• Proceedings of the Korean Operations and Management Science Society Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.329-341
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• 2008

Knowledge management has garnered attention due to its role of maintaining competitive advantage. Creating and sharing knowledge is an essential part of managing knowledge. However, the best knowledge is underutilized because employees tend to seek knowledge through their informal networks, not reach out to other sources for obtaining the best knowledge. Prior studies on informal networks pointed out a negative influence of heavy reliance on learning through informal networks but they paid little attention to a structure of informal networks and its impacts on diffusion of knowledge. The aim of our study is to show impacts of informal network on knowledge management by employing a network structure and investigating diffusion of knowledge within it. Our study found out that performance of learning becomes lower in a highly clustered network. Creating random links such as serendipitous learning can improve performance of knowledge management. When employees rely on a knowledge management system, creating random links is not necessary. Costs of adopting knowledge affect performance of knowledge management.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.149-168
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• 2005

Owing to the limits of IT System-driven knowledge management(KM) for innovation processes, alternative KM methods has been suggested such as: (1) the knowledge network of experts or (2) communities-of-practice. This study analyzes two cases in terms of on-line expert knowledge networks for problem-solving, with the dimensions of analysis based on a theoretical framework. By analyzing the cases of S company's expert network and Naver's Ji-sik-iN, we found that system quality(e.g., ease of use, accessibility, and searching function), information/knowledge quality(e.g., usefulness, accuracy, and timeliness), knowledge-sharing culture, social capital and relevant reward systems are important for stimulating a Q&A-based problem-solving knowledge network. Implications of the findings and future research directions are discussed.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.307-315
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• 2014

This paper aims to empirically examine how shipping companies can effectively acquire knowledge from their strategic alliance partners. This paper adopts cooperative network embeddedness mechanism, such as network density and tie closeness, as a channel through which to acquire more knowledge for shipping participants within a strategic alliance network. This study also examines the moderating role of competition between alliance partners in reinforcing the effectiveness of the cooperative relationships on the knowledge acquisition. Based on the literature, hypotheses to predict the aforementioned associations between cooperative network embeddedness and knowledge acquisition and the moderating role of competition in facilitating that association are established. A quantitative research method using survey data conducted in the Korean shipping industry was employed in order to empirically test the presented hypotheses. The results show that if players in a shipping alliance network are embedded in a dense network and have close relationships with their alliance partners, this helps to facilitate a greater degree of knowledge acquisition from the partners; and the impact of network density on the knowledge acquisition would be intensified with the higher level of competition between shipping companies.

• Proceedings of the Technology Innovation Conference
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• 1997.12a
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• pp.133-158
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• 1997

This paper analyzes the characteristics of technological knowledge flow-structure of Korean manufacturing in dynamic perspective. In doing that, the concept of the knowledge network is introduced which is defined as a set of industries and their interaction(knowledge flow) or linkage. The analysis of the inter-industrial knowledge flows is based on the technological similarity by using R&D researchers'academic background in the year of 1984, 1987, 1990. The analysis is carried out by such methodology as network analysis, indicator analysis and simple statistical analysis. And the final results are drawn both in absolute terms(dimension effect) and in relative terms (proportion effect) respectively. The main findings are as follow. First, the Korean manufacturing knowledge network appears to strengthen existing inter-industrial knowledge linkages rather than to construct new linkages. Second, the network seems to form a dualistic structure in that some high-technology sectors (knowledge production sectors) emerge along with traditional sectors (knowledge absorbing sectors). Third, since the mid-1980s, an inter-industrial fusion is witnessed among technologically intensive sectors, indicating that some sophisticated innovation modes are emerging in Korean manufacturing system.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.358-377
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• 2021

Knowledge drives business innovation. However, even if companies have the same knowledge element in the business ecosystem, innovation performance varies depending on the structural position of the technical knowledge network. This study investigated whether there is a difference in exploitative innovation according to the structural position of the AI technical knowledge network. We collected patents from the top 100 digital companies registered with the US Patent Office from 2015 to 2019 and classified the companies into knowledge producer-based brokers, knowledge absorber-based brokers, knowledge absorbers, and knowledge producers from the perspective of knowledge creation and flow. The analysis results are as follows. First, a few of the top 100 digital companies disseminate, absorb, and mediate knowledge, while the majority do not. Second, exploitative innovation is the largest, in the order of knowledge producer, knowledge absorber-based broker, knowledge absorber, and knowledge producer-based broker. Finally, patents for industrial intelligence occupy a large proportion, and knowledge producers are leading exploitative innovation. Therefore, latecomers need to expand their resources and capabilities by citing patents owned by leading companies and converge with existing industries into AI-based industries.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.75-97
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• 2012

