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The Organic and the Mechanistic Form of Managing Knowledge in Software Development

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Advances in Learning Software Organizations (LSO 2001)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 2176))

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Abstract

This paper presents a framework for knowledge management in software development. The dimensions of the framework are drawn from organization theory. Therefore, it allows for a systematic comparison of knowledge management activities in different companies. By applying established theories from various disciplines, two basic forms of knowledge management can be derived from this framework. The organic form is fitting when the primary intention of knowledge transfer is achieving innovation effects. The mechanistic form is suitable for companies mainly aiming at leveraging existing knowledge. The findings of a survey generally support the existence of the two forms of knowledge management in practice. However, both forms may coexist, when referred to distinct dimensions of knowledge like application domain, methodological, and technical knowledge.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Systems, University of Cologne, Prof. Dr. Werner Mellis, Pohligstr. 1, D-50969, Cologne, Germany

    Ralph Trittmann

Authors
  1. Ralph Trittmann
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fraunhofer IESE Sauerwiesen 6, 67661, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Klaus-Dieter Althoff

  2. University of Kaiserslautern, Postfach 3049, 67653, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Raimund L. Feldmann

  3. FH Ludwigshafen, Ernst-Boehe-Straße 4, 67059, Ludwigshafen, Germany

    Wolfgang Müller

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© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Trittmann, R. (2001). The Organic and the Mechanistic Form of Managing Knowledge in Software Development. In: Althoff, KD., Feldmann, R.L., Müller, W. (eds) Advances in Learning Software Organizations. LSO 2001. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 2176. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44814-4_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44814-4_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-42574-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-44814-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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