Balancing local knowledge within global organisations through computer-based systems: An activity theory approach

Joshi, S; Barrett, M; Walsham, G; Cappleman, S

dc.contributor.author	Joshi, S	en
dc.contributor.author	Barrett, M	en
dc.contributor.author	Walsham, G	en
dc.contributor.author	Cappleman, S	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:56:17Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:56:17Z
dc.date.issued	2007	en
dc.identifier.issn	10627375	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/28038
dc.relation.uri	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-47049111404&partnerID=40&md5=10441c48cd6f620540bd0fb0e27b55bb	en
dc.subject	Community	en
dc.subject	Computer-based systems	en
dc.subject	Culture	en
dc.subject	Globalisation	en
dc.subject	Knowledge-sharing	en
dc.subject	Mediation	en
dc.subject	Third-generation activity theory	en
dc.subject.other	Activity coefficients	en
dc.subject.other	Computer systems	en
dc.subject.other	Information retrieval systems	en
dc.subject.other	Activity theory	en
dc.subject.other	Balance (weighting)	en
dc.subject.other	Computer based systems	en
dc.subject.other	Distributed work	en
dc.subject.other	Global information systems (GIS)	en
dc.subject.other	Knowledge sharing	en
dc.subject.other	Knowledge-sharing	en
dc.subject.other	New approaches	en
dc.subject.other	Problems and challenges	en
dc.subject.other	Third Generation (3G)	en
dc.subject.other	Distributed computer systems	en
dc.title	Balancing local knowledge within global organisations through computer-based systems: An activity theory approach	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.publicationDate	2007	en
heal.abstract	This article investigates how, and with what success, global organisations design computer-based systems for knowledge sharing which aim to balance centralised and standardised approaches against more diverse local needs. The empirical basis for the article is provided by an analysis of two different global organisations, each with its own knowledge-sharing infrastructure in place. We use third-generation activity theory as the theoretical basis for our analysis. The contributions from this article are twofold. The first is our theoretical lens, where activity theory is applied to the domain of global information systems and their organisational context. This analysis provides a new approach in addressing both the mediation of and motivations behind knowledge-sharing activity. The second contribution concerns the theoretical and practical insights this gives on the problems and challenges of achieving a balance between global and local priorities within highly distributed work contexts, and the role of computer-based systems in this arena. Copyright © 2007, IGI Global.	en
heal.journalName	Journal of Global Information Management	en
dc.identifier.volume	15	en
dc.identifier.issue	3	en
dc.identifier.spage	1	en
dc.identifier.epage	19	en