title: Exploring Knowledge Transfer and Knowledge Building at Offshore Technical Support Centers

authors: Chen, Jihong

subjects: Knowledge Management

abstract: This is an exploratory investigation into knowledge transfer and knowledge building processes observed at offshore Technical Support Centers (TSCs) in China. Utilizing a multiple case study approach, the study examines how knowledge was transferred from the US-based support center to the China-based offshore support center, and how individuals and the organization built and expanded knowledge in a dynamic changing business context. The field cases were three Technical Support Centers in China. Three models were developed from the qualitative analysis of the field data to explain how knowledge is transferred and built in offshore TSCs. The knowledge transfer type adoption model identifies the relationships amongst the levels of knowledge (novice, advanced beginner, competency, and proficiency), the types of knowledge and the knowledge transfer approaches (structured transfer stages, unstructured copy, unstructured adaptation, and unstructured fusion). The basic individual tacit knowledge building model shows that tacit knowledge is acquired and built through two continuous knowledge building loops, an explicit learning loop and an implicit learning loop. The organizational knowledge building model demonstrates the interaction amongst knowledge flow, absorptive capacity, knowledge stock and knowledge intermediary in offshore knowledge transfer and building within the three levels (individual, group and organization levels) of the SECI spiral (socialization, externalization, combination and internalization). The three models provide new insights into the knowledge transfer process for different levels of knowledge acquisition, individual tacit knowledge building processes and organizational knowledge building processes in an offshore outsourcing business context. By applying these models to appropriate field situations, both practitioners and academics may be able to gain a deeper understanding of knowledge transfer approaches, be able to better guide new employees’ expertise and confidence building through controlled and monitored experiential learning process, and be able to improve understanding of how knowledge is built and evolves within organizations.

text: Exploring Knowledge Transfer and Knowledge Building at Offshore Technical Support Centers This is an exploratory investigation into knowledge transfer and knowledge building processes observed at offshore Technical Support Centers (TSCs) in China. Utilizing a multiple case study approach, the study examines how knowledge was transferred from the US-based support center to the China-based offshore support center, and how individuals and the organization built and expanded knowledge in a dynamic changing business context. The field cases were three Technical Support Centers in China. Three models were developed from the qualitative analysis of the field data to explain how knowledge is transferred and built in offshore TSCs. The knowledge transfer type adoption model identifies the relationships amongst the levels of knowledge (novice, advanced beginner, competency, and proficiency), the types of knowledge and the knowledge transfer approaches (structured transfer stages, unstructured copy, unstructured adaptation, and unstructured fusion). The basic individual tacit knowledge building model shows that tacit knowledge is acquired and built through two continuous knowledge building loops, an explicit learning loop and an implicit learning loop. The organizational knowledge building model demonstrates the interaction amongst knowledge flow, absorptive capacity, knowledge stock and knowledge intermediary in offshore knowledge transfer and building within the three levels (individual, group and organization levels) of the SECI spiral (socialization, externalization, combination and internalization). The three models provide new insights into the knowledge transfer process for different levels of knowledge acquisition, individual tacit knowledge building processes and organizational knowledge building processes in an offshore outsourcing business context. By applying these models to appropriate field situations, both practitioners and academics may be able to gain a deeper understanding of knowledge transfer approaches, be able to better guide new employees’ expertise and confidence building through controlled and monitored experiential learning process, and be able to improve understanding of how knowledge is built and evolves within organizations.

year: 2010

title: Expression, purification and characterisation of GIGANTEA: A circadian clock-controlled regulator of photoperiodic flowering in plants

authors: Black, Moyra M.

subjects: flowering

abstract: The Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) GIGANTEA (GI) gene is a central component of the photoperiodic flowering pathway. While it has been 40 years since the first mutant alleles of GI were described much is still unknown about the molecular mechanism of GI action. To investigate the biochemistry and domain organisation (and ultimately to give a greater understanding of the role of GI in floral induction), it is first necessary to produce significant quantities of purified protein. Soluble affinity-tagged full-length GI was expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and was stabilised by the addition of the detergent n-dodecyl-β-d-maltoside (DDM) to storage and purification buffers. Stabilised GI was purified using a variety of chromatographic methods, and characterised using a selection of biochemical techniques including circular dichroism, and dynamic light scattering. This showed that purified GI contained secondary structure, but was polydisperse in solution. Electron microscopy suggests a possible tetramer arrangement of GI. Limited proteolytic digests and mass spectrometry were used to identify potential GI domains. This led to the identification of a predicted 46 kDa amino-terminal GI domain. GI was also expressed in Sf9 insect cells using the baculovirus expression system. GI produced via this route gave insoluble protein.

