Ba virtual and inter-organizational evolution: a case study from a EU research project

Abstract

Purpose: Taking Nonaka’s SECI model as the main reference, this paper aims to offer reflections on the virtual evolution of ba, the places for knowledge creation. Indeed, looking at the current scenario, widening the knowledge spiral to the inter-organizational epistemological level is inevitable. To this aim, information technology tools and virtual communities can establish effective interactions to exchange knowledge, making ba evolve congruently. Design/methodology/approach: The paper takes the exemplary case of a platform developed during a European research project called “BIVEE: Business Innovation in Virtual Enterprise Environments”. The investigative approach chosen is participatory action research (PAR), with two researchers conducting PAR in real time, and two others involved ex post. Findings: The paper shows that the virtual evolution of ba can lead the SECI model towards an inter-organizational level. Moreover, through a learning history, it describes how all the phases of the SECI process, even the Socialization one, can take place or be supported in virtual spaces. Research limitations/implications: Taking into account just one single exemplary case study provides a rich, contextualized understanding of phenomena, while allowing only some theoretical generalizations. Originality/value: This paper contextualizes the SECI model within a Web platform for open innovation, to investigate whether the knowledge creation process can take place entirely within a virtual environment linking subjects from different organizations. In so doing, it applies the SECI model to the phases of the innovation process, called waves

When it comes to the impact of absorptive capacity on co-innovation, how really harmful is knowledge leakage?

“…Co-innovation supposes that the firm proposes product ideas, problems or technical doubts in a virtual platform and receives feedback, to perfect its product and process innovations, from the different type of people participating in these spaces on their own behalf or that of a firm, usually technology providers (Bartolacci et al , 2016; Lozada et al , 2019). Forums are the most recurrent strategy for knowledge exchange; there the firm shares datasheets of projects in progress, concepts or product prototypes and institutional documents in exchange for written comments, which give rise to replicas between the firm and external partners (Hutter et al , 2015; Malhotra and Majchrzak, 2019).…”

Knowledge mobilisation: an exploratory qualitative interview study to confirm and envision modification of lay and practitioner eczema mindlines to improve consultation experiences and self-management in primary care in the UK

“…Ba , originally discussed by the Japanese philosopher Nishida44 45 and later refined by Shimizu,46 is a shared space for knowledge generation and sharing. Ba is not about the space per se,47 rather it is a shared context-in-motion which advances over time and has no fixed boundaries or membership. It is about the here-and-now and thrives on people with different viewpoints 48…”

Editorial Preface to the OJAKM Special Issue on Knowledge Management: Research, Organization and Applied Innovation

“…In any of these cases, what we wish to highlight is that, although nowadays the places related to knowledge and innovation are more often virtual spaces (Bartolacci, Cristalli, Isidori, & Niccolini, 2016;Melon, Levy, & Dringus, 2016), including augmented reality and virtual reality, data at the ontological level that is usually taken into account. Moreover, computers, networks, databases, and AI systems are more frequently the producers of these data, while humans do still play an essential role in knowledge creation and innovation (Makridakis, 2017;Sun, 2018).…”