Category Archives: Uncategorized

Constructing and Sustaining Competitive Interorganizational Knowledge Networks – Information Systems Management

Posted on by
Reply

I have authored a paper along with R. Hackney and Z. Irani, which appears in the current issue of Information Systems Management

Abstract: The research in this paper considers the complex and dynamic arrangements for potential and actual knowledge sharing in interorganizational networks. The essence of this stance is that “knowledge” relates to affirmative managerial action beyond the necessary collection of information facilitated through technology. The issue is to determine the nature and extent of the degree of organizational agreement that may be achieved as competitors either cooperate or continue to compete in the face of challenging and pervasive market conditions. The theory relating to network formulation is reviewed, findings from empirical analyses from the experiences from automobile distributors in a large USA city, and one scientific collaborators network are presented. A framework is proposed identifying the factors necessary to initially construct the network and then to further sustain it over time. A number of lessons learned are developed, which are believed to be of value to researchers and practitioners engaged in these processes.
Ray Hackney; Kevin C. Desouza; Zahir Irani, Constructing and Sustaining Competitive Interorganizational Knowledge Networks: An Analysis of Managerial Web-Based Facilitation, Information Systems Management, 25 ( 4), 2008, 356 - 363.

The neglected dimension in strategic sourcing: security – Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal

Posted on by
Reply

I have authored an opinion piece that appears in the current issue Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal.

The neglected dimension in strategic sourcing: security

Structured Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on a neglected dimension in strategic sourcing – security; Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes two vignettes which illustrate different kinds of security breaches and discusses securing strategic sourcing efforts; Findings – The paper points to the need to seriously consider the security dimension in sourcing agreements; Originality/value – This paper will hopefully raise awareness to the security dimension in the context of strategic sourcing.

LINK

Managing knowledge transfer in distributed contexts, Information Systems Journal

Posted on by
Reply

I am happy to announce that a special issue on ‘Managing Knowledge Transfer in Distributed Contexts’ has been published in the Information Systems Journal. I co-edited this issue along with Mark Nissen (Naval Postgraduate School) and Carsten Sørensen (London School of Economics). Link to the special issue...

Below are 4 out of the 5 papers that we accepted for publication as part of the special issue:

  • Developing a dynamic project learning and cross-project learning capability: synthesizing two perspectives (p 567-591), by Sue Newell, Linda F. Edelman

  • Knowledge transfer in globally distributed teams: the role of transactive memory (p 593-616), by Ilan Oshri, Paul van Fenema, Julia Kotlarsky

  • Exploring the effects of trust, task interdependence and virtualness on knowledge sharing in teams (p 617-640), by D. Sandy Staples, Jane Webster

  • Multi-contextuality in boundary-spanning practices (p 641-661), by Rikard Lindgren, Magnus Andersson, Ola Henfridsson

A fifth paper, Organizational knowledge transfer through creation, mobilization and diffusion: a case analysis of InTouch within Schlumberger, by Ashley Braganza, Ray Hackney, and Satrijo Tanudjojo will appear in a future issue.

Switching Between Consumer Technologies – Communications of the ACM

Posted on by
Reply


An article I co-authored with doctoral students at the University of Illinois at Chicago appears in the current issue of the Communications of the ACM. This paper reports on an empirical study conducted on factors that govern switching between technology substitutes. The empirical paper will appear in a future issue of the Journal of the American Society of Information Science and Technology.

Ye, C., Desouza, K.C., Papagari Sangareddy, S.R., and Jha, S. “Switching Between Consumer Technologies: The Case of Low Switching Cost,” Communications of the ACM, 51(10), 2008, 132-136.

Crafting Organizational Innovation Processes: Lessons for Optimizing R&D Organizations

Posted on by
Reply

I will be addressing the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute on October 20th, 2008.

Crafting Organizational Innovation Processes: Lessons for Optimizing R&D Organizations

Innovation is a crucial component of business strategy, but the process of innovation may seem difficult to manage. To plan organizational initiatives around innovation or to bolster innovation requires a firm grasp of the innovation process. Few organizations have transparently defined such a process. Based on the findings of an exploratory study of over 30 US and European companies that have robust innovation processes, this paper breaks down the innovation process into discrete stages: idea generation and mobilization, screening and advocacy, experimentation, commercialization, and diffusion and implementation. For each stage, context, outputs and critical ingredients are discussed. There are several common tensions and concerns at each stage, which are enumerated; industry examples are also given. Finally, strategies for and indicators of organizational success around innovation are discussed for each stage. Successful organizations will use an outlined innovation process to create a common framework for discussion and initiatives around the innovation process, and to establish metrics and goals for each stage of the innovation process.

