Suyeon Kim, Euiho Suh and Hyunseok Hwang
Recently, research interest in knowledge management has grown rapidly. Much research on knowledge management is conducted in academic and industrial communities. Utilizing…
Abstract
Recently, research interest in knowledge management has grown rapidly. Much research on knowledge management is conducted in academic and industrial communities. Utilizing knowledge accumulated in an organization can be a strategic weapon to acquire a competitive advantage. Capturing and representing knowledge is critical in knowledge management. This paper proposes a practical methodology to capture and represent organizational knowledge. The methodology uses a knowledge map as a tool to represent knowledge. We explore several techniques of knowledge representation and suggest a roadmap with concrete procedures to build the knowledge map. A case study in a manufacturing company is provided.
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Keedong Yoo, Euiho Suh and Kyoung‐Yun Kim
The aim of this paper is to suggest a method to redesign business processes from the viewpoint of knowledge flows using a knowledge map.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to suggest a method to redesign business processes from the viewpoint of knowledge flows using a knowledge map.
Design/methodology/approach
Knowledge flows and business processes cannot be separated because knowledge is inputted and outputted through business processes. Knowledge flows inherit the feature and appearance of corresponding business processes; therefore, one can identify problems within business processes by analyzing corresponding knowledge flows. The methodology is composed of the following sections: knowledge mapping, knowledge profiling, knowledge flow identification, knowledge flow optimization and TO‐BE process visualization.
Findings
This paper provides a methodology for knowledge flow‐based business process redesign and ten guidelines for knowledge flow optimization. The case study demonstrates that the proposed ideas constitute knowledge‐intensified business processes.
Research limitations/implications
A more formal validation method that is based on the statistical analysis must be provided to assert the proposed guidelines for knowledge flow optimization as the truly optimized ones.
Practical implications
This paper's idea provides the practical methodology and guidelines that can be directly applicable to performing business process redesign by introducing a real case.
Originality/value
This paper's ideas not only provide present companies with a practical way to enhance their business process to be more knowledge‐focused, but also promote the current economy to be more knowledge‐intensive.
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Suchul Lee, Euiho Suh and Modeum Lee
The aim of this paper is to develop a metric that quantitatively measures the risk of knowledge drain associated with the departure of a member in communities of practice (CoP).…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to develop a metric that quantitatively measures the risk of knowledge drain associated with the departure of a member in communities of practice (CoP).
Design/methodology/approach
This paper considers two possible cases in which departure of a member has a high risk of causing knowledge drain: when the member is a network leader, and when the member is an isolated expert. Network analysis is used to identify network influence of each member. The proposed metric is designed considering network influence and knowledge level of individual members, and applied to a case study using real-world data from an online CoP.
Findings
This paper demonstrates that the proposed metric properly provides information about the members whose departure could cause serious damage to the CoP because of their strong influence or their inactivity in the network. The metric enables practitioners to identify critical members, and to enact precautions to reduce the vulnerability of the CoP.
Originality/value
Compared to the threat of knowledge drain, few studies have attempted to measure the risk associated with departure of a member. This study has developed a metric to measure the risk of knowledge drain in a CoP. The approach and methods of this paper offer a foundation for designing assessment methods for knowledge networks and provide new insights into quantitative research in knowledge management.
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Suchul Lee, Yong Seog Kim and Euiho Suh
This paper aims to provide organizational knowledge management teams with a new metric, the bottleneck impact score (BIS), a valuable tool for evaluating the structural health of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide organizational knowledge management teams with a new metric, the bottleneck impact score (BIS), a valuable tool for evaluating the structural health of communities of practice (CoPs), by detecting the seriousness and pervasiveness of the bottlenecks occurring in knowledge-sharing activities among CoP members.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses the social network analysis method to analyze the activities of organizational members in CoPs and classify organizational members into four types based on their degree of involvement in knowledge creation and consumption. CoPs are also categorized into four types based on the proportion of member types they contain to identify the characteristics of CoP member types and of CoP types.
Findings
Data analysis of the knowledge-sharing activities of 4,414 members from 59 CoPs within one of the largest steel manufacturing companies finds that few CoPs are active in both knowledge creating and consuming and that most CoPs suffer from the insufficient participation of their most experienced employees and experts and hence are vulnerable to master–apprentice and knowledge drain risks.
Originality/value
The proposed BIS metric successfully quantifies the seriousness and pervasiveness of such structural risks and thus can help management teams take preventive action to reduce the identified structural risks.