An exploration of knowledge creation processes in Open Innovation

PurposeTotal quality management (TQM) and knowledge management (KM) are two similar and complementary management philosophies synergistic combinations that can form a cycle of improvement and development. This paper aims to investigate the impact of TQM factors on knowledge creation in the organizations of Bangladesh.Design/methodology/approachA list of TQM factors was identified through reviewing the relevant literature. Knowledge creation was analyzed through the framework proposed by Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995). Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire survey among 450 top and mid-level managers of the organizations. A quantitative research approach, namely, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used in the study. The data were analyzed in SmartPLS 3.FindingsFrom the study, it is found that a positive and significant relationship exists between leadership, employee empowerment, benchmarking, customer focus and information technology with the knowledge creation process and four knowledge conversion modes. In contrast, a negative and significant relationship has been found between employee training and continuous improvement with the knowledge creation process and three knowledge conversion modes.Research limitations/implicationsPrevious researches in Bangladesh empirically validated the effect of TQM on organizational performance, competitive advantage, financial performance, market performance and productivity. But, no such study was undertaken to empirically validate the effect of TQM on knowledge creation process for organizations of Bangladesh. Here, the study has a unique contribution. The empirical support for the hypotheses to explain and predict the contribution of the TQM in promoting knowledge creation.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the role of leadership practices. Organizational leadership needs to focus more on following issues: gathering required knowledge from the superior sources; transforming prevailing knowledge into a meaningful format to perform activities in better and innovative ways; employing opinions from experiences; facilitating mechanism for employees to update their knowledge; creating a virtual network; implementing customer relationship management system and providing tools and technologies to employees for performing KM activities more efficiently. On the other hand, negative effect of employee training and continuous improvement on knowledge creation sheds light on understanding the reasons for this kind of relationship and formulating effective strategies to resolve problems inside the organizations. In this regard, employees need to be well equipped through regular and appropriate training. Also, employees need to use problem-solving approach to identify problems inside the organizational system thereby availing opportunities for continuous improvement.Originality/valueThis study was conducted to identify factors that enable knowledge creation in organizations from developing countries like Bangladesh. TQM has been adopted in many organizations. But, its effect was mostly measured to determine its impact on improving organizational performance or competitiveness or identifying its critical success factors of implementation. Hence, this study sheds light on identifying the effect of TQM from a new perspective.

Perhaps you are a doctoral student, mapping out how to parcel your dissertation; perhaps you are a junior scholar, strategizing your research plan; perhaps you are a senior scholar, who is thinking about what you want to say to the field. No matter what stage you are at as a management researcher, you might be looking to the Academy of Management (AOM) journals as a natural home for any and all of these creative research pursuits. However, it might not always be crystal clear how you should craft your work for the AOM journals, what contribution you might make at each journal, and consequently to which journal you should target your intellectual contributions.
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How does digital transformation empower knowledge creation? Evidence from Chinese manufacturing enterprises

Thanks to reputation and gamification mechanisms, collaborative question answering systems coordinate the process of topical knowledge creation of thousands of users. While successful, these systems face many challenges: on one hand, the volume of submitted questions overgrows the amount of new users willing, and capable, of answering them. On the other hand, existing users need to be retained and optimally allocated. Previous work demonstrates the positive effects that two important aspects, namely engagement and expertise valorisation, can have on user quality and quantity of participation. The magnitude of their effect can greatly vary across users and across topics. In this paper we advocate for a more in-depth study of the interplay that exists between user engagement factors in question answering systems. Our working hypothesis is that the process of knowledge creation can be accelerated by better understanding and exploiting the combined effects of the interests and expertise of users, with their intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. We perform a study over 6 years of data from the StackOverflow platform. By defining metrics of expertise and (intrinsic and extrinsic) motivations, we show how they distribute and correlate across platform’s users and topics. By means of an off-line question routing experiment, we show how topic-specific combinations of motivations and expertise can help accelerating the knowledge creation process.

This paper extends our understanding of knowledge creation in virtual communities of practice by examining crowdsourcing activities that enable knowledge creation in these social structures. An interpretive methodology, narrative networks analysis, is used to systematically study the narratives of discussion forums in a virtual community. The virtual community studied is voluntary for the participants, and open to anyone. Through the analysis of the narrative, a model of knowledge creation is developed that identifies types of evidentiary knowledge contributions, as well as conversation mitigators that help or hinder knowledge creation within the community. Knowledge is a primary attraction of a virtual community for many of its members, and this study aims to understand how knowledge is shared and created in such voluntary communities of practice. The model highlights elements that enhance and impair knowledge creation in this type of crowdsourced environment.

