowledge management, “knowledge refactoring” to improve or change knowledge antipatterns, and “quality of knowledge” to describe desirable characteristics of knowledge in knowledge management systems. The concepts are transferred from software engineering to the field of knowledge management based on our experience from several knowledge management projects.
The Key Requirements for Deploying Knowledge Management Services in a Semantic Grid Environment
Authors: Mohamed Mirghani , Stankosky Michael , Ribière Vincent
Published: February 2011

The purpose of this article is to investigate the requirements of knowledge management (KM) services deployment in a Semantic Grid environment. A wide range of literature on Grid Computing, Semantic Web, and KM have been reviewed, related, and interpreted. The benefits of the Semantic Web and the Grid Computing convergence have been enumerated and related to KM principles in a complete service model. Although the Grid Computing contributed the shared resources, most of the KM tool obstacles within the grid are to be resolved at the semantic and cultural levels more than at the physical or logical grid levels. The early results from academia show a synergy and the potentiality of leveraging knowledge at a wider scale. However, the plethora of information produced in this environment will result in a serious information overload, unless proper standardization, automated relations, syndication, and validation techniques are developed.
A Structurational Analysis of Users and Management in a Knowledge Management System Project Implementation
Authors: Chen Charlie C. , Shang Rong-An , Harris Albert , Chen Zai-Kai
Published: February 2011

This article applies the concepts of structuration theory to assess the interaction of corporate management with users of a knowledge management system (KMS). The study is based around China Motor Corporation (CMC), a major Taiwanese company faced with the challenge of deploying a knowledge management system. Over a period of 3 years (1999-2002) structured interviews were conducted to examine factors contributing to the success of KMS efforts in CMC. Our findings suggest that management and users must be engaged in a sustained and reciprocal communication method when implementing a KMS. The pattern of communication, power structure, sanction power, and degree of cooperation are dynamically changed during the interaction process. Therefore, it is important to maneuver these factors into a win-win situation for management and users in order to successfully implement a KMS. Practical implications of this article provide feasible real solutions to improve the relationship between users and management during a KMS implementation. Theoretically, this article contributes to the growing body of KM literatures from the structurational perspective.
Managing Knowledge Capabilities for Strategy Implementation Effectiveness
Authors: Paisittanand Sineenad , Digman L.A. , Lee Sang M.
Published: February 2011

The creation and the use of knowledge have increasingly been regarded as important issues for management. A wide range of studies have investigated this topic during the past decade. Notwithstanding these contributions, very little systematic attention has been paid to the linkages between knowledge capabilities and strategy implementation. Drawing from knowledge capabilities theory and strategy implementation literature, two aspects of knowledge capabilities in an organization and their effect on strategy implementation effectiveness are investigated: knowledge process capabilities (KPC) and knowledge infrastructure capabilities (KIC). This study hypothesized that KPC affects strategy implementation effectiveness (SIE) and that KPC affects KIC. The third hypothesis proposed the effect of KIC on SIE by examining the mediating role played by KIC in linking KPC and SIE. 1,321 middle-managers were sent questionnaires via electronic mail and 162 were returned. The findings indicated the presence of a mediation effect of KIC on the relationship between KPC and SIE. This study provides guidelines for middle-managers to better understand how to develop activities of KPC and KIC for SIE. It is hoped that the results of this study will enhance our understanding of the strategic importance of knowledge in an organization, especially in the area of strategy implementation.
Information Technology in Value Shop Activities
Authors: Glomseth Rune , Gottschalk Petter
Published: February 2011

It has long been argued that knowledge reuse is positively related to the extent of information technology use in organizations. This article reports results from an exploratory survey of police investigation units in Norway to develop a research model linking knowledge reuse to IT use. Police investigation units are defined as value shops, where problems are solved in five primary activities.
Organizational Culture for Knowledge Management Systems
Authors: Ciganke Andrew P. , Mao En , Srite Mark
Published: February 2011

