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An integrated artificial intelligence framework for knowledge creation and B2B marketing rational decision making for improving firm performance

Change management in an academic library in the knowledge economy

  • Authors: Du Plessis, Tanya , Mabunda, Tiyani Tyson
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Change management , Academic library , Knowledge management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/123950 , uj:20855 , Citation: Du Plessis, T & Mabunda, T.T. 2016. Change management in an academic library in the knowledge economy. , Citation: Mabunda, TT... https://www.uj.ac.za/library , https://www.uj.ac.za/library
  • Description: Abstract: In the knowledge economy, knowledge is channelled in new ways which brings about changes to the structure and function of an organisation. Organisations such as academic libraries often introduce innovations in delivery of information services to clients which entail the use of information and communication technology. Current growth in technological applications is enabling academic libraries to change the way they deliver services to clients. Technological applications continuously redefine how academic library collections are used. This article investigates how change in terms of technology is managed in a decentralised academic library in a higher education institution of South Africa. The study was placed within a qualitative research paradigm. A case study design presented the research providing the opportunity to analyse the perception and experience of participants and ensured that real life events were investigated. Semi-structured individual interviews were used to collect data. The most significant finding of this study is the emphasis on the importance of change management in academic libraries and the need for effective communication in order to achieve low resistance to change from academic library staff.
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Knowledge management as a strategic management tool at a South African enterprise.

  • Authors: Du Toit, Adeline , Steyn, Piet
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Knowledge management , Strategic management , Technology-oriented enterprises - South Africa
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5848 , ISSN 1993-8233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7935
  • Description: The primary aim of this article was to explore the role of a knowledge management strategy to achieve a South African technology-oriented enterprise’s business strategy. The linking between knowledge management and the business strategy was viewed as the crux for successful knowledge management in any enterprise. Knowledge plays a crucial role in the competitive nature of enterprises and hence constitutes a critical component of enterprise strategy. The purpose of the empirical survey was to determine the relationship between the knowledge management function and the business strategy at the enterprise. A questionnaire survey was conducted and 355 employees were randomly selected to form the sample. The majority of the respondents were of the opinion that knowledge management plays an important role in the enterprise’s strategies, policies and practices. When implementing a knowledge management strategy, the prioritisation of knowledge management activities, as well as their integration with other business processes, should be an important management focus area and steps for the successful implementation of a knowledge management strategy were recommended.
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Do problem solving, critical thinking and creativity play a role in knowledge management? A theoretical mathematics perspective

  • Authors: Giannakopoulos, Paul , Buckley, Sheryl
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Knowledge management , Problem solving , Critical thinking , Creativity , Mathematics , Psychopragmatic approach
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:6218 , ISBN 978-1-906638-40-5 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5308
  • Description: Litschka, Markom, Schunder (2006) state that "... a knowledge-based economy requires new approaches in management especially with employee oriented actions, because workability, well-being, and creativity of employees determine the success and sustainability of an organization." Such approaches have to be grounded on established learning theories for life long learning which are conducive to knowledge creation and knowledge acquisition. Situated learning (Lave & Wenger, 1997), constructivism (Piaget, 1971; Vygotsky, 1978), behaviourism (Thorndike, 1915; Skinner, 1958) and cognitivism (Wertheimer, 1912; Kohlberg, 1972; Mezirow, 1962, all cited by Hergenhahn and Olson (1997: 29-48) have dominated education for more than eight decades. Though each theory has made valuable contributions, management of knowledge requires higher order thinking skills such critical thinking, problem solving and creativity on the part of the manager of the organisational knowledge and the part of the knowledge creator. The importance of these three skills, especially for the last two decades, have not only been accepted as important cognitive skills by educators and employers, but they also form part of the critical outcomes in American educational policies (American college personnel association, 1994 cited by King & Baxter-Magolda, 1996) as well as in South Africa (SAQA, 1998; the White Paper on Further Education and Training, 1998: 21-23). What is suggested here is a new approach to knowledge management, the psycho-pragmatic approach, which makes use of theories of learning of mathematics as problem solving, critical thinking and creativity form the essence of knowledge acquisition (Schoenfeld, 1987; Skemp, 1977). Mathematics has been recognised as a subject that enhances higher order skills because on the one hand requires abstract thinking on the other promotes use and application of knowledge (Pushkin 2007; Alonso, 1992; Forinash, 1992). This new approach makes use of psychological learning theories for generation of knowledge and pragmatism for application of such knowledge. It is of cyclic nature as well as of spiral nature based on the idea of Nonaka and Konno (1998) model of knowledge and of Bruner's (1976) spiral curriculum.
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Can models for knowledge management be successfully implemented to manage the diversity of indigenous knowledge?