Purpose - The researcher investigates the extent to which knowledge sharing moderates the relationship between knowledge creation and business process re-engineering (BPR) outcomes of financial services offered by financial institutions in Uganda. Design/Methodology - The study adopted cross-sectional survey design to collect data at one point in time using self-administered questionnaire to examine the relationship between knowledge creation and business processes. The study at first used statistical package for social scientists to establish clusters among the surveyed financial services and later a model was derived using R programming software to test for knowledge creation and business process re-engineering performance outcomes. Findings - The study found a significant conditional effect of knowledge sharing on knowledge creation and business process re-engineering outcomes. Implying that investment in knowledge sharing creates awareness about the financial services outcomes of financial institutions using business process re-engineering to provide financial services. Originality - This study contributes to business process re-engineering literature by advancing the idea that BPR is an important economic resource that enhanced through instituting knowledge creation and sharing practices in a complex environment. Ideally, creating and sharing knowledge is one of the drivers of customer value, efficiency, and effectiveness of financial services in financial institutions. Practical Implications - Managers of financial institutions need to pay keen interest in managing business processes using relevant knowledge and transforming in new products, new processes, and new markets to boost business process re-engineering outcomes by building a strong knowledge creation system through training and development programs for senior managers.

As selective revealing is being recognized as a new means to find collaboration partners, little attention has been paid on how selectively revealed solutions are best formulated in order to be positively perceived. Prior research has highlighted that technological gatekeepers, i.e. individuals with who handle the R&D communication network and hence potential recipients of revealed knowledge, rely on cognitive and perceptual abilities during the recognition and evaluation of novel technologies. To enrich existing knowledge about opportunity recognition in selective revealing, this study took a cognitive perspective and intended to explore the effects of different formulated revealed solutions on the identification of collaborative opportunities. By priorly manipulating the superficial and structural commonalities of two revealed solutions conducted in collaboration with industry experts, I designed a 2*2 within-subject experiment to validate whether such an induction of analogies increases the percipience of a selectively revealed opportunity. The data, which was attained during an online-experiment with university students from different fields of studies also included individual factors such as prior knowledge about markets and technologies, creative ability (proxied by divergent thinking test and creative self-efficacy) and other demographic characteristics. The gathered data was analyzed through a linear-mixed effect model to capture the repeated design of the experiment. The computation illustrated that relational commonalities between a market and a revealed solution considerably improved the perception about a revealed solution and the willingness to engage a collaboration. In addition, the results demonstrated that superficial similarities facilitate the retrieval of analogies from structural commonalities. For the individual factors, the provided evidence could not support the initial hypotheses that individual creativity and prior knowledge positively moderate the effects of superficial and structural similarities. Contrarily, the results revealed negative moderating effects of creativity and the field of study. Despite further research is necessary, this study delivered implications for both ends of the information flow in selective revealing by conjointly examining the effects of selectively revealed opportunities and personal traits, and enriched this field of study through comprehending the drivers of early action in open innovation and strategic renewal. As selective revealing is being recognized as a new means to find collaboration partners, little attention has been paid on how selectively revealed solutions are best formulated in order to be positively perceived. Prior research has highlighted that technological gatekeepers, i.e. individuals with who handle the R&D communication network and hence potential recipients of revealed knowledge, rely on cognitive and perceptual abilities during the recognition and evaluation of novel technologies. To enrich existing knowledge about opportunity recognition in selective revealing, this study took a cognitive perspective and intended to explore the effects of different formulated revealed solutions on the identification of collaborative opportunities. By priorly manipulating the superficial and structural commonalities of two revealed solutions conducted in collaboration with industry experts, I designed a 2*2 within-subject experiment to validate whether such an induction of analogies increases the percipience of a selectively revealed opportunity. The data, which was attained during an online-experiment with university students from different fields of studies also included individual factors such as prior knowledge about markets and technologies, creative ability (proxied by divergent thinking test and creative self-efficacy) and other demographic characteristics. The gathered data was analyzed through a linear-mixed effect model to capture the repeated design of the experiment. The computation illustrated that relational commonalities between a market and a revealed solution considerably improved the perception about a revealed solution and the willingness to engage a collaboration. In addition, the results demonstrated that superficial similarities facilitate the retrieval of analogies from structural commonalities. For the individual factors, the provided evidence could not support the initial hypotheses that individual creativity and prior knowledge positively moderate the effects of superficial and structural similarities. Contrarily, the results revealed negative moderating effects of creativity and the field of study. Despite further research is necessary, this study delivered implications for both ends of the information flow in selective revealing by conjointly examining the effects of selectively revealed opportunities and personal traits, and enriched this field of study through comprehending the drivers of early action in open innovation and strategic renewal. Keywords: Selective Revealing, Opportunity Recognition, Open Innovation, Analogical Reasoning, Gatekeepers

Collective processes of organizational knowledge creation remain poorly explored. Yet efficient knowledge management has to focus on those processes as far as it aims at dealing with sustaining knowledge development and knowledge sharing rather than solely its memorization. In this paper, we present a comparative analysis of two processes of knowledge creation within a business intelligence unit. This analysis leads to a five stages model that can be used either as a descriptive or prescriptive tool for knowledge management.