Knowledge is increasingly being viewed as a critical component for organizations. It is largely people-based and the characteristics of groups of individuals, in the form of organizational cultures, may play a key role in the factors that lead to either the acceptance or rejection of knowledge management systems (KMS). The primary objective of this research is to explore how dimensions of organizational culture influence factors that lead to the acceptance of KMS. While researchers have agreed that culture plays an important role in KMS, the literature has only recently begun to examine organizational culture within this context. We examined the effects of three dimensions of organizational culture through a research model that was tested and analyzed utilizing a field survey of corporate knowledge management users. Our results indicated that both process-oriented and open communication system organizational cultures significantly influenced the factors that led to the acceptance of KMS.
Developing and Aligning a Knowledge Management Strategy
Authors: Ekionea Jean-Pierre Booto , Swain Deborah E.
Published: February 2011

Knowledge capitalization has become a major economic driver in business today and has created enormous requirements for organizations as they reconsider their goals and adapt their business strategies. However, the definition of knowledge management in an organizational context is a difficult task to realize (Spiegler, 2000). Although knowledge is a critical resource, it is generally poorly managed (Earl, 2001). Good knowledge management can help with achieving business goals, as it requires an alignment of KMS and BS. Researchers in KM suggest a taxonomy to better define the field (Earl, 1983; Galliers, 1987; Hansen et al, 1999; Maier, 2001; Yu et al, 2004). This paper provides a KMS and BS alignment framework and taxonomy with concepts, links (contextual links among concepts), actors, actions and processes for effective knowledge management through alignment and interaction in an organization.
Challenges in Developing a Knowledge Management Strategy
Authors: Bartczak Summer E. , Turner Jason M. , England Ellen C.
Published: February 2011

It is widely acknowledged that knowledge management (KM) strategy is a desired precursor to developing specific KM initiatives. Strategy development is often difficult due a variety of influences and constraints. Using KM influences as a foundation, this case study describes issues involved in developing a KM strategy for the Air Force Material Command, including issues to be considered for future strategy development such as leadership support and understanding, conflicts with IT organizations, funding, technology usage and configuration, and outsourcing.
The Dimensions of Tacit & Explicit Knowledge
Authors: Chilton Michael A. , Bloodgood James M.
Published: February 2011

Knowledge workers are often employed to extract knowledge from domain experts in order to codify knowledge held by these experts. The extent to which workers rely on tacit or explicit knowledge may produce inefficiencies and reduce productivity if the information is not shared among those who need it or if it encapsulates strategic goals and is inadvertently shared with those who might undermine the firm’s competitive advantage. This article discusses the nature of tacit vs. explicit knowledge in terms of the dimensions thought to contribute to its degree of tacitness. We present the results of an exploratory study in which we develop an instrument designed to elicit perceptions regarding the nature of knowledge used by workers and their degree of reliance on tacit knowledge. It is an indirect form of measurement that eliminates the need to render the knowledge entirely explicit prior to measurement. As an additional benefit, it allows us to classify the knowledge along a continuum, ranging from entirely tacit to entirely explicit or somewhere in between. Use of this instrument by managers will help them identify pockets of tacit knowledge within the firm that could either be made explicit so that other workers can benefit from it or that could be prevented from becoming explicit should its strategic value require protection.
Common Knowledge Sharing Model of 24-Hour Knowledge Factory of Grid Computing Based on Case Based Reasoning
Authors: Xia Huosong , Gupta Amar
Published: February 2011

In order to improve the level of decision making and competitive advantage, organizations try to learn and develop new knowledge management techniques that are suited for the evolving global economy. Decision makers are becoming increasingly faced with a dilemma: great difficulty arises in sharing knowledge where distributed and heterogeneous data sources are so rich in terms of their information content. In order to address the problem of knowledge sharing, this article proposes a common knowledge sharing model— the 24-hour knowledge factory—of grid computing founded on case-based reasoning (CBR). This article begins with a description of the 24-hour knowledge factory, the enterprise common knowledge shared (ECKS) methodology and the time-shift sharing model. Next, the notion of a CBR-adapted approach for 24-hour knowledge factory, based on grid computing, is presented. Third, based on the ECKS concept, this article analyzes the use of the model described in this article in decision evolution and builds upon enterprise sharing structure ECK modeling, focusing on activity-work sharing, passive-work sharing and mix-work sharing. Multiple types of enterprise common knowledge transfer mechanisms are presented in this article.
Toward a Knowledge Management Strategic Framework in the Arab Region
Authors: Al-Shammari Minwir
Published: February 2011

