Title: Bringing knowledge management down to earth: knowledge sharing in education, research and industry

Authors: M.P.C. Weijnen, P.M. Herder, W.A.H. Thissen

Addresses: Delft University of Technology (TUD), Faculty of Technology, Policy, and Management (TPM), P.O. Box 5015, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands. Delft University of Technology (TUD), Faculty of Technology, Policy, and Management (TPM), P.O. Box 5015, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands. Delft University of Technology (TUD), Faculty of Technology, Policy, and Management (TPM), P.O. Box 5015, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands

Abstract: The SEPA curriculum of the Delft University of Technology provides students with a solid background in systems engineering and complex problem solving. This multi-disciplinary curriculum contains basic courses in mathematics, economics, policy analysis, organisation and management and (statistical) data research and processing. The students specialising in process systems engineering are taught topics from the physical and chemical engineering fields. The curriculum provides a good basis for students| research into knowledge management in the process industry described in this paper. The students took the design process of chemical plants as their research subject for their Masters thesis. The design process of industrial facilities is a large, complex topic involving many people and disciplines. The students analysed the status of knowledge management (||getting the right knowledge to the right person at the right time||) in the companies and looked for ways to improve upon those strategies. The multi-disciplinary background of the students turned out to be very effective in analysing the problem and designing solution strategies for the companies.

Keywords: technology policy; education; knowledge management; process design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2001.001753

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2001 Vol.1 No.2, pp.174-194

Published online: 18 Aug 2003 *

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