Katia Passerini and Mary J. Granger
Reviews instructional approaches based on the use of different media to provide examples of strategies and evaluation tools for media integration. Uses an introductory information…
Abstract
Reviews instructional approaches based on the use of different media to provide examples of strategies and evaluation tools for media integration. Uses an introductory information systems undergraduate course taught at the George Washington University as an example.
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This paper presents best practices of global and local initiatives for social and economic capital development. It introduces the notion of “megacommunities” representing broad…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper presents best practices of global and local initiatives for social and economic capital development. It introduces the notion of “megacommunities” representing broad multilateral stakeholder groups that work together for the resolutions of large‐scale health, environmental and social problems. The paper also takes a more local view by discussing a few regional and municipal examples of “intelligent communities” at the forefront of the knowledge economy. These mega and intelligent communities are often the first to adopt information and communication technologies (ICT), especially pervasive broadband technologies services, for achieving superior social, human and economic wellbeing. The objective of the paper is to identify common drivers and characteristics of these communities and how they utilize ICT to promote higher‐level growth.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper takes the form of a general review. The paper introduces the notions of wellbeing, human, social and economic capital. It presents examples of mega and intelligent communities that represent the best practices in the achievement of wellbeing.
Findings
The review finds that technological empowerment – in particular information and communication technologies (ICT) – is fundamental to integrate mega and intelligent communities for social, human and economic wellbeing. Through the best practice examples presented in this research, ICT is regarded as the key driver for supporting a sustainable economic development at the global, regional and local levels. Through ICT, it is viable (and essential) to establish a global knowledge base, shared and contributed to by a variety of experts and professionals throughout the world in different fields.
Research limitations/implications
The paper presents examples based on case studies conducted by the authors and based on reviews of the best practice approaches. Based upon the observation of the key success factors and commonalities among the cases, ICT plays an essential role for the sustainable outcomes from the current mega and intelligent community initiatives. Further empirical testing is needed to demonstrate the success factor relationships introduced in this paper.
Practical implications
The paper raises awareness of relevant initiatives that could be adopted and replicated to facilitate sustainable development.
Originality/value
The value of the paper stems from the link between the macro and micro dimensions of different communities. Using the best practice cases as examples, this paper presents worthy lessons to policy makers, governments, global knowledge management, other practitioners and professionals. In particular, it opens up potential opportunities for more effective and efficient global collaborations through highlighting the role of information and communication technologies in the successful management of community practices.
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The purpose of this paper is to highlight that research on the measurement of key indicators that represent drivers of the knowledge economy still spans several different…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to highlight that research on the measurement of key indicators that represent drivers of the knowledge economy still spans several different, although interrelated, directions. The results of this review call for further integration of metrics through cross‐disciplinary international, multinational and organizational partnerships that could reconcile and define de facto standards for the assessment of the drivers of knowledge‐based growth.
Design/methodology/approach
General review, literature review. The paper reviews extant literature and practical experiences in knowledge‐based development assessments.
Findings
The review finds that many institutions are still adopting a variety of approaches which are difficult to reconcile. Additional coordination efforts are required to overcome contextual and non‐replicable approaches and, thus, increase standardization of metrics.
Research limitations/implications
While the paper discusses limitations of extant approaches, it does not build (another) alternative theoretical solution. Rather it suggests actionable strategies that require a high level of international coordination.
Practical implications
The paper shows the path and examples of multi‐agency approach to achieve standardization.
Originality/value
The value of the paper stems from its classification and review of selected approaches both at the country and organizational level. While it is motivated by a call for integration that is not novel to the field of knowledge management, it suggests that this coordination: needs to occur simultaneously both at the country and the organizational levels, whereby country approaches could inform and drive industry approaches; and needs to leverage international coordination models such as those of international standardization bodies.
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This paper seeks to focus on describing the type of relationships that involved public, private and non‐profit organizations in the visioning, planning and building of a…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to focus on describing the type of relationships that involved public, private and non‐profit organizations in the visioning, planning and building of a large‐scale HIV/AIDS treatment center, stressing the characteristics and role of the partners, with a particular focus on private donors and detailing drivers of alliances that could help in implementing future partnerships in other regions of the World.
Design/methodology/approach
Case study, general review. The findings and descriptions in the paper are based on semi‐structured interviews with at least one or more project participants from each key Infectious Disease Institute alliance partner.
Findings
Based on interview with project participants, key enablers of project success are identified in communication, local focus, flexible management of funding, access to key stakeholders and business planning based on private sector standards. Specific project shortcomings are also highlighted (lack of planning for knowledge transfer and long‐term sustainability) together with concerns on the ability of similar projects to overcome mis‐perceptions (such as stigma and concerns about private involvement in public endeavors).
Research limitations/implications
The paper focuses on one specific approach adopted in one East African country (with unique characteristics). Therefore, the paper suffers from the external validity limitations of case studies.
Practical implications
The paper presents key drivers of a highly replicable experience that could inform and inspire other businesses to pursue similar development and philanthropic initiatives.
Originality/value
This case study calls attention to a devastating pandemic by describing a way to contribute to its solution through alliances and business sectors' higher focus on social responsibility.
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Mary Kate Naatus, Katia Passerini, Kevin Pon and Mark Somers
– The purpose of this paper is to compare knowledge of business concepts acquired at the end of undergraduate studies of management in France and the USA.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare knowledge of business concepts acquired at the end of undergraduate studies of management in France and the USA.
