Sources of knowledge acquisition for Chinese software engineers

Abstract

This research adopts a triangulation strategy based on ethnographic case study and questionnaire survey shedding light on how Chinese software engineers acquire codified and tacit knowledge in their daily development work. Software engineers make effective use of complementary resources within a broad spectrum of choices for seeking advice, learning how to solve technical problems, and transferring knowledge to the local community of practice from far beyond the organizational boundary. The analysis focuses on patterns of advice seeking relations within and across project team boundaries, also highlighting the Internet software technology forums as an important channel for technical information sharing across organizational boundaries. The implications for R&D managers are also discussed with special reference to software development and other knowledge intensive computer related work in China.

Sources of knowledge acquisition and patterns of knowledge-sharing behaviors—An empirical study of Taiwanese high-tech firms

“…However, this does not mean that external relational channels are not important, or that the distinction between external relational and external non-relational channels is insignificant. For example, researchers have pointed out that the exchange of ideas in professional communities in high-tech industries is very important for organizations to keep their technology future-oriented (Assimakopoulos & Yan, 2006). Thus, we still need more empirical studies on knowledge sources in order to develop a more generalized typology.…”

“…External sources of codified and non-codified knowledge often provide valuable information and facilitate knowledge innovation (Assimakopoulos & Yan, 2006). Although knowledge from outside the organization may be more abstract and difficult to acquire, it also may be of greater value.…”

“…Their work is characterized by complex system design, knowledge related to the rapid update of technology, and strong competition for sustaining innovation (Assimakopoulos & Yan, 2006). In addition, the knowledge acquisition and sharing patterns among R&D professionals are quite different from those of traditional workers (Assimakopoulos & Yan, 2006;Berends, Bij, Debackere, & Weggeman, 2006;Cabrera, Collins, & Salgado, 2006;Hsu, 2006).…”

Exploring Knowledge Loss in Open Source Software (OSS) Projects

“…The combination and internalisation mode of SECI are not traceable in OSS projects. Knowledge loss occurs when during the process of knowledge creation tacit knowledge is not made explicit and is not retained for future reuse [39].…”

Information technology and marketing performance within international market-entry alliances

“…Knowledge tacitness: it has been long suggested by RBV that one of a firm's critical resources nowadays is knowledge. We follow the general classification of knowledge into two intertwined categories: explicit and tacit (Assimakopoulos and Yan, 2006;King and Zeithaml, 2003;Teece, 1998). Explicit knowledge is also known as codified information and expressed in words, data, numbers, and language.…”