Knowledge Capitalization Research Articles

PETRA: Process Evolution using a TRAce-based system on a maintenance platform

To meet increasing needs in the field of maintenance, we studied the dynamic aspect of process and services on a maintenance platform, a major challenge in process mining and knowledge engineering. Hence, we propose a dynamic experience feedback approach to exploit maintenance process behaviors in real execution of the maintenance platform. An active learning process exploiting event log is introduced by taking into account the dynamic aspect of knowledge using trace engineering. Our proposal makes explicit the underlying knowledge of platform users by means of a trace-based system called “PETRA”. The goal of this system is to extract new knowledge rules about transitions and activities in maintenance processes from previous platform executions as well as its user (i.e. maintenance operators) interactions. While following a Knowledge Traces Discovery process and handling the maintenance ontology IMAMO, “PETRA” is composed of three main subsystems: tracking, learning and knowledge capitalization. The capitalized rules are shared in the platform knowledge base in order to be reused in future process executions. The feasibility of this method is proven through concrete use cases involving four maintenance processes and their simulation.

A decision support system for identifying and representing likely crucial organizational know-how and knowing that

This paper discusses the issues of classification, evaluation and cartography of organizational knowledge in the medical field. Its aim is to propose an Organizational Know-How/Knowing That Decision Support System (O2K-DSS) which can be applied to practical decision situations. O2K-DSS aims to propose a preference model based on multi-criteria decision support tools which allow the selection, the classification and the sorting of decision objects like know-how/knowing that in our case. Our goal is to propose a new category of decision class for ‘likely crucial know-how’/‘likely crucial knowing that’ which represents the subset of knowledge insufficient for knowledge capitalisation at time t. In fact, we classify know-how/knowing that into three decision classes: (1) the first class Cl1 for ‘non crucial know-how’/‘non crucial knowing that’ which represents the subset of knowledge whose level of validation is sufficient for not capitalising it, (2) the second class Cl2 for ‘likely crucial know-how’/‘likely crucial knowing that’ which represents the subset of knowledge whose level of validation is insufficient for capitalising it at time t and (3) the third class Cl3 for ‘crucial know-how’/‘crucial knowing that’ which represents the subset of knowledge whose level of validation is sufficient for capitalising it. These knowledge decision class categories are represented in cartography.

Knowledge management practices within a collaborative R&D project

Purpose – This paper aims to analyze the mechanisms of knowledge capitalization, sharing and creation through the information systems between actors of a collaborative R&D project within a cluster. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative approach based on case study mobilizing the following research tools: semi-structured interviews, documentary study and direct observation. Findings – Better understanding of the dynamics of knowledge capitalization, sharing and creation in firms via the R&D projects within clusters. Practical implications – The case study may help companies to better manage its R&D projects through an optimization of KM practices. This can increase their innovative capacity through improved understanding of factors that can stimulate or inhibit knowledge capitalization, sharing and creation. Originality/value – The theoretical framework, especially the SECI model and the KBV approach seems to be useful to improve the understanding of KM practices in the context of collaborative R&D pro...

Fundamentals of a co-design methodology for improving the performance of machine tools based on semantic representation

Design methods applied at the concept development stage of a design process help the derivation of alternative design solutions so that, based on product requirements and design specifications, selected design options can be evaluated. How this is achieved is important because design decisions contribute largely to the cost and manufacturability of products. The main scenario of the European machine tool (MT) industry is a small- or medium-sized enterprise designing and producing small series of dedicated MTs competing on a global market and working in close collaboration with suppliers and machine end users. In this scenario, MT manufacturers need close collaboration with their component suppliers and end users to develop effective design solutions. The article identifies some aspects of ‘collaborative design methods’ that have been applied successfully in the aerospace and automotive industries and recommends a ‘knowledge-centred’ approach with the potential to capture, transfer and share knowledge at the different life phases of the MT, but currently applied mainly at the conceptual design stage. The proposed methodology relies on a flexible knowledge-based ‘co-design environment’. The methodology will enhance knowledge capitalisation, allow early virtual assessment of design decisions and reduce re-design cycles.

