Reusing Knowledge in Online Forums: A Pilot Study

Abstract

While universities generate knowledge, they may not often effectively reuse and share that knowledge. Academic colleagues sometimes reinvent the wheels to recreate the same or similar type of knowledge and intellectual work. As the forum is a popular online teaching tool, this research focuses on the examination of how knowledge, created by a learning and teaching community in forums within an online learning environment, can be reused when a subject is run again or handed over to a different colleague later. It is qualitative interpretive research. To investigate the sharing and reuse of knowledge amongst academics, a focus group was conducted with eight experienced subject coordinators who have used online forums in teaching. They were from three different university schools and different disciplines. The participants produced a plethora of rich information regarding potential knowledge reuse about subjects, focusing on subject contents, assignment help, class discussions, learning difficulties and experiences. This study suggests that the development of a knowledge-sharing culture, university policies, or knowledge management leadership can effectively encourage sharing and reuse of knowledge within a university environment. This is an empirical investigation of a theoretical hypothesis raising issues for further research. The paper is based on a full understanding of the existing state of knowledge in the field and is an original contribution to understanding of the issues. The treatment shows evidence of critical evaluation and conclusions appear relevant and soundly based.

A hybrid model of knowledge management for new service development

“…Despite various definitions of online communities, a major distinction in this study is that newsgroups offer informational and social support (Muncer et al 2000), while forums offer a mix of problem-solving knowledge via mentoring support (Wei and Chen 2006). Soon et al (2010) established an online forum to reuse knowledge in a learning organization. Hou and Li (2011) successfully conducted a newsgroup discussion among programmers to share knowledge in software development.…”

“…Despite various theories regarding KM (Hou and Li 2011, Mason 2005, Soon et al 2010, only a few practical research studies have focused on the application and implementation of a hybrid model incorporating different KM principles community" and "knowledge map" to facilitate his NSD, but did not think of further integrating these KM applications in depth with the NSD process for greater financial benefits of KM. In this context, it is imperative that researchers investigate an application model to integrate KM principles, theories and practices in resolving KM bottlenecks in industry, as reflected by the case company.…”

Can we talk? Course management software and the construction of knowledge

“…Surely we should be able to detect an evolution in the principal vehicle for interaction between learners, that is, in the threaded discussions within the CMS. To test this we focus on the latest upgrade to the asynchronous discussion utility in BlackBoard, examining the pedagogical implications of its structure and online presentation [2]. High on Papastergiou's list of constructivist principles is ''student control over his/her learning'' (Papastergiou, 2006).…”

The effects of innovation by inter-organizational knowledge management

“…To improve business performance and create new mechanisms for knowledge sharing, organizations employ many different knowledge management (KM) approaches (Ng and Jee, 2012). Despite various theories regarding KM (Hou and Li, 2011;Mason, 2005;Soon et al, 2010), practical research has rarely focused on the application and implementation of a hybrid model incorporating different KM principles (Dixon, 2000;Housel and Bell, 2001). Thus, a comprehensive guidance for KM practices to resolve into organizational innovation may be lacking, and the common goal of KM to transfer knowledge among the members of an organization may have to integrate various approaches such as the 'knowledge community' and 'knowledge map' (Bautista-Frias et al, 2012;Krishnaveni and Sujatha, 2012).…”