Knowledge creation within geographically dispersed organisations : collocation from a sensemaking perspective

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates the question of organisational knowledge creation in geographicallydispersed settings.In Chapter 1, I describe Nonaka's model of organisational knowledge creation and Weick'stheory of organisational sensemaking in more detail.In Chapter 2, the geographically dispersed organisation is examined in more detail, looking atsocialisation, organisational culture and trust.In Chapter 3, communication dynamics within the geographically dispersed organisation areexamined, with a focus on Media Richness Theory and the impact this has had on theories ofcommunication across distance.In Chapter 4, the organisation is examined at the level of the team, discussing real worldexamples of dispersed knowledge creation from the knowledge management andsensemaking perspective, using research on globally dispersed software development teamspracticing the Scrum methodology.The thesis comes to the conclusion that it is possible for knowledge creation to occuramongst geographically dispersed individuals, if they have learned how to make sensetogether. However shared frameworks are quicker and easier to develop in face-to-facesettings, but as soon as the basis for it exists, the influence of geographic dispersal is reduced.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University