Knowledge-based assessment of manufacturing process performance: integration of product lifecycle management and value-chain simulation approaches

Regarding the market globalisation, manufacturers have to improve the performance and efficiency of their production plants. To fulfil this goal, managers need methods and tools to assess their product development and their production engineering processes by assessing the performance and the value of the specified technical solutions. This article presents a new approach to support this assessment of manufacturing enterprise processes in terms of performance and value indicators based on knowledge management (KM) integration. Based on the principles of value chain, in one hand, and on methods of KM, on the other hand, the aim of the proposal is to help experts to make relevant decisions on product development and/or production process planning. The approach originality is to use of product lifecycle management (PLM) capabilities to achieve semi-automated capitalisation of heterogeneous knowledge from various enterprise information systems. Capitalised knowledge is then used as an input of the assessment module. This module implements a set of simulation algorithms for the assessment and evaluation of different alternatives of value chains according to required performance criteria.

Traceability and structuring of cooperative knowledge in design using PLM

Expertise represents important capital in a company. The loss of this kind of knowledge has pushed companies to look for a means to capitalize on it so as to use in the future. In the design domain, many companies usually learn from previous similar experience, the designers develop an existing solution, or try to rework an old solution in order to adapt it to a new requirement. This tendency to reuse old solutions is strengthened by constraints of time, efficiency and search for maximum reliability. Therefore, the importance of the capitalization of design project knowledge is increasing more and more. This paper presents techniques to acquire and represent this type of knowledge in a design project memory, using Product Lifecycle Management platforms.

An Integrated Simulation-Based Solution for Operator Effectiveness

The mining market is growing in such a way that getting enough specialized workforce for mining operations will be extremely difficult in the short term. As a result, technologies based on dynamic simulation are becoming a key pillar to educate and train inexperienced personnel at the pace required by this industry. Operator Training Simulator (OTS) systems have been widely used in the petrochemical industry, however the knowledge transmitted to the operators has not been “capitalized” in general. OTS systems are usually delivered as a hardware and software platform and not as a long term integral service.In this paper, an integrated solution for operator effectiveness, based on the conjunction of dynamic simulation, process knowledge, virtual reality and knowledge capitalization, through the creation of simulation scenarios and e-learning, is proposed. Finally, the Codelco's Ministro Hales simulation project for its copper Concentrator plant is reviewed.

A Semantic Based Approach for Knowledge Capitalization in Communities of Practice of E-Learning

Communities of Practice of E-learning (CoPEs) are considered as a virtual framework for exchanging and sharing techno-pedagogic knowledge and know-how between actors of e-learning. However, after analyzing of knowledge management modalities in some CoPEs, the authors noticed that knowledge is often represented in a way that does not facilitate its access and reuse. Accordingly, this paper focuses on knowledge capitalization in CoPEs and proposes an ontology-based framework aiming to facilitate knowledge sharing and reuse. This framework is structured into three layers: (1) the ontology layer, (2) the semantic annotation layer, and (3) the asset layer. It provides respectively, a common vocabulary within a CoPE aiming to enable a shared understanding between its members, a semantic support to annotate its knowledge assets facilitating their retrieval and reuse, and a means of storage and indexing its different assets. The paper is illustrated with a case study related to a semantic adaptive wiki, a service proposed for a CoPE made up of a teaching staff in computer science at the USTHB University in Algeria.

Teaching & Learning Guide for ‘Can a Knowledge Sanctuary also be an Economic Engine? The Marketing of Higher Education as Institutional Boundary Work’

Teaching & Learning Guide for ‘Can a Knowledge Sanctuary also be an Economic Engine? The Marketing of Higher Education as Institutional Boundary Work’

