2.1. Research Motivations, Method, and Objectives
Our research follows a constructivist paradigm (Perret & Séville, 2003) that is deeply rooted in our pragmatic experience in the real field.
As a practitioner having to manage deployment of innovative technologies (such as computer aided design, knowledge based systems, and others) in large companies just when these technologies were conceived into universities and laboratories, I observed that we always needed to elaborate a model with sociotechnical perspectives, which could be used as a pattern of reference for all stakeholders, in order to engender the essential learning process that leads people to appropriate and use these technologies. Notably, I elaborated, the “Semi-opened Infrastructure” model presented in this paper. This model is an empirical model that has been used in each case I handled.
Later on, when becoming Associate Researcher in the domain of KM, we perceived the lack of general model of KM that integrates sociotechnical perspectives. This point of view is often disregarded when considering the technical approach of KM, although hundred of frameworks can be found in the literature (European Committee for Standardization, 2004). That leads us to elaborate MGKME that is briefly presented in Section 3.
Meanwhile, our research on KM makes us discover the Nonaka’s SECI model, and the Japanese concept of Ba. That is the source of the idea to link these theoretical concepts to our pragmatic experience with the implementation of “Semi-opened Infrastructure” model, and to consolidate it. Thus we reached two objectives at the same time:
- (1)
Validate two of the MGKME’s elements: the “Ad hoc Infrastructures” element, and the “Organizational Learning processes” element.
- (2)
Consolidate the “Semi-opened Infrastructure” model as a pattern of reference to deploy innovative technologies.