Applying Knowledge Management in University Research

Abstract

In the knowledge-based economy, universities are encountering dramatic changes. Their missions and functions are 'pragmatized' because of emerging new players and competing markets for knowledge production, the availability of higher education to a wider range of social classes and age groups, as well as the assimilation of information technology into the university environment. The dynamics and conduct of university research, in particular, has correspondingly become more sensitive to industry collaboration opportunities, commercial exploitation, and is increasingly transdisciplinary. This paper argues that knowledge management (KM) practices and tools can support universities in addressing these demands. Institutions of higher education can benefit from KM by creating and maintaining relevant knowledge repositories, improving knowledge access, enhancing the knowledge environment, and valuing knowledge. This is exemplified with reference to the Singapore Management University (SMU) where KM is increasingly being applied in the area of research.

Role of knowledge management practices for escalating universities’ performance in Pakistan

“…Although studies have been conducted in other cultures e.g. while studying the application of knowledge management in universities research of Singapore, Loh, Tang, Menkhoff, Chay, and Evers (2003) found that creation and maintenance of relevant knowledge repositories, improving knowledge access and environment, and valuing knowledge can benefit higher education institutions. Similarly, Shoham and Perry (2009) stressed the importance of knowledge management for the technological and organizational change in Israeli universities.…”

The role of knowledge management in institutional strategy development and competitiveness at leading African universities

“…This is also supported by findings of Tippins and Sohi (2003), Garcia-Morales, Llorens-Montes, and Verdu-Jover (2007), Phang, Kankanhalli, and Ang (2008), and Hung, Lien, Yang, Wud, and Kuo (2011) who found that organization learning through KM fostered innovation and newer methods of processes and operations. Lastly, it is shown that the provision of KMIS to facilitate academic research is correlated to the improvement of academic research activity (0.555, p < 0.05), which is supported by Loh et al (2003), Metaxiotis and Psarras (2003) and Chandarasupsang et al (2006) and Mamta (2012).…”

“…The fluid nature of the knowledge economy places pressure on universities to be agile as emerging players and competing markets for knowledge production emerge. Loh, Tang, Menkhoff, Chay, and Evers (2003) argued that KM plays a key role in assisting universities to address the demands of productivity and competitiveness. It has been shown that HE institutions can attain higher degrees of quality, innovation, functionality and competitiveness by using knowledge management (Psarras, 2006).…”

“…Studies by Loh et al (2003), Chandarasupsang, Harnpornchai, Chakpitak, and Dahal (2006), Delavari, Phon-Amnuaisuk, and Beikzadeh (2008), Sahay and Mehta (2010) and Ghaffari, Rafeie, and Ashtiani (2012) found that when KM Information Systems are integrated into academia and research, it leads to significant benefits such as an improvement in quality, productivity, efficiency, interactivity, collaboration and flexibility. This inevitably lead to holistic enhancement of academic and research standards and outputs.…”

Managing challenges and cultivating collaborations in Indonesia's knowledge society

“…Knowledge, despite its different typologies, does constitute a capacity for action and a model for reality (see Stehr and Ufer 2003). It is increasingly being produced in many other organisations, such as government laboratories and industries, enabling the heterogeneity of production (Loh et al 2005). There are no longer strict boundaries between these knowledge-producing organisations, and Gibbons emphasised that such barriers are receding further (Gibbons et al 1994).…”