text: Expression, purification and characterisation of GIGANTEA: A circadian clock-controlled regulator of photoperiodic flowering in plants The Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) GIGANTEA (GI) gene is a central component of the photoperiodic flowering pathway. While it has been 40 years since the first mutant alleles of GI were described much is still unknown about the molecular mechanism of GI action. To investigate the biochemistry and domain organisation (and ultimately to give a greater understanding of the role of GI in floral induction), it is first necessary to produce significant quantities of purified protein. Soluble affinity-tagged full-length GI was expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and was stabilised by the addition of the detergent n-dodecyl-β-d-maltoside (DDM) to storage and purification buffers. Stabilised GI was purified using a variety of chromatographic methods, and characterised using a selection of biochemical techniques including circular dichroism, and dynamic light scattering. This showed that purified GI contained secondary structure, but was polydisperse in solution. Electron microscopy suggests a possible tetramer arrangement of GI. Limited proteolytic digests and mass spectrometry were used to identify potential GI domains. This led to the identification of a predicted 46 kDa amino-terminal GI domain. GI was also expressed in Sf9 insect cells using the baculovirus expression system. GI produced via this route gave insoluble protein.

year: 2010

title: Maori sustainable development in the 21st Century: The importance of Maori values, strategic planning and information systems

authors: Harmsworth, Garth

subjects: Development studies

abstract: The term ‘sustainable development’ has been widely used since the latter part of the 20th century. The concept implies economic and social development, economic growth, and environmental responsibility in order to sustain improved standards of living based on economic growth, to achieve some form of social equity, and to manage the environment in a sustainable way. Sustainable development should generally be at a rate that allows future generations to meet their needs without causing degradation of the natural environment, and should avoid economic or social decay. The concept has been debated and criticised by many as being ambiguous, untenable, and difficult to achieve, and frequently labelled part of global capitalism. But the concept provides a challenge to all of us, on how to balance economic, social, and cultural goals, while at the same time safeguarding and responsibly managing the environment for future generations. Attempts by indigenous peoples internationally to achieve sustainable development have been based on holistic approaches and frameworks that seek to balance economic, social, cultural and environmental objectives, and these provide effective models for viable sustainable development approaches. Māori Sustainable Development in Aotearoa-New Zealand is a term often used to describe a pathway to Māori autonomy, self-determination, the building of human and social capacity, as part of a strategic direction to capitalise on opportunities in the 21st century. This paper outlines research undertaken between 1998 and 2002 and funded by the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology (FRST) in the programme “Māori Sustainable Development in Te Puku o Te Ika”, contract UOWX0005, simply referred to as the MSD programme. It focuses on the importance of determining Māori values, a vision, strategic planning and development of information systems as a holistic framework and process method to achieve Māori sustainable development.

text: Maori sustainable development in the 21st Century: The importance of Maori values, strategic planning and information systems The term ‘sustainable development’ has been widely used since the latter part of the 20th century. The concept implies economic and social development, economic growth, and environmental responsibility in order to sustain improved standards of living based on economic growth, to achieve some form of social equity, and to manage the environment in a sustainable way. Sustainable development should generally be at a rate that allows future generations to meet their needs without causing degradation of the natural environment, and should avoid economic or social decay. The concept has been debated and criticised by many as being ambiguous, untenable, and difficult to achieve, and frequently labelled part of global capitalism. But the concept provides a challenge to all of us, on how to balance economic, social, and cultural goals, while at the same time safeguarding and responsibly managing the environment for future generations. Attempts by indigenous peoples internationally to achieve sustainable development have been based on holistic approaches and frameworks that seek to balance economic, social, cultural and environmental objectives, and these provide effective models for viable sustainable development approaches. Māori Sustainable Development in Aotearoa-New Zealand is a term often used to describe a pathway to Māori autonomy, self-determination, the building of human and social capacity, as part of a strategic direction to capitalise on opportunities in the 21st century. This paper outlines research undertaken between 1998 and 2002 and funded by the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology (FRST) in the programme “Māori Sustainable Development in Te Puku o Te Ika”, contract UOWX0005, simply referred to as the MSD programme. It focuses on the importance of determining Māori values, a vision, strategic planning and development of information systems as a holistic framework and process method to achieve Māori sustainable development.

year: 2002