Business

Towards an Architecture for Virtual Enterprises

by Luis M. Camarinha-Matos

L. M. Camarinha-Matos, H. Afsarmanesh, C. Garita, C. Lima
Proc. 2nd World Congress on Intelligent Manufacturing Processes and Systems, Springer, Budapest, Hungary, June 1997, pp. 531-541.

An approach to the design of an architecture for industrial virtual enterprises (VE), with special emphasis on the... more An approach to the design of an architecture for industrial virtual enterprises (VE), with special emphasis on the identification of main functional requirements, is presented. First, a discussion of the various types of virtual enterprises is provided. Some classification scenarios and discussions of the modeling and reengineering tools and methodologies are described. Due to the importance of the information flows and management in the VE, one chapter is merely devoted to the analysis of the appropriateness of a federated information management approach. This work is based on and represents the on going activities in two European Union funded projects; the Esprit Prodnet II and the INCO-DC SCM+ projects.

A Roadmap For Strategic Research On Virtual Organizations

by Luis M. Camarinha-Matos

In Processes and foundations for virtual organizations, Kluwer Academic Publishers, ISBN 1-4020-7638-X, Oct 2003

A roadmap to the necessary integrated research and technological development towards a new generation of virtual... more A roadmap to the necessary integrated research and technological development towards a new generation of virtual organizations is presented. In special the roadmapping methodology developed in the VOmap project is described and exemplified.

Five formulas to deal with new contexts

by Marcelo Manucci

The five formulas are representative of five dimensions of approach of a new developmental territory. Both in... more The five formulas are representative of five dimensions of approach of a new developmental territory. Both in individual and group or corporate, we face new conditions of life generated by a social and economic context that moves with unusual speed, deep interdependence with factors that permanently redefine "rules" of a production system. How to maintain competitiveness in relation to this new landscape?

A SYNTHESIS MODEL OF CONSUMERS’ PERCEIVED FOR BRAND QUALITY AND PREFERENCES: A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE

by Rohaizat Baharun

Changing Skills Required By The Industries: Perceptions Of What Makes Business Graduates Employable

by Rohaizat Baharun

E-Business Model: A Content Based Taxonomy of Literature

by Gandolfo Dominici

Dominici G., 2012. E-BUSINESS MODEL: A CONTENT BASED TAXONOMY OF LITERATURE . International Journal of Management and Administrative Sciences. 1(7): 10-20.

The rapid worldwide growth of e-commerce and the resulting great interest on the digital business, caused a... more The rapid worldwide growth of e-commerce and the resulting great interest on the digital business, caused a proliferation of contributes by academics and practitioners, that identified
by different points of view, the fundamental concepts, codes and functions of e-business models.
The quantity and the variety of approaches adopted made the concept of e-business model fuzzy and vague, with little consensus about its ontology and definition. The relevance of the topic asserts a claim for the classification of contributions as a first step to a general definition of the concept of e-business model. This paper provides an integrated literature review of contemporary academic writings to ascertain and classify the various approaches to the study of e-business models. The literature examined is classified in a content based taxonomy which highlights the relevant characteristics of e-business model, emerging from the analysis of literature. The framework proposed points out some significant implications that are a first step for further research leading to a research agenda for further investigation on this topic.

Does knowledge sharing and withholding of information in organizational committees affect quality of group decision-making?

by Caroline Kamau

Kamau, C. & Harorimana, D. (2008)

In today’s knowledge economy, there is an emphasis on group performance, such as in organizations’ committees, yet... more In today’s knowledge economy, there is an emphasis on group performance, such as in organizations’ committees, yet this performance is prone to productivity deficits. Like many other groups, organizational committees are prone to irrational decision-making in the form of groupthink and group polarization. We review evidence that groupthink involves avoidance of contradictory information, biased information sharing, self-censorship, reducing information on the outgroup and poor information pooling. For example, committee members’ conformity to the standards and expectations of an organization can lead them to withhold information that contradicts the organization’s “traditional” viewpoint. In other instances of groupthink, committee members may withhold information from their seniors in order to shield them from opposing views. Committee members undergoing groupthink may also display bias in their information search, such that they seek only that information which supports the committee’s prevailing opinion. We also review evidence showing that highly cohesive groups, those isolated from outside influence, and those with forthright leadership, are most at risk of groupthink. Improving the structure of a committee and having a leadership style that is process-directive, rather than outcome-directive, can reduce groupthink. We also review evidence on group polarization, which involves a shift by a group to an extremely risky or an extremely conservative viewpoint as a result of members influencing each other. We also discuss the impact of novel information on group polarization. We provide an analysis of the impact of faulty decision-making on the downfall of the bank Northern Rock. We consider the possible lack of objectivity in elements of the bank’s decision-making. The fact that Northern Rock did not receive a sufficient amount of outside regulation may have exacerbated groupthink. We discuss the likely role of risky shift in the bank’s attitude to risk and also consider the possible impact of forthright leadership on groupthink within Northern Rock. Groupthink and group polarization pose a danger to organizations that are required to continuously create, update and utilise knowledge in their decision-making, and to implement change in order to compete in shifting markets.