This article seeks to develop a framework for a Knowledge Management (KM) strategy in an emerging economy, viz. the Arab region, and to propose a framework for a successful KM strategy in such a sociocultural context. To achieve the objectives of the study, a conceptual KM strategy framework was proposed and described; it was then illustrated using a case study. The paper adopts a case study approach as a powerful source of understanding the KM specificities. Twelve interviews with executives of a telecommunications company were conducted and then systemically analyzed. Based on the findings of the study, a profile of KM in an Arab country is developed as well as a holistic and integrative KM strategy framework. The final framework concludes with a proposed a three-layer KM framework. The first layer includes KM drivers (market liberalization, technological advancements, and customers’ preferences); the second, KM processes (knowledge strategizing, sourcing, composing, sharing, and using); whereas the third includes KM enablers (KM buying behavior, convergence of business and technology, source-data quality, project championship, process-based structure, and sharing culture). However, the proposed framework requires further testing through additional case study analyses to be able to capture the best practice of KM in this important region.
Managing Knowledge with Technology
Authors: Handzic Meliha , Lagumdzija Amila , Celjo Amer
Published: February 2011

This chapter reports on types and roles of information and communication technologies (ICT) implemented in knowledge management (KM) solutions in local governments. A sample of nine local councils were rated on usage of various generic and KM specific ICT in supporting knowledge exploitation or exploration, and codification or personalization strategies. The results indicate a marked preference for generic types of ICT, and support for knowledge exploitation and codification approaches. These findings and their implications are further interpreted in terms of three stages of KM development in organizations.
Can Soft Systems Methodology Identify Socio-Technical Barriers to Knowledge Sharing and Management?
Authors: Gillies Alan C. , Galloway Jeanette
Published: February 2011

Nonaka (1998) argued that for companies to prosper they must move away from a view of organizations as information processing entities with a focus on formal and systematic knowledge to exploit tacit knowledge. Much of the subsequent literature relates to commercial companies, often in North America. Public services in the UK are undergoing rapid change to improve cost effectiveness, customer focus and improve outcomes. Reports such as Wanless (2002, 2004) Wanless et al. (2007), Protti (2002) and Gray (2007) argue that this requires a more intelligent use of knowledge and information. However, authors such as Avison and Wood-Harper, (1990) have long argued that systems to support such information-based innovations are context dependent and should be viewed as socio-technical systems rather than simply technological systems. This study uses Checkland’s (1999) soft systems methodology (SSM) to consider the local factors operating within a case study from a local NHS health informatics service organization to assess the need to take account of local factors when applying knowledge management techniques in such cases, with a particular focus on managing the tacit knowledge components, highlighted by Nonaka.
Socio-Technical Knowledge Management
Authors: Jennex Murray E.
Published: February 2011

Socio-Technical Knowledge Management: Studies and Initiatives is a book that attempts to ground knowledge management in sociotechnical theory and then present research results gained using socio-technical research methods. Directed to graduate students and KM practitioners, it is also useful for anyone who wishes to understand how an organization can prevent knowledge management from failing by optimizing the technical and social aspects of knowledge management.
Using Agent Based Simulation and Game Theory Analysis to Study Knowledge Flow in Organizations
Authors: Jolly Richard , Wakeland Wayne
Published: February 2011

