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

Albena Antonova and Aniko Csepregi
knowledge requires <strong>the</strong> following knowledge sharing mechanisms: Individualized – Personalized
Mechanisms, Individualized – Codified Mechanisms, Institutionalized – Personalized Mechanisms and
Institutionalized – Codified Mechanisms.
2.3 Classification <strong>of</strong> Knowledge sharing tools and practices
Applying on practice <strong>the</strong> model <strong>of</strong> KS/KT, <strong>the</strong> following characteristics <strong>of</strong> knowledge sharing
mechanisms and s<strong>of</strong>t techniques have been outlined. Table 1 shows <strong>the</strong> main dimensions and factors
for KS, that enables <strong>the</strong> identification and analysis <strong>of</strong> knowledge sharing s<strong>of</strong>t techniques.
Table 1: Factors for identification <strong>of</strong> KS s<strong>of</strong>t techniques
Factor Description <strong>of</strong> s<strong>of</strong>t techniques
Initiator for KS
Focus on knowledge
exchange
Process <strong>of</strong> KS
Purpose <strong>of</strong> KS
Pull techniques - initiated by knowledge owner
Push techniques - initiated by knowledge perceiver
Active techniques – efforts to externalize knowledge
Passive techniques – efforts to internalize knowledge
Primary techniques - designed for sharing knowledge
Secondary techniques - resulting as consequence in KS
Individual – increase individual Knowledge
Organizational – increase organizational knowledge
The role <strong>of</strong> individual in KS method forms <strong>the</strong> first dimension for analysis <strong>of</strong> knowledge sharing s<strong>of</strong>t
techniques. As identified by Teng (2011) two processes for knowledge sharing can be described:
voluntary and solicit. Solicit knowledge sharing occurs when individuals are asked (by o<strong>the</strong>rs or by
organizations) to share knowledge, while voluntary knowledge sharing is initiated by <strong>the</strong>m. Therefore,
two main mechanisms for knowledge sharing can be distinguished: pull techniques (initiated by
knowledge owner) and push techniques (initiated by knowledge perceiver).
The second group <strong>of</strong> factors differentiates active and passive KS techniques. Active techniques
require substantial efforts to externalize knowledge, for example ability for codification and expression
<strong>of</strong> knowledge. Passive techniques focus on knowledge internalization, as decoding knowledge,
obtaining knowledge, learning, receiving knowledge. Many KS s<strong>of</strong>t techniques require both efforts for
externalization and internalization <strong>of</strong> knowledge.
The third group <strong>of</strong> factors include primary and secondary techniques for knowledge sharing. In <strong>the</strong>
case <strong>of</strong> primary KS process, knowledge sharing is expected and planned and <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
process is knowledge exchange. The secondary KS process has different primary purpose (for
example teamwork). In this case <strong>the</strong> knowledge sharing is not <strong>the</strong> final output and result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
process.
The last factor for KS outlines <strong>the</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> KS technique. This is determined if KS results in
increasing individual or organizational knowledge base. These criteria will form <strong>the</strong> framework for
evaluation <strong>of</strong> s<strong>of</strong>t techniques for KS.
Some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most popular KS techniques in practice can be summarized in <strong>the</strong> following groups:
training techniques: seminars, workshops, lectures, training-on-<strong>the</strong>-job;
meetings: workshop, formal meetings, informal meetings, conversations, group discussions;
work in group: teamwork, quality groups, project teams, focus groups;
conferences: company visits, tradeshows, internships;
group creativity techniques: brainstorming and o<strong>the</strong>r techniques for group knowledge creation.
3. Practical implementation
In order to illustrate <strong>the</strong> KS/KT model and <strong>the</strong> proposed framework for KS s<strong>of</strong>t techniques in practice,
<strong>the</strong> outputs <strong>of</strong> a KS survey will be investigated. It was conducted during <strong>the</strong> last 2 years in parallel in
Hungary (HU) and in Bulgaria (BG). The survey was done among Hungarian (2006-2010) and
Bulgarian (2009-2010) middle managers at medium- and large-sized enterprises. A database <strong>of</strong> 321
questionnaires has been collected in BG which is compared with <strong>the</strong> 320 questionnaires collected in
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