Design/methodology/approach
Mind maps were used to examine what knowledge students retained toward the end of their undergraduate studies in business and management. Data were collected from two groups of students, one in France and one in the USA and they analyzed on computer software.
Findings
The results indicate that the learning process may be influenced not only by the structure and content of the program but also by the environment in which such content is assimilated. This study provides examples of how culture can influence the way we learn and represent core business knowledge.
Research limitations/implications
The research was based on a number of undergraduate students and cannot therefore be generalized to other subjects or other levels of studies at the present time.
Originality/value
The paper moves away from traditional manners of collecting data through questionnaires and surveys in order to study the impact of management education and what students learn at undergraduate level.
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P. Ben Chou and Katia Passerini
The purpose of this paper is to integrate the empirical and game theoretical approaches to address the strategic interactions among countries in choosing their optimal levels of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to integrate the empirical and game theoretical approaches to address the strategic interactions among countries in choosing their optimal levels of intellectual property rights (IPRs), and to identify how these countries can reach an efficient and equitable equilibrium.
Design/methodology/approach
Because countries' decisions on which IPR standards and protections to implement are interrelated, the authors apply game theory to characterize the scenarios before and after the 1994 Agreement on Trade‐related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) involving developed and developing countries.
Findings
The model shows that the pre‐TRIPS equilibrium is comprised of high‐income (H‐I) developed countries which choose a strong IPR protection while the middle‐income (M‐I) and low‐income (L‐I) developing countries choose a weak IPR standard. For countries to move from such an equilibrium to the uniformly strong IPR regime under TRIPS, it is necessary for the H‐I countries to compensate L‐I and M‐I countries that do not have the sufficient conditions to attract knowledge/technology transfer. This compensation covers IPR protection implementation costs and increased royalties for patents.
Research limitations/implications
The model proposed in this study is not complex. In reality, the payoff functions can have more variables and parameters, which, however, may also complicate the model and lower its generalizability.
Originality/value
The study explains that it is difficult for countries to reach an efficient and equitable equilibrium without the subsidies and side‐payments from the developed countries to the developing countries. It builds an important bridge between the game theoretical approach and the empirical studies of TRIPS, which can be further enriched and tested. It acknowledges that it is more likely for stronger IPR standards (as in TRIPS) to be implemented than an open source approach.
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The purpose of this research is to investigate individual perceptions of time and time management strategies that professionals utilize to achieve their productivity in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to investigate individual perceptions of time and time management strategies that professionals utilize to achieve their productivity in the execution of their daily tasks, projects and routines. Projects have specific time durations from the beginning to the end, which often need to be broken down into smaller temporal elements (e.g. milestones), and require learning and knowledge capture throughout different project phases. It aims to observe how knowledge management processes tie to personal time management, and how this observation could contribute to project management practices in organizations. The understanding of individual time management strategies, especially when they are connected to the capture, storage, transfer and application of knowledge, can create operational efficiencies in projects.
Design/methodology/approach
Two sets of in‐depth semi‐structured interviews and field observations were designed and conducted with 20 busy professionals at an academic institution in the USA. All interviews were audio‐taped and transcribed generating over 350 pages of individual time management strategy statements. An extensive content analysis was performed to categorize the types of knowledge being used by professionals when engaged in daily organizational tasks and projects based on their roles and job hierarchy. Alavi and Leidner's knowledge taxonomies were used as the main coding scheme in order to classify types of individual temporal behaviours uncovered in this study.
Findings
This study shows that both explicit and tacit practices of individual time management are an important component of how professionals complete project tasks within their daily routines. Project managers play an important role in leading a successful project, and their time orientations directly affect all project phases.
Originality/value
Although good time management strategies may be one of the key determinants of organizational productivity (driving increased output per unit of time), limited knowledge management research has been conducted within the context of professionals' time management practices. The findings reveal that individual time management is shaped by organizational temporal structures and norms, which organizations use to govern their employees and resources around clock time.
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Regina Collins and Nancy Steffen-Fluhr
The purpose of this paper is to describe how one group of ADVANCE Project researchers investigated faculty co-authorship networks to identify relationships between women’s…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe how one group of ADVANCE Project researchers investigated faculty co-authorship networks to identify relationships between women’s positions in these networks, their research productivity and their advancement at the university – and to make those relationships transparent.
Design/methodology/approach
Multiple methods for capturing faculty network data were evaluated, including collecting self-reported data and mining bibliometric data from various web-based sources. Faculty co-authorship networks were subsequently analyzed using several methodologies including social network analysis (SNA), network visualizations and the Kaplan–Meier product limit estimator.
Findings
Results suggest that co-authorship provides an important way for faculty to signal the value of their work, meaning that co-authoring with many others may be beneficial to productivity and promotion. However, patterns of homophily indicate that male faculty tend to collaborate more with other men, reducing signaling opportunities for women. Visualizing these networks can assist faculty in finding and connecting with new collaborators and can provide administrators with unique views of the interactions within their organizations. Finally, Kaplan–Meier survival studies showed longitudinal differences in the retention and advancement of faculty based on gender.
Originality/value
Together, these findings begin to shed light on subtle differences that, over time, may account for the significant gender disparities at STEM institutions, patterns which should be investigated and addressed by administrators. Lessons learned, as well as the novel use of SNA and Kaplan–Meier in investigating gender differences in STEM faculty, provide important findings for other researchers seeking to conduct similar studies at their own institutions.