Knowledge sharing in organizations, especially the impact of sharing freely versus not sharing, was studied using game theoretic analysis and a Netlogo agent-based simulation model. In both analyses, some agents hoarded knowledge while others shared knowledge freely. As expected, sharing was found to greatly increase the overall amount of knowledge within the organization. Unexpectedly, on average, agents who share acquire more knowledge than hoarders. This is in contradiction to the conclusion from the prisoner’s dilemma analysis. This is due to the synergy that develops between groups of agents who are sharing with each other. The density of the agents is important; as the density increases, the probability increases that an agent with a large amount of knowledge to share happens to be organizationally nearby. The implications are that organizations should actively encourage knowledge sharing, and that agent-based simulation is a useful tool for studying this type of organizational phenomena.
A Framework for Managing the Life Cycle of Knowledge in Organizations
Authors: Salisbury Mark
Published: February 2011

This article describes a framework for managing the life cycle of knowledge in organizations. The framework emerges from years of work with the laboratories and facilities that are under the direction of the United States Department of Energy (DOE). The article begins by describing the background of the work from which the framework emerged; this is followed by describing the problem of identifying the “right” knowledge for the “right” people at the “right” time and how the use of performance objectives addresses this problem. Next, the phases in the life cycle of knowledge in an organization, the theoretical foundation for the framework, and the other aspects of the framework (Work Processes, Learning Processes, and Methodologies) are described. Finally, a discussion section summarizes the framework and discusses future directions for enhancing and extending the framework.
Social Network Structures for Explicit, Tacit and Potential Knowledge
Authors: Smedlund Anssi
Published: February 2011

The purpose of this conceptual article is to develop argumentation of the knowledge assets of a firm as consisting of three constructs, to extend the conventional explicit, tacit dichotomy by including potential knowledge. The article highlights the role of knowledge, which has so far not been utilized in value creation. The underlying assumption in the article is that knowledge assets can be thought of as embedded in the relationships between individuals in the firm, rather than possessed by single actors. The concept of potential knowledge is explained with selected social network and knowledge management literature. The findings suggest that the ideal social network structure for explicit knowledge is centralized, for tacit knowledge it is distributed, and for potential knowledge decentralized. Practically, the article provides a framework for understanding the connection between knowledge assets and social network structures, thus helping managers of firms in designing suitable social network structures for different types of knowledge.
Perceptions and Knowledge Sharing Practices of Graduate Students in Singapore
Authors: Majid Shaheen , Wey Sim Mong
Published: February 2011

The concept of knowledge sharing is gaining popularity due to increased awareness and new initiatives in knowledge management. However, its implications in the educational arena have been relatively unexplored. The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions, nature and extent of knowledge sharing among graduate students in Singapore. A questionnaire was used for data collection and 183 students from two public universities in Singapore participated in this study. The study revealed that the participants were primarily motivated to share knowledge in an attempt to build relationships with their peers and email was the preferred communication channel. However, intense competition among the students to outperform their classmates and the lack of depth in relationship were the two most cited factors hindering knowledge sharing. The study suggests that academic institutions should review their instruction approaches to make the learning process less competitive which would help improve knowledge sharing among students.
Cocreating Corporate Knowledge with a Wiki
Authors: Meloche Joseph A. , Hasan Helen , Willis David , Pfaff Charmaine C. , Qi Yan
Published: February 2011

Wikis have a growing reputation on the open Internet for producing evolving stores of shared knowledge. However, such democratic systems are often treated with suspicion within corporations for management, legal, social, and other reasons. This article describes a field study of a corporate Wiki that has been developed to capture, and make available, organisational knowledge in a large manufacturing company as an initiative of their Knowledge Management (KM) program. As this approach to KM is a controversial and rapidly changing phenomenon, a Q Methodology research approach was selected to uncover employees’ subjective attitudes to the Wiki. Activity Theory was used to provide a deeper interpretation of the findings of the Q-study. The results are enabling the firm to more fully exploit the potential of the Wiki as a ubiquitous tool for successful tacit and explicit knowledge management as more employees are encouraged to participate in a process of cocreating the store of corporate knowledge. The article also demonstrates how meaningful and rigorous research on this new democratic direction of corporate KM should continue.
Investigating the Impact of Knowledge Management Factors on New Product Development Performance
Authors: Nassim Belbaly
Published: February 2011