In organizations, the knowledge creation remained an exclusive attribute of humans until the emergence of artificial intelligence. The role of information systems in organizations expanded continuously, including recording, organizing, processing, storage, dissemination and making available the information, until the revolutionary emergence of artificial intelligence. The role of knowledge creation is no longer exclusive to humans. Artificial intelligence becomes a partner entity of employees in knowledge creation processes in organizations. This article investigates how artificial intelligence can be incorporated in knowledge creation processes. Starting from the study of scientific literature, this article presents concepts and taxonomies associated with the use of artificial intelligence in the processes of knowledge creation in organizations. The study is a first step in a larger research, which aims to identify the main consequences, on employees and organizations, of the incorporation of artificial intelligence in the processes of knowledge creation.

Knowledge is one of the relevant aspects of the management of organizations from different sectors, with an impact on the maximization of organizational resources. Although the topic Knowledge Creation obtains recognition in the organizational market as a valuable source of competitive advantage, it is still incipient and little explored in management of sports organizations. In terms of scientific production, since 2016 there is a growing interest of scholars from other countries on the creation and management of knowledge in the segment of organizations and sports events, in Brazil, however, the theme is little explored. Given this scenario, the guiding question of the research was: How is the Knowledge Creation process carried out and how is this knowledge shared in sports organizations? The study is characterized as descriptive research and predominantly as a quantitative approach. A total of 27 olympic federations of So Paulo were studied through the application of a composite questionnaire, in addition to the Profile of study environment; by blocks that correspond to the knowledge creation process cathegories analyzed: Process of Creation of Knowledge; Information and knowledge flows; Conditions and factors that act in the Creation of Knowledge; Tools in support of the Creation of Knowledge, and Knowledge, learning and communication. The subjects of the research were managers and administrative employees of entities of different hierarchical levels. The results obtained from 48% of respondent federations revealed that the creation of concepts is carried out more frequently in formal and informal meetings, followed by the experiences acquired in the conduction and organization of the events, also listening to the members and other agents among them the coaches, athletes, Brazilian confederation of the sport, referees, among others. However, the same does not apply in the relationship with government agencies, seeking to import knowledge. With regard to the decisions to be made, they are carried out using previous data that allows forecasting trends and planning future scenarios, which can be identified in the investment in improvement of IT systems. The trainings are mostly offered to its external audience, and those related to the human resources of the internal environment are carried out on their own initiative. Less than half of the respondents stated that employees have autonomy with freedom of action for decisions, as well as being encourged in challenges and to be proactive and ambitious. The internal work teams containing collaborators from other areas were confirmed by half the respondents and there is practically no rotation of functions. The results allow us to assume that there are no actions or programs aimed at Knowledge Creation and Sharing. The analysis of the results suggest the need for "change" in the organizational culture, in the established routines, which prove to be standardized in the organizations studied. Limitations and suggestions to analyze aspects not contemplated in this research are pointed out.

It has long been acknowledged that knowledge is key for economic growth and innovation. Over the last decades, the perception of what knowledge is and how it can be characterized, however, has changed drastically. Today, in particular the neo-Schumpeterian perspective highlights that knowledge cannot longer be considered as a pure public good but stresses it as something individual, local, tacit, firm specific and complex (Hanusch and Pyka, 2010). So for example, we know from literature that the process of knowledge discovery and creation (and thus the process of innovation) is a recombinatorial one (see e.g. Fleming, 2001). In fact, already Schumpeter (1942) addressed innovations as new combinations and also Weitzman (1998, p. 209) states: "when research is applied, new ideas arise out of existing ideas in some kind of cumulative interactive process that intuitively has a different feel from prospecting for petroleum". Against this backdrop, it is striking that that knowledge in agent-based simulation models is still often oversimplified. Consequently, the discovery or generation of new knowledge in many cases is modelled as a random process similar to the discovery of new oil fields (Antonelli, Krafft and Quatraro, 2010). At the same time, some models feature more sophisticated concepts and ideas, each with a particular focus and objective. Approaches from the literature range from simple binary representations that consider knowledge as an (or more) isolated piece(s) of information. In this setting, knowledge diffusion, for example, boils down to the process similar to the contagious transmission of a disease. Other contributions consider knowledge to be linked knowledge pieces that form a network of knowledge (see for example Morone and Taylor, 2010; Schlaile, Zeman and Mueller, 2018; Müller, Kudic and Vermeulen, 2020) which allows for the analysis of more nuanced analyses of knowledge discovery, creation and diffusion. The overarching goal of this chapter is to show how knowledge and hence knowledge creation and knowledge diffusion processes are modelled in agent-based models in the literature. This is done to analyse how we can capture the complex nature of knowledge especially against the backdrop of radical transition processes such as the bioeconomy and the energy transition.