Use it or lose it

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to apply the concept of organizational memory to a community of practice, and consider the tools available to an e‐community engaged in the creation of online learning systems.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explains how knowledge, task and domain ontologies can be combined to provide a structure that communities of practice can use to share both tacit and explicit knowledge.FindingsIf you look up “ontology” in Wikipedia, it says that “in information science, an ontology formally represents knowledge as a set of concepts within a domain, and the relationships between those concepts”. Having knowledge set in context in a usable, accessible form – knowledge capitalization – is a key source of value creation for organizations. One of the main reasons for trying to make organizational knowledge explicit – particularly tacit knowledge – is to allow the organization to see what it does not know and where the gaps are. Ontologies can provide the technological backbone and help create a “semantic learning organization”.Practical implicationsThe paper discusses the application of this approach to a community of practice of e‐learning engaged in instructional engineering. It shows how this facilitates the development of a semantic learning organization. It also highlights the focus on generative or “double‐loop” learning in communities of practice.Originality/valueThe paper shows how the concept of organizational memory and the tools of knowledge management can be applied in virtual communities.

ICT as a mechanism for sharing intra-organisational knowledge: case study of the application of the GURU-IT platform

Use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in knowledge transfer is one of the principal aspects to take into consideration in this century. The main objective of this study is to understand the importance of ICT in a Portuguese firm in the area of information systems, through application of a platform to share intra-organisational knowledge. Therefore, to attain this objective, the results obtained from an exploratory case study based on a sample of 204 collaborators in the firm selected are presented. From these results, the study concludes that to evaluate the importance of ICT in knowledge transfer, managers should consider four main dimensions: 1) collaborative atmosphere; 2) available knowledge; 3) capitalisation of knowledge; 4) organisational learning. Thus, this study contributes to the literature and the interface between ICT and knowledge transfer. Several implications are also presented.

Preliminary Design Support by Integrating a Reliability Analysis for Wind Turbine

In the context of industrial competitiveness, taking into account the process design throughout the product life cycle is inevitable, from the expression of the need to recycle, the capitalization and knowledge management increasingly a target much sought after companies because of increased knowledge. Indeed, during the approval phase and use studies and scientific researches make have generated knowledge especially that concerning the reliability of system components. In this context, the capitalization and reuse of knowledge are necessary and have a particular interest in design and particularly in the preliminary design phase. Studies are already completed suggest a design process ranging from the need to solve the problem. At each phase of the process, structural characteristics are defined by the designer through the available knowledge already capitalized to make choice of component and their arrangement. This article proposes integrating the analysis of system reliability in this process. The objective is the use of knowledge in the vision safety and hazards of operating through the study of reliability and decision making for the selection of solution.

E-Maintenance for Photovoltaic Power Generation System

The high potential recorded by desert of Algeria in terms of sun exposure offers scope to exploit this source of renewable energy to answer the needs for water supply and public lighting in isolated populations. Our objective is to guarantee the reliability of the photovoltaic power generation equipments located in remote and isolated areas, including photovoltaic pumping stations, expected to supply water to local people for human consumption and for livestock from drilling isolated. Thus, we are focused particularly on the reliability of these systems and their maintenance in operational mode.The introduction of the e-maintenance can reduce cost and time management of equipment, and provide easy access to relevant information for the user by freeing up geographical constraints. Our study aims to introduce the techniques proposed by the e-Maintenance, to improve the management of the maintenance process. In this project a cooperative distributed platform of e-maintenance is proposed, including data acquisition systems, control, maintenance management, diagnosis assistance, management of documentation, etc. An e-maintenance platform is a collaboration platform offering a set of software components and software services for maintenance support (integrated and/or distant) all enable maintenance actors to find each other, and the information they need, and to be able to communicate and work together to achieve maintenance process. In this platform, the process of the various modules must be designed following a process of knowledge capitalization and data processing to ensure the diagnosis and prognosis of the pumping system of the Photovoltaic system and thus ensure its reliability. This processing chain will be tested in a first time in a mini-solar station to show the feasibility of the approach.