Knowledge is recognized as an important weapon for new product development (NPD) performance, and many firms are beginning to manage the knowledge detained by their new product development processes. Researchers have investigated knowledge management factors such as enablers, creation processes, and performance. However, very few studies have explored the relationship between these factors in the context of new product development (NPD). To fill this gap, this article develops a research model which applies the knowledge management factors to the NPD context. The model includes five enablers: collaboration, trust, learning, team leadership characteristics, and t-shaped skills with an emphasis on the knowledge creation processes such as socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization. The results confirm the strong support of the research model and the impact of the independent variables (knowledge management enablers) on the dependent variables (knowledge creation and NPD performance). In light of these findings, the implications for both theory and practice are discussed.
Valuing Knowledge-Based Initiatives
Authors: Benbya Hind
Published: February 2011

The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the current state of theory and practice on valuing Knowledge-Based Initiatives (KBI). Drawing on the literature concerning IT and business value, this paper summarizes what is known about valuing IT-based initiatives, discusses the specificity of KBI and outline main challenges that continue to limit research in this area. This paper also examines how managers deal with these challenges and what metrics they use to assess knowledge value. These managerial insights are derived from interviews as well as empirical analysis of several Silicon Valley firms. This paper gives an emerging approach for valuing KBI and illustrates its implementation with a case study from IBM.
Developing Professional Knowledge and Confidence in Higher Education
Authors: Serradell-Lopez E. , Lara P. , Castillo D. , González I.
Published: February 2011

The purpose of this paper is to determine the effectiveness of using multiple choice tests in subjects related to the administration and business management. To this end the authors used a multiple-choice test with specific questions to verify the extent of knowledge gained and the confidence and trust in the answers. The analysis made, conducted by tests given out to a group of 200 students, has been implemented in one subject related with investment analysis and has measured the level of knowledge gained and the degree of trust and security in the responses at two different times of the business administration and management course. Measurements were taken into account at different levels of difficulty in the questions asked and the time spent by students to complete the test. Results confirm that students are generally able to obtain more knowledge along the way and get increases in the degree of trust and confidence. It is estimated that improvement in skills learned is viewed favourably by businesses and are important for job placement. Finally, the authors proceed to analyze a multi-choice test using a combination of knowledge and confidence levels.
An Efficient System for Video Stabilization by Differentiating between Intentional and Un-Intentional Jitters
Authors: Manzoor Kamran , Manzoor Umar , Nefti Samia
Published: February 2011

Video stabilization is one of the most important enhancements where jittering caused by un-intentional movements is removed. Existing video stabilizer software and tools cannot differentiate between intentional and un-intentional jitters in the video and treats both equally. In this paper, the authors propose an efficient and practical approach of video stabilization by differentiating between an intentional and un-intentional jitter. Their method takes jittered video as input, and differentiates between intentional and an un-intentional jitter without affecting its visual quality while producing stabilized video only if jitter is found to be un-intentional. While most previous methods produce stabilized videos with low resolution, this reduces quality. The proposed system has been evaluated on a large number of real life videos and results promise to support the implementation of the solution.
Exploration and Exploitation in Parallel Problem Solving
Authors: Zhang Hua , Xi Youmin
Published: February 2011

In previous studies on coordinating exploration-exploitation activities, much attention has been paid on network structures while the roles played by actors’ strategic behavior have been largely ignored. In this paper, the authors extend March’s simulation model on parallel problem solving by adding structurally equivalent imitation. In this way, one can examine how the interaction of network structure with agent behavior affects the knowledge process and finally influence group performance. This simulation experiment suggests that under the condition of regular network, the classical trade-off between exploration and exploitation will appear in the case of the preferentially attached network when agents adopt structure equivalence imitation. The whole organization implicitly would be divided into independent sub-groups that converge on different performance level and lead the organization to a lower performance level. The authors also explored the performance in the mixed organization and the management implication.
Ontology Alignment
Authors: Ivanova Tatyana
Published: February 2011

