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Using knowledge networks to support innovation
Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
2009
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| _version_ | 1867613765538676736 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Gous, Henno |
| author2 | Schutte, C. S. L. |
| author_browse | Gous, Henno Schutte, C. S. L. |
| author_facet | Schutte, C. S. L. Gous, Henno |
| author_sort | Gous, Henno |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | University of Stellenbosch |
| description | Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4033 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:41:20.497Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publishDateRange | 2009 |
| publishDateSort | 2009 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4033 Using knowledge networks to support innovation Gous, Henno Schutte, C. S. L. University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering. Innovation Knowledge networks Knowledge management Information systems management Dissertations -- Industrial engineering Theses -- Industrial engineering Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering Science at Stellenbosch University ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Innovation capability is undoubtedly an essential attribute for organizations that wish to survive and grow in a modern economy. Innovation is however widely misunderstood and subsequently mismanaged. Common misconceptions include that innovation only consists of a single moment of inspiration, and that it is therefore dependent on a single person or department within the organization. In reality the Innovation Process has a distinct life cycle and involves a wide array of roleplayers. Effective innovation management is reliant on efficient cooperation between these role-players. This cooperation however extends beyond collaborative organizational structure, bilateral agreements and partnership contracts. Role-players in the Innovation Process form a Knowledge Supply Chain and should be connected in a way that promotes knowledge exchange between them. Several modern approaches to Knowledge Management are available, but few grasp the complexity of Innovation. A wide variety of knowledge sources and formats exist within a set of parties like those involved in Innovation. The preferred Knowledge Management strategy to accompany the Innovation Process should therefore take a holistic view on knowledge while embracing its dynamic nature. Knowledge Networks provide exactly this approach by encompassing a number of people and resources and the relationships between them. These actors within the network are allowed to capture, transfer and create knowledge for the purpose of creating value. This Knowledge Network is supported by a Knowledge Network Architecture consisting of a combination of organizational and information system tools. On an organizational front, the Knowledge Network Architecture is customized to reach across organizational boundaries, thereby creating the collaborative environment that is needed to support the Innovation Process. By allowing actors from different organizations to join the network, an Integrated Knowledge Network is formed. The Information and Communication Technology element of a Knowledge Network Architecture that suits the needs of the Innovation Process features an online Information System. This Information System employs a network model in its approach to the handling of content and supports all the knowledge transfer and creation processes within the Knowledge Network. Although such an Information System provides a single point of entry to the network’s knowledge base, it may be configured to allow access to individuals from multiple organizations. This functionality links it to the requirements of an Integrated Knowledge Network, thereby combining the elements of the Knowledge Network Architecture to form a solution framework instead of remaining modular tools. Fully supporting the Innovation Process within an Information System Architecture does however involve more than simply connecting role-players and facilitating knowledge management between them. Successful Innovation Management requires an understanding of the full Innovation Life Cycle, and ensuring that a comprehensive roadmap is followed to guide innovation projects that develop within the Integrated Knowledge Network. The required Information System should therefore facilitate an Integrated Knowledge Network, while providing support for the full life cycle of innovation projects that develop within the network. This study develops an architecture specification that functionally describes the aforementioned Information System. Using this architecture specification as a guideline, the Information System is subsequently designed and developed with the use of an online content management toolset and a showcase of the system’s functionality is provided. