Chapter 18Chapter 18Information Systems and Information Systems and Organizational LearningOrganizational Learning

Part 1Part 1

The social epistemology of organizational The social epistemology of organizational knowledge systemsknowledge systems

By Ezer CamposBy Ezer Campos

CIS590CIS590

Epistemology definitionEpistemology definition

EpistemologyEpistemology (from the Greek (from the Greek epistemeepisteme, ‘knowledge’, and , ‘knowledge’, and logoslogos, ‘theory’), or , ‘theory’), or the theory of the theory of knowledgeknowledge, is the area of , is the area of philosophy that deals with philosophy that deals with knowledge and related concepts knowledge and related concepts like justification and rationality like justification and rationality

Objectives of this chapterObjectives of this chapter

Analysis of organizations as Analysis of organizations as knowledge systemsknowledge systems

Knowledge systems are composed of Knowledge systems are composed of knowledge processes: constructing, knowledge processes: constructing, organizing, storing, distributing, and organizing, storing, distributing, and applying.applying.

TopicsTopics

Organizational learningOrganizational learning The organizational knowledge system: a The organizational knowledge system: a

framework for analysisframework for analysis– Knowledge processes (Holzner and Marx – 1979)Knowledge processes (Holzner and Marx – 1979)

Typology of processes (Huber- 1991)Typology of processes (Huber- 1991)– Typology of learning processesTypology of learning processes

The knowledge system framework - ExampleThe knowledge system framework - Example Social epistemology: Knowledge in practiceSocial epistemology: Knowledge in practice Questions? I hope not.Questions? I hope not.

Organizational learningOrganizational learning

Current literature on organizational Current literature on organizational learning tends to be theoretically learning tends to be theoretically fragmentedfragmented

There is an intuitive connection between There is an intuitive connection between organizational learning and Information organizational learning and Information SystemsSystems– Developing Developing – ImplementationImplementation– OperationOperation– MaintenanceMaintenance

Organizational learningOrganizational learning

It is difficult to construct a systematic It is difficult to construct a systematic framework within which they can be framework within which they can be analyzed or interpretedanalyzed or interpreted

View organizations as “knowledge View organizations as “knowledge systems” composed of a collection of systems” composed of a collection of socially enacted “knowledge socially enacted “knowledge processes”processes”

The organizational knowledge The organizational knowledge system: a framework for analysissystem: a framework for analysis

Same stimulus, different response (Weick - Same stimulus, different response (Weick - 1991)1991)

It is difficult to measure learning (Fiol and It is difficult to measure learning (Fiol and Liles – 1985)Liles – 1985)

Weick sugested:Weick sugested:– To retain the traditional definition; orTo retain the traditional definition; or– Replace it “with a definition that is tied more Replace it “with a definition that is tied more

closely to the properties of organizations.closely to the properties of organizations.

Knowledge processesKnowledge processes

Holzner and Marx in 1979 identify a Holzner and Marx in 1979 identify a set of five “knowledge processes”:set of five “knowledge processes”:– ConstructionConstruction– OrganizationOrganization– StorageStorage– DistributionDistribution– ApplicationApplication

Knowledge processes: Knowledge processes: ConstructionConstruction

New material is added or replaced New material is added or replaced within the collective stock of within the collective stock of knowledgeknowledge

Transfer between social collectivitiesTransfer between social collectivities Knowledge can be constructed by the Knowledge can be constructed by the

community and integrated into their community and integrated into their daily practicesdaily practices

Social collectives use to ratify Social collectives use to ratify experience as knowledgeexperience as knowledge

Knowledge processes:Knowledge processes:OrganizationOrganization

This is the process by which bodies This is the process by which bodies of knowledge are related to each of knowledge are related to each other, classified, or integrated.other, classified, or integrated.