PurposeThis paper explores how learning processes supported by intensive use of design can favour absorptive capacity in open innovation contexts characterised by the interaction of a high number of diverse stakeholders.Design/methodology/approachThe paper combines the insights from theory with the empirical evidence gathered by adopting a case study approach.FindingsFindings provide evidence about the role of design-based learning to facilitate intra- and inter-organisational knowledge flows and to sustain absorptive capacity through processes of recognition, internalisation and adoption.Research limitations/implicationsThe study integrates currently distinct research streams focussing on (1) design research, particularly on how design can support knowledge processes and specific learning processes and (2) open innovation, particularly regarding how to enhance absorptive capacity in those contexts in which a high number of diverse stakeholders interact.Practical implicationsThis study can help companies, research institutions and other organisations leveraging open innovation to reflect on the potential of design-based learning processes and on how to deliberately facilitate such processes in their projects.Originality/valueThe original contribution provided by this study is to explore open innovation through some analytical categories elaborated in design research concerning materially grounded forms of design-based learning. In particular, the study investigates how design supports knowledge transfer, sharing, translation and creation.

Organisational knowledge creation is different from individual knowledge creation. Since 1990, the theoretical and empirical study of knowledge creation in organisations revealed that knowledge and the capability to create it is one of the most important sources of a company’s sustainable competitive advantage. The theory of organisational knowledge creation, first presented by Nonaka (Harward Business Review, Nov.–Dec., 96–104, 1991), is a paradigm for managing the dynamic aspects of organisational knowledge creation processes. Its central theme is the SECI model as a knowledge creation process as played out through a continuous dialogue between tacit and explicit knowledge. As it has developed since the early 1990s, it has broadened in scope and is now linked to a huge range of topics, such as leadership styles, organisational forms, cultural aspects and organisational learning. This chapter gives a comprehensive introduction of Nonaka’s SECI model as the core of his theory which remained relatively unchanged, while Nonaka’s knowledge creation theory has evolved. Furthermore, the knowledge creation theory is explained while the SECI model is reviewed from several perspectives. As a business example of its implementation, the organisational application of the model at a German airport is described. This critical evaluation suggests future requirements regarding practical implications of the theory.

Although Covid-19 cases are continuing to decrease, the practice of online learning has become common in education. Many education institutions have online classes besides face-to-face classes. However, many research reported several problems in distance learning practice mainly because of the limitation of interactive conversation and learning activities and finally lead to an ineffective knowledge creation process. It is reported that in a distance learning setting during the pandemic, the motivation and participation rate decreased while the absence and dropout rates increased. Knowledge conversion is a term to reflect the acquisition of new know-how or tacit knowledge from the learning activities. Currently, various technology vendor keeps making innovations to solve this problem, and available technologies that can be utilized to support distance learning education are increasing. Therefore, this paper aims to know the impact of the knowledge creation process on student satisfaction and explain how to utilize technologies throughout the knowledge creation chain. Based on the statistical analysis it is found that the knowledge creation process that is represented using the SECI model simultaneously has a significant positive effect on student satisfaction. This means all phases in SECI (socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization) are simultaneously able to improve student satisfaction. However, partially, only socialization and internalization that has a significant positive impact on student satisfaction, which indicates these two factors partially could lead to better student satisfaction if it is planned and managed appropriately. This paper also constructs a matrix that helps education practitioners choose the right technology for each knowledge creation phase.

Purpose: This research was aimed at investigating organisational support by means of knowledge conversion processes toward maturity growth in innovation capability areas. Problem investigated: No formal guidelines exist for the use of knowledge management to grow innovation capability maturity. As knowledge management plays a fundamental role in an enterprise's ability to innovate successfully, the following question arises: Can knowledge creation processes be used to enable innovation capability maturity growth? Methodology: The literature therefore provides a strong basis for the argument that knowledge management and more specifically knowledge creation processes could be used to improve an enterprise's innovation capability maturity. A knowledge creation framework that enables innovation capability maturity growth was designed by aligning knowledge creation processes to the requirements for innovation capability growth from one maturity level to the next. The time-frame of the research did not allow the implementation of the framework, and five industry and subject theory experts were used to evaluate the framework. Findings: All five experts responded positively to, and were in agreement that the reasoning applied when identifying the specific knowledge creation process path as a key enabler of growth between innovation capability maturity levels is logical and sound. Value of research: The unique research contribution of the framework lies in providing a tangible link between the fields of knowledge management and innovation capability maturity.Conclusion: The impact of this research lies in the development of a knowledge creation framework that provides guidelines for the use of knowledge creation processes as a vehicle for innovation capability maturity growth.