  • Authors: Kok, J.A.
  • Date: 2005-12
  • Subjects: Knowledge management , Indigenous knowledge , Knowledge management frameworks
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5719 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3413
  • Description: With the dawn of the new political dispensation in South Africa, new frameworks emerged on macro level for a better understanding of equality, empowerment and development. Among these were the Reconstruction and Development Programme, the government's Macro-economic Strategy (GEAR), the National System for Innovation and the African Renaissance. This set the scene for reconstruction, innovation and the establishment of human rights, sustainable development and democratization in South Africa.
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Teaching to learn and learning to share : assessing a culture of sharing amongst information and knowledge management students in a virtual environment.

  • Authors: Mearns, Martie , Jacobs, Lizelle
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Knowledge management , Knowledge sharing , Information sharing , Virtual environment
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:6201 , ISBN 978-1-906638-46-7 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5281
  • Description: Knowledge and information sharing has become synonymous with the concept of creating value and power for organisations. Knowledge is being recognised as a valuable asset and the promotion and dissemination of information and knowledge in its internal workings has the aim of creating learning organisations. The sharing of information and knowledge creates a community where participants can collaborate with each other in achieving their goals. In a knowledge management course in the Department of Information and Knowledge Management, at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa), students are introduced to these concepts as part of their training to pursue various careers as information and knowledge workers within organisations where these concepts have to be applied Using a philosophy of teaching by example, students are encouraged to share information and knowledge, making use of discussion boards in a virtual learning environment as part of a multiwmodal learning approach that includes facewtowface lectures as well as an online interactive environment. Discussion topics are provided in line with a case study that students are requested to analyse. Students' reflections on the learning that has taken place, based on the responses to the discussion topics, form part of the case study analysis which is assessed. The purpose of the research is to gain insight into the effectiveness of information and knowledge sharing in a virtual environment using discussion boards in terms of its impact to generate a learning culture. A mixed methods approach is applied to 210 registered students in a second year group and 123 registered students in a third year group by monitoring their discussions on allocated topics. Firstly, content analysis methodology is applied to assess the knowledge sharing that is taking place in the virtual environment. Secondly, a survey is conducted at the end of the discussion period to determine student experiences, perceptions and opinions on the knowledge sharing process and is used to adapt and develop the course design. Thirdly, students are required to reflect on the learning experiences as part of the submitted case stUdy analysis assignment. The discussion monitoring will investigate the following variables: (1) student participation rates, frequency and patterns; as well as (2) cognitive and meta-cognitive components of student messages. The survey and reflection will be used to assess the students' (3) perception of learning through sharing; (4) experiences of group dynamics and (5) their perceived individual performances based on the discussion groups. This research includes an investigation of using different group dynamics to compare the experiences of students being managed in a randomly selected group as opposed to students signing up to a group of their own choice. It is hypothesised that the findings from this research will provide important answers required to facilitate students with diverse skills and socio-economic backgrounds in their cognitive and meta­cognitive development for information and knowledge sharing when making use of online discussions boards.
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Examining the role of knowledge management and technology operating capabilities in the development of customer-centric organisational systems