Knowledge residing in the heads of employees has always been regarded as one of the most critical resources within a firm. However, many tries to facilitate knowledge transfer among employees has been unsuccessful because of the motivational and cognitive problems between the knowledge source and the recipient. Social capital, which is defined as "the sum of the actual and potential resources embedded within, available through, derived from the network of relationships possessed by an individual or social unit [Nahapiet and Ghoshal, 1998]," is suggested to resolve these motivational and cognitive problems of knowledge transfer. In Social capital theory, there are two research streams. One insists that social capital strengthens group solidarity and brings up cooperative behaviors among group members, such as voluntary help to colleagues. Therefore, social capital can motivate an expert to transfer his/her knowledge to a colleague in need without any direct reward. The other stream insists that social capital provides an access to various resources that the owner of social capital doesn't possess directly. In knowledge transfer context, an employee with social capital can access and learn much knowledge from his/her colleagues. Therefore, social capital provides benefits to both the knowledge source and the recipient in different ways. However, prior research on knowledge transfer and social capital is mostly limited to either of the research stream of social capital and covered only the knowledge source's or the knowledge recipient's perspective. Social network theory which focuses on the structural dimension of social capital provides clear explanation about the in-depth mechanisms of social capital's two different benefits. 'Strong tie' builds up identification, trust, and emotional attachment between the knowledge source and the recipient; therefore, it motivates the knowledge source to transfer his/her knowledge to the recipient. On the other hand, 'weak tie' easily expands to 'diverse' knowledge sources because it does not take much effort to manage. Therefore, the real value of 'weak tie' comes from the 'diverse network structure,' not the 'weak tie' itself. It implies that the two different perspectives on strength of ties can co-exist. For example, an extroverted employee can manage many 'strong' ties with 'various' colleagues. In this regards, the individual-level structure of one's relationships as well as the dyadic-level relationship should be considered together to provide a holistic view of social capital. In addition, interaction effect between individual-level characteristics and dyadic-level characteristics can be examined, too. Based on these arguments, this study has following research questions. (1) How does the social capital of the knowledge source and the recipient influence knowledge transfer respectively? (2) How does the strength of ties between the knowledge source and the recipient influence knowledge transfer? (3) How does the social capital of the knowledge source and the recipient influence the effect of the strength of ties between the knowledge source and the recipient on knowledge transfer? Based on Social capital theory and Social network theory, a multi-level research model is developed to consider both the individual-level social capital of the knowledge source and the recipient and the dyadic-level strength of relationship between the knowledge source and the recipient. 'Cross-classified random effect model,' one of the multi-level analysis methods, is adopted to analyze the survey responses from 337 R&D employees. The results of analysis provide several findings. First, among three dimensions of the knowledge source's social capital, network centrality (i.e., structural dimension) shows the significant direct effect on knowledge transfer. On the other hand, the knowledge recipient's network centrality is not influential. Instead, it strengthens the influence of the strength of ties between the knowledge source and the recipient on knowledge transfer. It means that the knowledge source's network centrality does not directly increase knowledge transfer. Instead, by providing access to various knowledge sources, the network centrality provides only the context where the strong tie between the knowledge source and the recipient leads to effective knowledge transfer. In short, network centrality has indirect effect on knowledge transfer from the knowledge recipient's perspective, while it has direct effect from the knowledge source's perspective. This is the most important contribution of this research. In addition, contrary to the research hypothesis, company tenure of the knowledge recipient negatively influences knowledge transfer. It means that experienced employees do not look for new knowledge and stick to their own knowledge. This is also an interesting result. One of the possible reasons is the hierarchical culture of Korea, such as a fear of losing face in front of subordinates. In a research methodology perspective, multi-level analysis adopted in this study seems to be very promising in management research area which has a multi-level data structure, such as employee-team-department-company. In addition, social network analysis is also a promising research approach with an exploding availability of online social network data.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.101-120
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• 2013

The effective management of knowledge has become one of the critical success factors in current organizations. In spite of the extensive use of Knowledge Management System (KMS), useful information and knowledge resources are still transmitted through personal networks among people in organizations. Thus, social network theory which focuses on social relationships in organization can be a fruitful theoretical resource for enhancing Knowledge Management (KM) performances. In this study, we investigate the effects of intra-team network characteristics (i.e., group density and degree of centralization) and external boundary spanning activities on knowledge management performances of a team. We also acknowledge that all group members do not necessarily agree on the team goal and actively disseminate useful information and knowledge. Drawing on the political perspective on KM which emphasizes the role of trust among group members, we examine the mediating effects of team trust between internal/external network characteristics and KM performances. From the data of 220 teams in financial companies in Korea, we found that: (1) group density had positive effects on KM performances (i.e., knowledge creation, sharing, and use). (2) However, centralization was not significantly associated with KM performances. (3) Team trust was found to be an important factor mediating the relationship between intra-team network characteristics, boundary spanning activities, and KM performances. Based on these results, we discuss and suggest possible implications of the findings when designing and implementing KM practices.

