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- Knowledge in the Organization: Knowledge types, Practice and the meaning of Expertise
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This area is based on Practice-based studies, without neglecting the various types of knowledge and their dynamics. It includes research on aspects such as multi-culturality and types of knowledge and research into practices in different organizations (e.g. KIF, service and public organizations).
Within this line, projects conducted have taken on a special significance because their results consolidate the re-valuation of the traditional concept of the expert, through identifying knowledge used in practice.
This has multiple significance. It will allow an in-depth review of traditional practices in managing human resources, such as appraisal, development, training, also the infrastructures supporting dissemination and re-engineering processes, in the light of a more inclusive management focus.
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- Learning and Knowledge Transfer: Social Networks, Teams and Narratives
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Knowledge transfer occurs in specific social contexts, using various instruments. This project explores two social contexts, namely extensive social networks and teams, and one instrument: narrative.
First: Social networks form a fundamental part of any research program working on learning and knowledge. To date, various research has been carried out that has served to certify their importance, giving rise to such valuable concepts as the Community of Practice (e.g Brown and Duguid, 1991). This approach has had continuity in works on management but has had little impact on more extensive areas such as economic clusters or regions (Saxenian, 1994).
Another key concept is the team and learning. In this field we are conducting a research project on team learning, leadership and types of knowledge. This study is being conducted in collaboration with CEMEX (Cementos de México).
The role of narratives in relation to knowledge and its transfer is becoming increasingly important. Within this field we are undertaking a theoretical exploration with a selected working group that is already recognized worldwide for its contributions in the field of rhetoric and narrative.
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- Research and Innovation Management
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Research, as a singular activity, differs from other activities such as project management in that it incorporates considerable degrees of uncertainty and highly complex processes. But in spite of this and of the large amounts of resources it absorbs, we know very little about how to manage research with excellence. In spite of being a strategic activity, there is an evident lack of rigorous works giving orientation on the best way to manage and appraise research. In addition, as support structures and support for research are growing and becoming increasingly complex and incorporating different sectors, it is clear that the success of research programs does not depend on the talent of intellectual capital available, but on capacity for management and organization of complex units. Work done has derived from sociology of science (e. g. Knorr-Cetina, 2000) - however, there is a marked lack of studies orientated towards management.
To overcome this deficit, a 3-year project has been undertaken to identify good management practices and conditions for development of research, and to indicate a first level of elements for appraising these processes. Special emphasis will be given to typical management elements such as strategic plans, human resources management (e.g recruitment and incentive systems), practice organization, objectives management, communications and infrastructures, etc.
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