Knowledge processes:Knowledge processes:StorageStorage

Without storage, there is no possibility for Without storage, there is no possibility for “memory” or application“memory” or application

Mechanisms of storage are computer-Mechanisms of storage are computer-based information systems, paper based based information systems, paper based filing, and individual human memoryfiling, and individual human memory

The effectiveness of these mechanisms as The effectiveness of these mechanisms as storage is always mediated, however, by storage is always mediated, however, by social processessocial processes

Knowledge processes:Knowledge processes:DistributionDistribution

A critical issue in any organization is A critical issue in any organization is distributing knowledge to places distributing knowledge to places where it is needed and can be where it is needed and can be appliedapplied

Because of their communicative Because of their communicative function, distribution processes function, distribution processes naturally have an important social naturally have an important social component (Manning – 1992)component (Manning – 1992)

Knowledge processes:Knowledge processes:ApplicationApplication

Knowledge is applied in practiceKnowledge is applied in practice It is a necessary part of any It is a necessary part of any

organizational learning systemorganizational learning system ““It will be difficult to make an It will be difficult to make an

attribution of knowledge or attribution of knowledge or competence to an organization that competence to an organization that did not produce knowledgeable or did not produce knowledgeable or competent performancescompetent performances

Typology of processesTypology of processes

Hubber’s encyclopedic review of the Hubber’s encyclopedic review of the literature identifies four high level literature identifies four high level processes in his typology of learning processes in his typology of learning processes :processes :

Knowledge acquisitionKnowledge acquisition Information distributionInformation distribution Information interpretation, andInformation interpretation, andOrganizational memoryOrganizational memory

Typology of processesTypology of processes

Hubber’s typology of processes does Hubber’s typology of processes does not add up to the systematic not add up to the systematic framework for analysis of framework for analysis of organizationsorganizations

It is more like a conceptual umbrella It is more like a conceptual umbrella under which many diverse processes under which many diverse processes are sheltered are sheltered

The knowledge systems frameworkThe knowledge systems framework

Social processes do not cease to operate Social processes do not cease to operate after constructionafter construction

The processes used to organize, store, and The processes used to organize, store, and distribute apparently objective information distribute apparently objective information are equally subject to social influenceare equally subject to social influence

Example: analysis of the transformative Example: analysis of the transformative effects of information technology on the effects of information technology on the emergency calls received by two police emergency calls received by two police organizations, one in U.S. and one in organizations, one in U.S. and one in EnglandEngland

Social epistemology: knowledge in Social epistemology: knowledge in practicepractice

The core of a sociologically informed The core of a sociologically informed approach to organizational learning approach to organizational learning must be the sociology of knowledgemust be the sociology of knowledge

Knowledge formation has evolved Knowledge formation has evolved from “formal scientific method and from “formal scientific method and nature” to human practice and nature” to human practice and interaction.interaction.

ExamplesExamples

Criteria to justify knowledge claimsCriteria to justify knowledge claims

Holzner and Marx – 1979 offer some Holzner and Marx – 1979 offer some examples of criteria that are often examples of criteria that are often used, in practice, to justify used, in practice, to justify knowledge claims:knowledge claims:– Ritual superstitiousRitual superstitious– AuthoritativeAuthoritative– PragmaticPragmatic– ScientificScientific

Social epistemology: knowledge in Social epistemology: knowledge in practicepractice

Epistemic criteria act as rhetorical Epistemic criteria act as rhetorical resources for members of an epistemic resources for members of an epistemic community to debate each others’ community to debate each others’ knowledge claimsknowledge claims

The heterogeneity of organizational The heterogeneity of organizational cultures makes it difficult to assume a cultures makes it difficult to assume a single criteria for all memberssingle criteria for all members

A complex organization must be treated A complex organization must be treated conceptually as a collection of overlapping conceptually as a collection of overlapping knowledge systemsknowledge systems

SummarySummary

Relationship between information Relationship between information systems and organizational learningsystems and organizational learning

Organizational learning can be Organizational learning can be investigated as a system of investigated as a system of knowledge processesknowledge processes

Knowledge process are like links in a Knowledge process are like links in a chain; if any one of the fails, it would chain; if any one of the fails, it would be difficult to make an attribution of be difficult to make an attribution of learning learning

Questions…Questions…

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