Strategising impression management in corporations: Cultural knowledge as capital

by Caroline Kamau

Kamau, C. (2010).

Impression management is a powerful psychological phenomenon with much unexplored potential in corporate settings.... more Impression management is a powerful psychological phenomenon with much unexplored potential in corporate settings. Employees or corporations can deploy impression management strategies in order to manipulate others’ perceptions of them. Cultural knowledge is powerful capital in impression management, yet this has not been sufficiently explored in previous literature. This chapter argues that impression-motivated employees or corporations need to perform a three-step knowledge audit: (i) knowing what their impression deficits are; (ii) knowing what impression management strategy is needed to address that deficit, based on the taxonomy of impression management strategies tabulated here; (iii) knowing what societal (e.g. collectivist culture or individualist culture) or organization-specific cultural adjustments are needed. A cultural knowledge base can thus be created through cross-cultural training of and knowledge transfer by expatriates. Multinational corporations can also benefit from utilising the knowledge presented in this chapter in their international public relations efforts.

Networks of Advantage: Urban Indigenous Entrepreneurship and the Importance of Social Capital

by Rochelle R. Côté

Côté, Rochelle R. 2012. Edited by D. Newhouse, K. Fitzmaurice, T. McGuire-Adams & D. Jette in Well-Being in the Urban Aboriginal Community. Toronto, Canada: Thompson Educational Publishing.

As a way of gaining independence, encouraging prosperity and fostering opportunity, economic development has... more As a way of gaining independence, encouraging prosperity and fostering opportunity, economic development has increasingly become a focus of Indigenous communities across Canada. While job creation is important, Indigenous entrepreneurship is another important driver of economic prosperity. Recent data suggests that since 1996, Indigenous entrepreneurship continues to grow at a rate five to nine times the pace of the general population in Canada. Yet even with this rapid growth and increasing popularity, many business fail. Past work has focused on access to funding and education as main reasons why entrepreneurs succeed or fail. Recent work has determined that a third mechanism, social capital, provides advantages over and above money and education – the people you know matter. Drawing on interviews with eighty entrepreneurs living and/or doing business in Toronto, this paper provides a rich narrative of Indigenous entrepreneurship by incorporating social capital alongside social status predictors and participation in voluntary associations as predictors of entrepreneurial performance.

Learning the Hard Way

by STAMATIA KREMMYDA

published in 'Insight, Edinburgh University Economics Magazine', page 30

Cultural perspectives on knowledge management in central and eastern Europe: The SECI model of knowledge conversion and ‘ba’

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M., & Ogilvie, K. (2010). Cultural perspectives on knowledge management in central and eastern Europe: The SECI model of knowledge conversion and ‘ba’. Journal of Information & Knowledge Management, 9(2), 161 – 169.

This research discusses the SECI Model of Knowledge Conversion as it relates to the 10 Central and Eastern European... more This research discusses the SECI Model of Knowledge Conversion as it relates to the 10 Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) that are now part of the European Union (EU). The socio-economic conversion from socialism to capitalism of these societies is unique in historical precedence, whereby utilising the contextual models in knowledge conversion are applicable for understanding the implications of such a phenomenon. The results indicate that there is a unique set of variables that need to be considered within this context and for future similar situations.

Keywords: SECI; knowledge conversion; national culture; Ba; central and eastern Europe.

Socio-Technical Knowledge Management and Epistemological Paradigms: Theoretical Connections at the Individual and Organisational Level

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M. (2011). Socio-technical knowledge management and epistemological paradigms: Theoretical connections at the individual and organisational level. Interdisciplinary Journal of Information, Knowledge, and Management, 6(1), 1 – 16.

