Title: Understanding shared knowledge creation spaces around business processes: precursors to process innovation implementation

Authors: Omar A. El Sawy, Inger Eriksson, Arjan Raven, Sven Carlsson

Addresses: Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1421, USA. Department of Computer Science, University of Turku, Lemminkaisenkatu 14 A, FIN-20520, Turku, Finland. College of Business Administration, Georgia State University, 35 Broad St, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. Informatics, Jonkoping International Business School, SE-551 11, Jonkoping, Sweden

Abstract: The thesis of this paper is that the implementation success of process innovations is facilitated by having an organisational environment that is conducive to effective shared knowledge creation around the process that is being improved. The paper describes a research study to better understand shared knowledge creation around business processes by developing a model of shared knowledge spaces that includes catalysts, organisational values, information technology infrastructure, and SKC processes. The context used is the new product development process in two high technology companies in Finland. Findings are presented and implications for creating effective shared knowledge creation environments are drawn. The paper ends with a call for creating such spaces as precursors to process innovation implementation.

Keywords: shared knowledge creation; knowledge sharing; process innovation; knowledge creation spaces; new product development process; precursors to process innovation; information technologies for knowledge sharing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2001.002959

International Journal of Technology Management, 2001 Vol.22 No.1/2/3, pp.149-173

Published online: 08 Jul 2003 *

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