Importance Of Sharing Knowledge Research Articles

Shared Knowledge and the Coagglomeration of Occupations

Gabe T. M. and Abel J. R. Shared knowledge and the coagglomeration of occupations, Regional Studies. This paper examines the extent to which people in different occupations locate near one another, or coagglomerate. Ellison–Glaeser coagglomeration indices are constructed for US occupations and used to investigate factors influencing the geographic concentration of economic activity. Empirical results reveal that occupations with similar knowledge requirements tend to coagglomerate, and the importance of shared knowledge is larger in metropolitan areas than in states. An extension to the main analysis finds that, when focusing on metropolitan areas, the largest effects on coagglomeration are due to shared knowledge about engineering and technology, arts and humanities, manufacturing and production, and mathematics and science.

Networking in South African businesses

PurposeThe purpose and the goal of this paper were to investigate South African businesses and determine their utilisation of new technologies and business structures. The role and development of e‐commerce and networks in South African businesses can determine their competitive role in a global market.Design/methodology/approachThe paper shows that South Africa's position in the networked economy was researched through an empirical survey and the use of a convenience sample that incorporated 707 online businesses listed in an online directory in South Africa. Manufacturing businesses, retail and wholesale businesses, as well as business rendering services online, were targeted.FindingsThe paper finds that business networks have necessitated new business structures and 78.4 percent of the respondents are currently using these modern business structures to adapt to the demands of the networked economy. These include the matrix structure (42.9 percent), the networked business structure (25 percent) and the extended business structure (10.7 percent). E‐commerce provides many advantages, the response received on the reasons for e‐commerce utilisation includes enhanced profit (86 percent), entering strategic markets (64 percent) and building international association (61 percent).Originality/valueThe value of this paper is that the focus should be on finding new opportunities and the most important recommendations include: South African business people should be informed about the importance of shared knowledge, intellectual capital and establishing strategic alliances that are facilitated through the use of networks. Proactive management and added value in business processes should be implemented and can enhance the competitive advantage amongst South African businesses.

A Process Approach to Community-Based Education: The People’s Free University of Saskatchewan

On the basis of insights provided by Whitehead and John Cobb, I show how the People’s Free University of Saskatchewan (PFU) is a working model of free, open, community-based education that embodies several characteristics of Whitehead’s philosophy of education. Formed in opposition to the growing commercialization at the original “people’s university,” (the University of Saskatchewan) the PFU has spawned distinctive ideals of its own. The PFU reflects Whitehead’s belief in the importance of shared knowledge fostered by community-based education, the value of abstract and practical knowledge, and the power of the imagination to establish a community of learners capable of acting freely together.