This paper provides an evaluation of the literature pertaining to the autopoietic, connectionist, and cognitivist... more This paper provides an evaluation of the literature pertaining to the autopoietic, connectionist, and cognitivist epistemological paradigms. These paradigms exist at the individual and organisational level through diametrically opposed functionalist versus interpretive and integrative socio-technical knowledge management perspectives. The alignments of individual and organisational epistemologies are essential to the effectiveness of a knowledge management system. Knowl-edge management should consider the roots of knowledge theoretically in order to share or man-age knowledge dissemination successfully in organisations. The term ‘knowledge sharing’ has been emphasised and discussed comprehensively through its epistemological influential factors. This paper concludes the development of a Knowledge Management Epistemological Synthesis Model (KM-ES Model) and a comprehensive discussion and conclusion section focussing on the implications of epistemological influences on the knowledge management system of an organisa-tion. The results from this study provide both researchers and academicians with a clear under-standing of the interplay between epistemologies and a foundation for establishing an effective organisational knowledge management system.

Keywords: socio-technical, knowledge management, knowledge sharing, epistemology, cognitiv-ist, connectionist, autopoietic, functionalist, interpretive, KM-ES Model

Multidisciplinary Technical Teams: A Case Study

by Matthew Jelavic

Ogilvie, K., & Jelavic, M. (2009). Multidisciplinary technical teams: A case study. Canadian Manager, 33(3), 18 – 19.

Interorganizational Macrocultures in the North American Automotive Manufacturing Industry

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M., & Ogilvie, K. (2009). Interorganizational macrocultures in the North American automotive manufacturing industry. Canadian Manager, 34(2), 20 – 21.

Globalization, Knowledge Workers and the Expanding European Union: A Lesson for North America?

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M., & Ogilvie, K. (2010). Globalization, knowledge workers and the expanding European Union: A lesson for North America? Canadian Manager, 35(1), 26 – 27.

Social Network Mapping and Analysis in the Global Aerospace Community

by Matthew Jelavic

Ogilvie, K., & Jelavic, M. (2010). Social network mapping and analysis in the global aerospace community. Canadian Manager, 35(2), 20 – 21.

Management Consulting: Understanding the Process Using Concepts in Neuroscience

by Matthew Jelavic

Vincenti, M., & Jelavic, M. (2011). Management consulting: Understanding the process using concepts in neuroscience. Canadian Manager, 35(4), 22 – 23.

Socio-Technical Knowledge Management and Epistemological Paradigms: Theoretical Connections at the Individual and Organisational Level

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M. (2011). Socio-technical knowledge management and epistemological paradigms: Theoretical connections at the individual and organisational level. Interdisciplinary Journal of Information, Knowledge, and Management, 6(1), 1 – 16.

This paper provides an evaluation of the literature pertaining to the autopoietic, connectionist, and cognitivist... more This paper provides an evaluation of the literature pertaining to the autopoietic, connectionist, and cognitivist epistemological paradigms. These paradigms exist at the individual and organisational level through diametrically opposed functionalist versus interpretive and integrative socio-technical knowledge management perspectives. The alignments of individual and organisational epistemologies are essential to the effectiveness of a knowledge management system. Knowl-edge management should consider the roots of knowledge theoretically in order to share or man-age knowledge dissemination successfully in organisations. The term ‘knowledge sharing’ has been emphasised and discussed comprehensively through its epistemological influential factors. This paper concludes the development of a Knowledge Management Epistemological Synthesis Model (KM-ES Model) and a comprehensive discussion and conclusion section focussing on the implications of epistemological influences on the knowledge management system of an organisa-tion. The results from this study provide both researchers and academicians with a clear under-standing of the interplay between epistemologies and a foundation for establishing an effective organisational knowledge management system.

Keywords: socio-technical, knowledge management, knowledge sharing, epistemology, cognitiv-ist, connectionist, autopoietic, functionalist, interpretive, KM-ES Model

Competence Management in High-Technology Organizations

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M. (2011). Competence management in high-technology organizations. Canadian Manager, 36(1), 21 – 22.

The Neurobiology of Experience: Memory-Prediction and Its Role in the Management Decision-Making Process

by Matthew Jelavic

Jelavic, M., & Vincenti, M. (2012). The Neurobiology of Experience: Memory-Prediction and Its Role in the Management Decision-Making Process. Canadian Manager, 36(4), 26 – 27.