  • Authors: Munyanyi, Watson , Pooe, David
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Knowledge management , Technology operating capabilities , Customer-centric organisational systems
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/404566 , uj:33934 , Citation: Munyanyi, W. & Pooe, D., 2019, ‘Examining the role of knowledge management and technology operating capabilities in the development of customercentric organisational systems’, Acta Commercii 19(2), a647. https://doi.org/ 10.4102/ac.v19i2.647 , ISSN: (Online) 1684-1999
  • Description: Abstract: Orientation: Over the years technological competence and knowledge management have grown in significance in relation to strategic management of firms. Research purpose: The aim of the study was to examine the role of knowledge management and technology operating capabilities in the development of customer-centric organisational systems for small and medium enterprises in Zimbabwe. Motivation for the study: The dynamism in the business environment, coupled with the proliferation in technological advancements, is forcing firms to reorient themselves, especially towards customer centrism. Research design, approach and method: Based on a cross-sectional survey conducted on 388 firms in Zimbabwe, this study sought to investigate the influence of knowledge management capabilities and technology operating capabilities on the ability of small and medium enterprises to create customer-centric organisational systems. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to collect data from simple, randomly selected small firms, and structural equation modelling was used to test the direction and significance of the proposed relationships. Main findings: The study found that there are positive relationships between the two dimensions of knowledge management capability and one technological competence dimension. Practical/managerial implications: Because external knowledge searches have become progressively significant for small and medium enterprises to attain and maintain a competitive advantage, the study findings demonstrate that knowledge acquisition and transformation are also essential for firms to create customer-oriented organisational systems. Contribution/value-add: The novelty in this study is that it decomposes absorptive capacity and technological competences and assesses the individual dimensions’ influence on the dependent variable, thereby enhancing exhaustive understanding while avoiding theoretical misspecifications and empirical contradictions.
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Working knowledge : how knowledge workers in an enterprise manage what they know

  • Authors: Steyn, Piet , Du Toit, Adeline
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Knowledge workers , Knowledge management
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:6191 , ISBN 978-0-86970-661-9 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5270
  • Description: This paper focuses on the role of the knowledge worker and their contribution to the achievement of an enterprise's objectives. Knowledge workers do not have enough time to keep abreast of new knowledge and need more than motivation to assist with the capturing of tacit knowledge. The purpose of the empirical survey was to determine the role and contribution of knowledge workers to the objectives of a South African technology-oriented company. A high percentage of respondents indicated a positive relationship .between a worker's position on the organisational hierarchy and the opportunities for the worker to make knowledge contributions. Tile metrics applied to measuring the contribution of knowledge workers need to be carefully considered.
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Knowledge sharing via enterprise intranets – asking the right questions.

  • Authors: Van der Walt, C. , Van Brakel, P.A. , Kok, J.A.
  • Date: 2004-06
  • Subjects: Knowledge management , Intranets , Enterprise culture , Knowledge management systems
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5714 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3408
  • Description: The corporate intranet is a common feature of both public and private sector enterprises today. It has been found that once the infrastructure and architecture are in place, the real challenge for enterprises is to get users to contribute their own knowledge willingly and to use that of others. The culture of the enterprise needs to promote it. To stay competitive, enterprises need relevant and current knowledge from a variety of sources to allow them to innovate and create new knowledge and consequently new products or solutions for their clients. The enterprise intranet could be the ideal tool to make this possible. For effective knowledge sharing to take place, a knowledge sharing culture and proper knowledge sharing tools and facilities are required.
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Intellectual capital management in a South African retail company

  • Authors: Van der Westhuizen, C. , Kok, J.A.
  • Date: 2006-12
  • Subjects: Knowledge management , Intellectual capital , Retail industry
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5710 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3404
  • Description: This research commenced with a study of the concepts of knowledge management and intellectual capital to establish a clear understanding of the importance of the management of intellectual assets of a company. In the review of existing measurement models the strengths and weaknesses and primary uses of each model were explored to understand the different goals for using different models. After the need for an intellectual capital management tool was established, different models were considered and recommendations were made for developing an intellectual capital management tool in retail companies in South Africa.
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