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Innoveringsvermoë is ‘n kritiese eienskap vir organisasies wat poog om in ‘n moderne ekonomie te oorleef en te groei. Innovasie word egter gereeld misverstaan en gevolglik wanbestuur. Algemene wanopvattings sluit in dat Innovasie slegs ‘n oomblik van inspirasie behels en daarom slegs van individue of ‘n enkele departement binne die organisasie afhang. In realiteit word die Innovasieproses deur ‘n definitiewe lewenssikuls gekenmerk en neem ‘n wye verskeidenheid rolspelers daaraan deel. Effektiewe Innovasiebestuur maak tot ‘n groot mate op doeltreffende samewerking tussen bogenoemde rolspelers staat. Hierdie samewerking strek egter verder as kollaboratiewe organisasiestrukture, bilaterale ooreenkomste en gevestigde vennootskappe. Rolspelers in die Innovasieproses vorm ‘n Kennisvoorsieningsketting en moet verbind word op ‘n wyse wat die uitruil van kennis tussen hulle bevorder. Daar is verskeie moderne benaderings tot Kennisbestuur, maar weinig van hierdie strategieë spreek die volle kompleksiteit van Innovasie aan. ‘n Wye verskeidenheid kennisbronne en –formate bestaan tussen ‘n groep rolspelers soos dié wat in die Innovasieproses betrokke is. Die ideale Kennisbestuurstrategie om die Innovasieproses te vergesel moet daarom ‘n holistiese uitkyk op kennis bied en terselfdertyd die dinamiese aard daarvan in ag neem. Kennisnetwerke bied dié benadering deur ‘n aantal persone en hulpbronne, asook die verhoudinge tussen hulle, te omsluit. Hierdie spelers in die netwerk word toegelaat om kennis onderling vas te vang, oor te dra en te skep met die doel om waarde te genereer. Laasgenoemde Kennisnetwerk word ondersteun deur ‘n Kennisnetwerkargitektuur wat uit ‘n kombinasie van organisatoriese en inligtingstelselgereedskap bestaan. Op die organisatoriese front word die Kennisnetwerkargitektuur pasgemaak om oor organisasiegrense te strek. Die kollaboratiewe omgewing wat benodig word om die Innovasieproses te ondersteun, word hierdeur geskep. Deur spelers vanuit verskillende organisasies toe te laat om by die netwerk aan te sluit, word ‘n Geïntegreerde Kennisnetwerk gevorm. Die Inligting- en Kommunikasietegnologie onderafdeling van ‘n Kennisnetwerkargitektuur wat die Innovasieproses pas, sluit onder andere ‘n aanlyn Inligtingstelsel in. Hierdie Inligtingstelsel gebruik ‘n netwerkmodel in sy benadering tot inhoudsbestuur en behoort verder alle kennisoordrag en – skeppingsprosesse binne die Kennisnetwerk te ondersteun. Hoewel so ‘n Inligtingstelsel die ‘n enkele toegangspunt tot die netwerk se kennispoel bied, kan dit opgestel word om toegang aan indiwidue vanuit verskillende organisasies te verleen. Hierdie funksionaliteit koppel dit dus aan die behoeftes van ‘n Geïntegreerde Kennisnetwerk en verenig die verskillende onderafdelings van die Kennisnetwerkargitektuur. Die Kennisnetwerkargitektuur vorm gevolglik ‘n oplossingsraamwerk, eerder as ‘n modulêre gereedskapstel. Om die Innovasieproses volledig binne ‘n Inligtingstelsel te ondersteun verg egter meer as om die onderskeie rolspelers te verbind en kennisbestuur tussen hulle te fasiliteer. Suksesvolle Innovasiebestuur verg begrip vir die volle Innovasielewenssiklus en die gebruik van ‘n omvattende padkaart om innovasieprojekte (wat binne die Geïntegreerge Kennisnetwerk ontwikkel) te lei. Die verlangde Inligtingstelsel fasiliteer dus ‘n Geïntegreerde Kennisnetwerk en ondersteun terselfdertyd die volle lewenssiklus van innovasieprojekte wat uit die netwerk spruit. Hierdie studie ontwikkel ‘n argitektuurspesifikasie wat die bogenoemde Inligtingstelsel op ‘n funksionele vlak beskryf. Met hierdie argitektuurspesifikasie as riglyn, word die Inligtingstelsel met behulp van ‘n aanlyn inhoudsbestuurgereedskapstel ontwerp en ontwikkel. Ten slotte word die stelse se funksionaliteit gedemonstreer. 2009-03-04T13:55:59Z 2010-08-13T13:11:36Z 2009-03-04T13:55:59Z 2010-08-13T13:11:36Z 2009-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4033 en University of Stellenbosch 40 p. : ill. application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| spellingShingle | Innovation Knowledge networks Knowledge management Information systems management Dissertations -- Industrial engineering Theses -- Industrial engineering Gous, Henno Using knowledge networks to support innovation |
| title | Using knowledge networks to support innovation |
| title_full | Using knowledge networks to support innovation |
| title_fullStr | Using knowledge networks to support innovation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using knowledge networks to support innovation |
| title_short | Using knowledge networks to support innovation |
| title_sort | using knowledge networks to support innovation |
| topic | Innovation Knowledge networks Knowledge management Information systems management Dissertations -- Industrial engineering Theses -- Industrial engineering |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4033 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT goushenno usingknowledgenetworkstosupportinnovation |