See the SBRI website for details [LINK]

Human Intelligence Operations – Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals

Posted on by
Reply

I will be giving a keynote lecture at the Puget Sound Chapter Meeting of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals. Details are noted below. I look forward to seeing you there…[LINK]

Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Genie Industries, Redmond, WA

This meeting is open to Non-Members as well as SCIP Members!

Program Description
Based on his recent book, Managing Knowledge Security: Strategies for Protecting Your Company's Intellectual Assets (Kogan Page, 2007), Desouza will describe how human intelligence operations are conducted to ascertain competitive intelligence. Warning his audience of business practitioners that most organizations fail to understand that their core resources intellectual assets are constantly under attack, and that protecting these resources is as important as any other part of the strategic agenda.

Desouza, gives advice on how to recognize dangers of human and technological breaches, hazards of outsourcing and business alliances, implementation of breach prevention measures, and the necessity of working with disaster scenarios. He illustrates his advice with cases from his personal experience working in the fields of competitive intelligence, knowledge management, crisis management, and security operations.
About the Speaker
Dr. Kevin C. Desouza is on the faculty of the Information School at the University of Washington. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Electrical Engineering at the College of Engineering. He currently serves as the Director of the Institute for Innovation in Information Management (I3M) and is an affiliate faculty member of the Center for American Politics and Public Policy, both housed at the University of Washington. He founded the Institute for National Security Education and Research, an inter-disciplinary, university-wide initiative, in August 2006 and served as its Director until February 2008. He has held visiting positions at the Center for International Studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, Groupe Sup de Co Montpellier (GSCM) Business School in France, and the Accenture Institute for High Business Performance in Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA). In the private sector, he founded the Engaged Enterprise and its think-tank, the Institute for Engaged Business Research. The Engaged Enterprise was a global strategy consulting firm with expertise in the areas of knowledge management, crisis management, strategic deployment of information systems, and government and competitive intelligence assignments.

Book Signing
Dr. Kevin Desouza will be available for a book signing before and after the program. At the meeting there will be a limited supply of Dr. Kevin Desouza's book Managing Knowledge Security: Strategies for Protecting Your Company's Intellectual Assets. The books will be sold at a discounted price of $50 (cash only). The book is also available through Amazon and other retailers for about $65. Please reserve your book for cash only sales as there is a limited supply. Otherwise, please purchase your book prior to the meeting if you would like an autograph.

Location & Parking
Genie Industries, Inc.
18640 NE 67th Ct., Bldg. 18
Redmond, WA 98052
There is a large lot available for parking by the Genie building.

Registration Fees
SCIP Member - $30.00
Non-Member - $35.00
Non-SCIP Student Member - $20.00 (Please contact Dionedra Dorsey for details)
(Amex, Visa, MC accepted via the web) (Amex, Visa MC, Check or Cash accepted on site)
It is very much appreciated if you register in advance so that we make sure to have adequate space and food & beverage.

Agenda
4:30pm - 5:30pm - Registration, Networking, Food & Beverage
5:30 pm - 6:30pm - Presentation
6:30pm - 7:00pm - Q&A, Networking
Contact Information
Deborah Trainor, Puget Sound Chapter Chair Deborah.Trainor@terex.com, (425) 498-7522.
Dionedra Dorsey, Chapter Relations Coordinator ddorsey@scip.org 703.739.0696
x111.

Securing Intellectual Assets: Integrating the Knowledge and Innovation Dimensions

Posted on by
1

I have a new paper accepted for publication - Securing Intellectual Assets: Integrating the Knowledge and Innovation Dimensions. The paper will appear in a special issue on Management of Security Technology and Policy, International Journal of Technology Management

The concept of intellectual asset security has received widespread attention in recent times. Much of this attention can be attributed to the fact that knowledge assets can be used to secure competitive advantages for organizations. Moreover, one might assert that in today’s knowledge-based economies and markets, it is these assets that truly differentiate organizations and are the only true source of sustainable competitive advantages. In order to have a robust program for managing intellectual assets, an organization must account for its knowledge management and innovation processes. In this paper, drawing on (1) a semiotic-based model for knowledge management (Desouza, 2006), and (2) an organizational process of innovation (Desouza et al., 2006), I describe an integrated process framework for the management of intellectual assets. The framework is then used to describe salient security management challenges faced when managing intellectual assets. Executives involved in security management programs in 23 organizations were interviewed to elicit key security management challenges faced by organizations when addressing intellectual assets.

My reflections on South Africa Featured on Brand South Africa Blog

Posted on by
Reply

My post on reflections from South Africa is featured on the Brand South Africa Blog.

Very Interesting!!!

http://www.brandsouthafricablog.com/

SA Magic Makes Another Believer

September 2nd, 2008

Kevin Desouza, an Assistant Professor in the Information School at the University of Washington, and blogger, has just wrapped up a stint as a visiting professor at the University of Witwatersrand. Here are his impressions. Be sure to read the section on what he learnt in SA.