A grand number of ontologies have been developed and are publicly accessible on the Web making techniques for mapping between various ontologies more significant. Research has been made in the area of ontology alignment, a grand number of approaches, algorithms, and tools have been developed in recent years, but are still not “perfect” and excellent knowledge. In this article, the author makes an overall view of the state of ontology alignment, including the latest research, comparing many approaches, and analyzing their strengths and drawbacks. The main motivation behind this work is the fact that despite many component matching solutions that have been developed so far, there is no integrated solution that is a clear success, which can be used for ontology mapping in all cases, making knowledge about developed ontology mapping methods and their clear classification needed.
A Model of Collaborative Learning Scripts Instantiated with Mobile Technologies
Authors: Dillenbourg Pierre , Crivelli Zeno
Published: February 2011

Scripts are pedagogical methods for triggering productive interactions during computer-supported collaborative learning. SWISH is a pedagogical design model for constructing scripts: it articulates the nature of expected interactions to the nature of task division enforced by the script. This model is applied to mobile learning: different task divisions are supported by a distributed simulation environment, in which the client runs on mobile phones or PDAs. This contribution maps the computational architecture of the learning environment to a model of collaborative learning.
Choreo
Authors: Wilson Dennie , Andrews Ben , Dale Crispin
Published: February 2011

The iPod is a pervasive technology that has had an influential impact upon engagement with sound and visual media. The extent to which the iPod can act as a learning and teaching technology is still at an embryonic stage. The paper reports upon the research project entitled Choreo:pod which has explored the student creation of dance performance for the iPod screen, in addition to its use as a wider learning and teaching technology. The paper discusses the process students engaged in when reflecting upon their experiences of engaging with the iPod as part of a blended learning approach.
Designing Participant-Generated Context into Guided Tours
Authors: Sprake Juliet
Published: February 2011

This article presents an interdisciplinary framework for designing participant-generated context into guided tours. The framework has been developed in parallel to practice-led research in the design of mobile learning tours with young people based in London. The article draws on art, architecture and urbanism to outline productive concepts, ‘seeding’ and ‘threading’, which support mobilized learning in tours of the built environment. In this, context is explored as an active and dynamic idea in developing attributes of the mobilized learner in the design of tours around buildings and the built environment.
Scenario-Based Cluster Formation and Management in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Anitha V. S. , Sebastian M. P.
Published: February 2011

This article proposes a scenario-based algorithm for cluster formation and management in mobile ad hoc networks. Depending on the application a centralized or distributed algorithm based on (k, r) –Dominating Set is used for the selection of clusterheads and gateway nodes. Here k is the minimum number of clusterheads per node in the network and r is the maximum number of hops between the node and the clusterhead. The non-clusterhead node can select the most qualified dominating node as its clusterhead from among the k dominating nodes. The quality of the clusterhead is a function of various metrics, which include connectivity, stability and residual battery power. Long-term service as clusterhead depletes their energy, causing them to drop out of the network. Similarly, the clusterhead with relatively high mobility than its neighbors leads to frequent clusterhead election process. This perturbs the stability of the network and adversely affects the network performance.
FCVW
Authors: Tomek Ivan , Shakshuki Elhadi
Published: February 2011

Pervasiveness of Internet and increasing geographical dispersal of work teams result in continuously growing importance of groupware - software that supports collaboration within groups. Numerous applications have been developed to address collaboration needs and many are widely used but don’t fully satisfy work team requirements and the Internet potential. This paper surveys several groupware products and describes FCVW (Federated Collaborative Virtual Workspace), an experimental project designed to explore certain groupware aspects that are not sufficiently addressed by existing products.
A Model for Mobile Learning Service Quality in University Environment
Authors: Al-Mushasha Nabeel Farouq , Hassan Shahizan
Published: February 2011

