Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Knowledge ...

José Vásquez Paniagua
According to Bédard, all four philosophical dimensions are fully integrated and complement each
o<strong>the</strong>r. Based on <strong>the</strong>se dimensions, she has built a philosophical model on people’s behaviors within
organizations. Bédard classifies into four <strong>the</strong>se behaviors: <strong>the</strong> Pragmatical: It is practice-centered, <strong>the</strong>
results; <strong>the</strong> Systematic: It is based on orderliness, validity. The Relational: This behavior considers
concert, equity, comprehension and relationships with o<strong>the</strong>rs as fundamental elements. The Mythical:
This one refers to behaviors characterized by valuing achievements, symbols, tradition and memory;
myths, generosity and loyalty. In this way, Bédard’s Philosophical Diamond seeks for deep thinking in
order to understand organizations from a behavioral point <strong>of</strong> view.
Knowledge creation, transmission and appropriation can be favored or inhibited by people’s
behaviors; this is why <strong>the</strong>y are so crucial for almost any organization. Thus, people’s behaviors could
promote <strong>the</strong> occurrence <strong>of</strong> events influencing <strong>the</strong> birth <strong>of</strong> an organization or even its future
performance in terms <strong>of</strong> its achievements; this consequently leads to analyze <strong>the</strong> concept <strong>of</strong> risk.
According to Kaplan and Garrick (1981) say that a risk is a group <strong>of</strong> scenarios which has a probability
<strong>of</strong> occurrence and a consequence. To Correia et al (1989) and to Remenyi and Heafield (1996) risk
is usually used in <strong>the</strong> context <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> possibility <strong>of</strong> an unfortunate outcome resulting from a given
action. To Rosa (1998), A risk is a situation or event in which something valuable for humans (human
beings <strong>the</strong>mselves included) is in danger and its outcome is uncertain. Renn, (1998) defines risk as
<strong>the</strong> possibility <strong>of</strong> occurrence <strong>of</strong> an event (natural or man-induced) and <strong>the</strong> consequences <strong>of</strong> that event
on human values. Bernard, et al (2002) states that risk is a event or conditions <strong>the</strong> occurrence <strong>of</strong>
which causes positive (chance) or negative (threats) deviations from an expected outcome. Finally
Rivera (2007) states that <strong>the</strong> possibility <strong>of</strong> predicting is a characteristic <strong>of</strong> a risk, that is to say, risk
occurrence could be predicted.
Having in mind how complex predicting could be (such as predicting human behavior and <strong>the</strong>
occurrence <strong>of</strong> events derived from interpersonal relationships within an organization), Renn’s concept
<strong>of</strong> risk is adopted and it is complemented by Rosa’s in <strong>the</strong> sense <strong>of</strong> assuming <strong>the</strong> occurrence <strong>of</strong>
uncertain and unexpected results influencing an organization’s objective-achieving.
3. Methodology
In this study, social research methods have been used to obtain information to identify feasible risk
events that could affect <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> building a knowledge cluster. During <strong>the</strong> social research,
interviews and documentary research were employed. The findings were complemented with <strong>the</strong>
existing literature on <strong>the</strong> subject This method is <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong> a study conducted in four research
centers; it was enhanced by interviews with managers and researchers <strong>of</strong> state and private
institutions.
Renée Bédard’s <strong>the</strong>ories, her philosophical diamond and classification <strong>of</strong> behaviors were used to
construct <strong>the</strong> method <strong>of</strong> risk identification; from <strong>the</strong>se, analysis parameters for <strong>the</strong> different behaviors
<strong>of</strong> people <strong>of</strong>fering and demanding knowledge at <strong>the</strong> knowledge cluster were defined. The findings
were contrasted to an ideal <strong>the</strong>oretical model <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cluster’s philosophical behavior according to its
objectives, mission and vision from where it is possible to identify <strong>the</strong> risks for <strong>the</strong> organization. The
proposed methodology for human risk factors identification in knowledge cluster building is presented:
4. The Process
4.1 Determination <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Knowledge Cluster’s Philosophical Behavior: The Cluster’s
Ideal Behavior
Based on its main objective <strong>of</strong> transmitting beneficial knowledge to its participants, <strong>the</strong> ontology or
behavior <strong>of</strong> a knowledge cluster should be, from a philosophical viewpoint, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> relational type so
community can be formed from <strong>the</strong> common interest <strong>of</strong> sharing knowledge.
4.2 Identification <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cluster’s behavior (according to its specific nature)
This identification is obtained from a philosophical analysis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> behavior <strong>of</strong> people <strong>of</strong>fering and
demanding knowledge at <strong>the</strong> cluster. In order to do this, surveys were designed; <strong>the</strong>se surveys
included aspects related to each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> four philosophical dimensions Renée Bédard proposes in her
Philosophical Diamond. The interviews were elaborated according to knowledge <strong>of</strong>fering and
demanding people’s pr<strong>of</strong>iles and <strong>the</strong> activities <strong>the</strong>y perform; for example, employees, researchers,
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