Impact of R&D Investment on Economic Growth of the Czech Republic - A Recursively Dynamic CGE Approach

The paper investigates how results obtained with standard CGE models can be improved by incorporating the effects of R&D activity in a recursively-dynamic CGE model built for the economy of the Czech Republic. The main objective of the paper is to quantify the impact of R&D activity on the long-term economic growth of the Czech Republic within the recursively dynamic CGE framework. The effect of R&D investment is modelled via the accumulation of knowledge that is treated as a specific production factor. The main findings show that knowledge accumulation can contribute to higher economic growth, but the impact of the dynamisation in the CGE model is very low. However, in terms of structural changes in the economy, the omission of knowledge capitalization might underestimate the tertiary sector in the longer run. The paper also investigates the efficiency of R&D investment and concludes that in the longer run, investment in capital goods is more efficient in achieving higher economic growth. In the concluding chapter, related factors that may improve the impact of knowledge in the CGE model are discussed.

Environmental knowledge memory: Contribution of the DIK model

A company does not only generate goods and services which meet the requirements in terms of deadlines, costs, quality and environment, but it also generates knowledge that must be capitalized. In order for a company to benefit from the skills and competences acquired during the realization of a project, some processes of memorization prove to be necessary. This article fits in this context and aims at suggesting a knowledge capitalization model in order to create a capital of environmental knowledge. To illustrate our suggestion, we have chosen an Environmental Performance Contract (EPC) signed by tens of Algerian companies which are reputed for their pollution of the environment. Capitalizing this knowledge allows these companies to anticipate on their environmental management and to guarantee the success of the EPC.

Are innovation and R&D the only sources of firms’ knowledge that increase productivity? An empirical investigation of French manufacturing firms

The economic literature presents knowledge accumulation as one of the most important characteristics of innovation. The accumulation of knowledge arises from complex and dynamic interactions between a firm’s own internal capacity and external expertise. Research and development (R&D) remains important in the innovation process, but it must be integrated with knowledge from other sources, such as training and knowledge capitalization. This paper investigates the relationship between such knowledge sources and the productivity of French firms. Using asymptotic least squares, a Cobb-Douglas function including R&D, innovation, training expenditure and ISO 9000 certification is estimated for 1,213 French manufacturing firms. Our results show that innovation, training and ISO 9000 certification have a positive and significant impact on firms’ productivity.

The new tools of the science trade: contested knowledge production and the conceptual vocabularies of academic capitalism

Over the last three decades, scientists at research universities have responded in a wide variety of ways to the pressures of academic capitalism. Institutional research has under theorised this trend by assuming entrepreneurialism passively follows formal organisational change. In contrast, I treat academic capitalism not as but as a complex field characterised by contested knowledge production. An increased emphasis on knowledge capitalisation does not necessarily displace traditional academic values, although it may, but it has facilitated the diffusion of conceptual vocabularies that are retooling scientific culture and practice at the centre and margins. These vocabularies are (1) market‐oriented entrepreneurialism, (2) external consulting work, (3) consumer‐oriented research, and (4) interdisciplinarity. Their impact is diffuse across units, but involves processes of group and individual adoption, adaptation or resistance, as the case may be. Their local flavour varies by research domain, level and type of university embeddedness, and epistemic identity.

Riccardo Viale and Henry Etzkowitz (eds): The capitalization of knowledge: a triple helix of university-industry-government

Riccardo Viale and Henry Etzkowitz (eds): The capitalization of knowledge: a triple helix of university-industry-government

The Social Dimension of a Knowledge Management Approach: The Case Study of a French Competitive Cluster

AbstractThe competitiveness cluster, a French cluster, was implemented through an ambitious specific approach in order to develop an innovation economy and to struggle the delocalization threat. The innovation aimed by the competitive cluster constitutes a recurrent theme in Knowledge Management (KM). The objective of this paper is to analyze the importance of social dimension as a “key to success” in the implementation of KM approach and practice within the competitive cluster. The empirical analysis, case study of a cluster using some KM tool, permits to identify a critical role of the social aspect in the success of the KM technique. This role is more significant within the three strategic objectives of a KM approach namely the knowledge capitalization, sharing and creation.

Capitalisation of environmental knowledge: an ideal tally for the control of significant environmental impacts

The industrial companies must control and manage the risks of the environmental pollution. In this context, the environmental knowledge management is an ideal framework for better controlling this type of risks. The subject of this article is to propose, starting from a real case, a methodology of environmental knowledge management in industrial companies which is based on the typology of the environmental significant impacts.