It is generally known that accessibility and mobility are the main barriers for effective implementation of electronic learning. However, the advent of mobile technology could be a potential solution to remove the barriers. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research that addresses the issue of mobile learning service quality in a university environment. This study aims to propose a service quality model for m-learning in a university environment. A questionnaire survey was conducted which measured ten dependent variables and three independent variables. The dependent variables were meant to measure service quality, information quality, and system quality. The dependent variables were meant to measure the causal relationship between overall learners’ perceived service quality, learner satisfaction, and learner behavioral intention to use the service in future. The findings revealed that the factors that lead to service quality of m-learning in a university environment were interface design, reliability, trust, content usefulness, content adequacy, ease of use, accessibility, and interactivity. The findings also indicates that there are causal relationships between learner satisfaction with overall service quality, and learner satisfaction with learner behavioral intention.
Optimal Spectral Resolution in Speaker Authentication Application in Noisy Environment and Telephony
Authors: Ouamour Siham , Sayoud Halim , Guerti Mhania
Published: February 2011

This article deals with the problem of speaker characterization, for which the principal interest is the improvement of the techniques of speaker authentication. For this purpose, we investigate the effect of spectral resolution in the speaker authentication performance. This investigation employs an approach based on the second order statistical measures using the Mel Frequency Spectral Coefficients (MFSC) and looks for the best spectral resolution. Experiments are done on microphonic and telephonic speech signals, with several MFSC dimensions and several types of noises. Results show the importance of the high spectral resolution in noisy environment and telephonic bandwidth, while the current research works have always favored the low resolution of 24 coefficients in such tasks. For example, we notice an improvement of about 11% on the identification score, since we increase the resolution from 24 to 48 MFSC, in the telephonic bandwidth.
Definition and Analysis of a Fixed Mobile Convergent Architecture for Enterprise VoIP Services
Authors: Penhoat Joel , Le Grand Olivier , Salaun Mikael , Lemlouma Tayeb
Published: February 2011

Fixed Mobile Convergence is an important challenge for telecommunication operators given the heterogeneity of access networks technologies and the variety of terminals. Fixed Mobile Convergence, which introduces the concept ‘Being always best connected’, is considered to be the next step in the evolution of telecommunication networks and should increase the operators’ revenues. In order to enforce the concept ‘Being always best connected’, this article presents and analyzes an architecture for enterprises, named ‘Business Zone’. After defining the Business Zone, we present its architecture and we analyze its main components while limiting our study to the transport of VoIP flows. Then we present two methods that we have patented: the first method authorizes a VoIP flow to be transmitted according to the available resources in the Business Zone; the second method enhances the decision process during a handover.
Automatic Speaker Localization and Tracking
Authors: Ouamour Siham , Sayoud Halim , Khennouf Salah
Published: February 2011

This paper presents a system of speaker localization for a purpose of speaker tracking by camera. The authors use the information given by the two microphones, placed in opposition, to determine the position of the active speaker in trying to supervise the audio-visual recording. To achieve the speaker localization task, the authors have proposed and employed two methods, which are called respectively: the filtered correlation method and the energy differential method. The principle of the first method is based on the calculation of the correlation between the two signals collected by the two microphones and a special filtering. The second is based on the computation of the logarithmic energy differential between these two signals. However, when different methods are used simultaneously to make a decision, it is often interesting to use a fusion technique combining those estimations or decisions in order to enhance the system performances. For that purpose, this paper proposes two fusion techniques operating at the decision level which are used to fuse the two estimations into one that should be more precise.
Throughput Analysis of IEEE 802.11 DCF with Modified Binary Exponential Backoff in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Singh Rishipal , Lobiyal D. K.
Published: February 2011

In the design of wireless networks, the medium access protocols have a very large impact on the performance of the network. The IEEE 802.11 is widely accepted technology for the Wireless LANs and is used by wireless networks. This paper presents an analysis of the performance of Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) for IEEE 802.11 under modified Binary Exponential Backoff (BEB) Algorithm using Frequency Hoping Spread Spectrum (FHSS). In the modified algorithm, the size of Contention Window (CW) has been changed with the factor of for the first four collisions and the size becomes double thereafter in each subsequent collision. This paper also covers the effects of various parameters in modified BEB Algorithm.