Collaborative knowledge visualisation for cross community knowledge exchange [Elektronische Ressource] / von Jasminko Novak

Collaborative Knowledge Visualisation for Cross-Community Knowledge Exchange Von der Fakultät für Ingenieurwissenschaften der Universität Duisburg-Essen zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Doktors der Ingenieurwissenschaften genehmigte Dissertation von Dipl.-Ing. Jasminko Novak aus Derventa Referent: Prof.Dr-Ing. Jürgen Ziegler Korreferent: Prof.Dr. Heinz Ulrich Hoppe Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 16. Oktober 2006 Abstract The notion of communities as informal social networks based on shared interests or common practices has been increasingly used as an important unit of analysis when considering the processes of cooperative creation and sharing of knowledge. While knowledge exchange within communities has been extensively researched, different studies observed the importance of cross-community knowledge exchange for the creation of new knowledge and innovation in knowledge-intensive organizations. Especially in knowledge management a critical problem has become the need to support the cooperation and exchange of knowledge between different communities with highly specialized expertise and activities. Though several studies discuss the importance and difficulties of knowledge sharing across community boundaries, the development of technological support incorporating these findings has been little addressed.