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A Design Option for Optimising Knowledge Worker Expertise

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A Design Option for Optimising Knowledge Worker Expertise A Design Option for Optimising Knowledge Worker Expertise By Mark Allan Ramsey Thesis Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in LEADERSHIP IN PERFORMANCE AND CHANGE in the FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES at the UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG Promoter: Dr Maarten Erasmus Co Promoter: Dr E.N. Barkhuizen March 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................i CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH.................................1 1.1 Introduction .........................................................................................1 1.2 Background and key focus of the research.........................................1 1.3 Motivation for the research .................................................................3 1.4 Definition of the problem.....................................................................4 1.5.1 Proposition 1....................................................................................6 1.5.2 Proposition 2....................................................................................6 1.7 Importance of the research.................................................................7 1.8 Value of the research..........................................................................8 1.8.1 Theoretical contribution ...................................................................8 1.8.2 Methodological contribution.............................................................8 1.9 Research methodology and design ....................................................9 1.9.1 Sample selection ...........................................................................10 1.9.2 Description of the population .........................................................10 1.9.3 Data collection...............................................................................11 1.9.4.1 Focus group sessions ................................................................12 1.9.4.2 In-depth interviewing ..................................................................12 1.9.5 Data analysis .................................................................................12 1.9. Ensuring the reliability and validity of the research results................13 1.9.7 Ethical considerations....................................................................14 1.10 Chapter layout ...............................................................................15 1.11 Conclusion.....................................................................................16 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW........................................................17 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................17 2.2 Background.......................................................................................18 2.2.1 The bureaucratic organisational design.........................................22 2.2.2 The entrepreneurial organisational design ....................................23 ii 2.2.3 The hypertext organisational design..............................................23 2.3 Organisational design .......................................................................24 2.3.1 Culture...........................................................................................28 2.3.2 Structure........................................................................................30 2.3.2.1 Coordination...............................................................................31 2.3.2.2 Organisational learning ..............................................................34 2.3.2.3 Work environment ......................................................................36 2.3.2.4 Innovation incubators .................................................................38 2.3.3 Codification system .......................................................................40 2.4 Supportive organisation competencies to optimise knowledge worker expertise.....................................................................................................42 2.4.1 The increasing utilisation of knowledge workers............................45 2.4.1.1 The growth of ignorance.............................................................46 2.4.1.2 The increasing marginal utility of expert knowledge...................46 2.4.1.3 The legitimising function of knowledge workers .........................46 2.4.2 Knowledge.....................................................................................48 2.4.2.1 Tacit knowledge .........................................................................50 2.4.2.2 Explicit knowledge......................................................................53 2.4.2.3 Commercial knowledge ..............................................................54 2.4.2.4 Task formalisation ......................................................................54 2.4.3 Knowledge management...............................................................58 2.4.3.1 Knowledge depreciation .............................................................62 2.4.4 Knowledge creation .......................................................................63 2.4.4.1 Knowledge creation, education and experience.........................64 2.4.4.2 Knowledge creation and communication....................................66 2.4.4.3 Knowledge creation and organisational climate .........................66 2.4.5 Knowledge transfer........................................................................68 2.4.5.1 Influences on the transfer of knowledge.....................................68 2.4.5.1.1 An arduous relationship between source and recipient...........69 2.4.5.1.2 Shared understanding.............................................................69 2.4.5.1.3 Absorptive capacity.................................................................70 2.4.5.2 Intrinsic motivation......................................................................70 2.4.5.3 Extrinsic motivation ....................................................................71 2.4.5.4 Source credibility........................................................................71 iii 2.4.5.5 Communication competence......................................................72 2.4.6 Knowledge sharing ........................................................................73 2.4.7 Knowledge communication............................................................77 2.5 Competitive advantage .....................................................................78 2.5.1 Competencies for competitive advantage......................................79 2.5.2 Leadership requirements for competitive advantage .....................81 2.5.3 Innovation capability for competitive advantage ............................82 2.6 Conclusion ........................................................................................83 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN.....................85 3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................85 3.2 Orientation ........................................................................................85 3.2.1 The interpretivist methodology.......................................................87 3.2.1.1 An interpretivist theoretical paradigm .........................................87 3.3 Sampling...........................................................................................88 3.4 Research procedure .........................................................................90 3.5 Gaining access to respondents.........................................................91 3.6 Detailed description ..........................................................................93 3.7 Data collection ..................................................................................94 3.7.1 Focus group sessions....................................................................95 3.7.1.1 Choice of focus group sessions .................................................95 3.7.1.2 A self-contained focus group session.........................................96 3.7.1.3 A supplementary source of data in research ..............................97 3.7.1.4 A multi-method research approach ............................................97 3.7.2 Size of focus group sessions .........................................................97 3.7.3 One member dominance ...............................................................98 3.7.4 Establishment of a focus group session ........................................99 3.7.4.1 Recruitment and scheduling.......................................................99 3.7.4.2 Briefing of respondents ..............................................................99 3.7.4.3 Group leader facilitation ...........................................................100 3.7.4.4 Transcribing of data..................................................................100 3.7.5 Using documents in qualitative research .....................................101 3.7.6 In-depth interviewing ...................................................................101 3.7.7 Focus group session and in-depth interview questions ...............102 3.7.8 Probes .........................................................................................103 iv 3.7.9 Commencing focus group sessions and in-depth interviews .......103 3.7.10
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