• Journal of Smart Tourism
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2024

The objective of this article is to create a model of integrated management from the framework modeling of a digital collaborative network supported by knowledge engineering to make heritage site in the Brazil more effective. It is an exploratory and qualitative research with thematic analysis as technique of data analysis from the collaborative network, digital platform, world heritage, and tourism themes. The snowballing approach was chosen, and the mapping and classification of relevant studies was developed with the use of the spreadsheet tool and the Mendeley® software. The results show that the collaborative network model oriented towards strategic objectives should be supported by a digital platform that provides a technological environment that adds functionalities and digital platform services with the integration of knowledge engineering techniques and tools, enabling the discovery and sharing of knowledge in the collaborative network.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.71-98
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• 1998

This paper analyzes the characteristics of technological knowledge flow-structure of Korean manufacturing in dynamic perspective. In doing that, the concept of the knowledge network is introduced which is defined as a set of industries and their interaction(knowledge flow) or linkage. The analysis of the inter-industrial knowledge flows is based on the technological similarity by using R&D researchers' academic background in the year of 1984, 1987, 1990. The analysis is carried out by such methodology as network analysis, indicator analysis and simple statistical analysis. And the final results are drawn both in absolute terms(dimension effect) and in relative terms(proportion effect) respectively. The main findings are as follow. First, the Korean manufacturing knowledge network appears to strengthen existing inter-industrial knowledge linkages rather than to construct new linkages. Second, the network seems to form a dualistic structure in that some high-technology sectors(knowledge production sectors) emerge along with traditional sectors(knowledge absorbing sectors). Third, since the mid-1980s, an inter-industrial fusion is witnessed among technologically intensive sectors, indicating that some sophisticated innovation modes are emerging in Korean manufacturing system. And fourth, by using the relations of the inter-industrial knowledge-flows, we classified manufacturing industries into 3 type ; knowledge-outflow sector, knowledge-inflow sector and knowledge intermediary sector.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.61-83
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• 2012

A knowledge map describes the network of related knowledge into the form of a diagram, and therefore underpins the structure of knowledge categorizing and archiving by defining the relationship of the referential navigation between knowledge. The referential navigation between knowledge means the relationship of cross-referencing exhibited when a piece of knowledge is utilized by a user. To understand the contents of the knowledge, a user usually requires additionally information or knowledge related with each other in the relation of cause and effect. This relation can be expanded as the effective connection between knowledge increases, and finally forms the network of knowledge. A network display of knowledge using nodes and links to arrange and to represent the relationship between concepts can provide a more complex knowledge structure than a hierarchical display. Moreover, it can facilitate a user to infer through the links shown on the network. For this reason, building a knowledge map based on the ontology technology has been emphasized to formally as well as objectively describe the knowledge and its relationships. As the necessity to build a knowledge map based on the structure of the ontology has been emphasized, not a few researches have been proposed to fulfill the needs. However, most of those researches to apply the ontology to build the knowledge map just focused on formally expressing knowledge and its relationships with other knowledge to promote the possibility of knowledge reuse. Although many types of knowledge maps based on the structure of the ontology were proposed, no researches have tried to design and implement the referential navigation-enabled knowledge map. This paper addresses a methodology to build the ontology-based knowledge map enabling the referential navigation between knowledge. The ontology-based knowledge map resulted from the proposed methodology can not only express the referential navigation between knowledge but also infer additional relationships among knowledge based on the referential relationships. The most highlighted benefits that can be delivered by applying the ontology technology to the knowledge map include; formal expression about knowledge and its relationships with others, automatic identification of the knowledge network based on the function of self-inference on the referential relationships, and automatic expansion of the knowledge-base designed to categorize and store knowledge according to the network between knowledge. To enable the referential navigation between knowledge included in the knowledge map, and therefore to form the knowledge map in the format of a network, the ontology must describe knowledge according to the relation with the process and task. A process is composed of component tasks, while a task is activated after any required knowledge is inputted. Since the relation of cause and effect between knowledge can be inherently determined by the sequence of tasks, the referential relationship between knowledge can be circuitously implemented if the knowledge is modeled to be one of input or output of each task. To describe the knowledge with respect to related process and task, the Protege-OWL, an editor that enables users to build ontologies for the Semantic Web, is used. An OWL ontology-based knowledge map includes descriptions of classes (process, task, and knowledge), properties (relationships between process and task, task and knowledge), and their instances. Given such an ontology, the OWL formal semantics specifies how to derive its logical consequences, i.e. facts not literally present in the ontology, but entailed by the semantics. Therefore a knowledge network can be automatically formulated based on the defined relationships, and the referential navigation between knowledge is enabled. To verify the validity of the proposed concepts, two real business process-oriented knowledge maps are exemplified: the knowledge map of the process of 'Business Trip Application' and 'Purchase Management'. By applying the 'DL-Query' provided by the Protege-OWL as a plug-in module, the performance of the implemented ontology-based knowledge map has been examined. Two kinds of queries to check whether the knowledge is networked with respect to the referential relations as well as the ontology-based knowledge network can infer further facts that are not literally described were tested. The test results show that not only the referential navigation between knowledge has been correctly realized, but also the additional inference has been accurately performed.