University of Twente Student Theses
Het Kennishuis: Vermenigvuldigen door delen
Aalbers, Jacqueline (2013) Het Kennishuis: Vermenigvuldigen door delen.
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| Abstract: | ‘Het Kennishuis’ is an innovative development in which the sharing of knowledge takes a central place. Het Kennishuis meets the desires to renew the library and to have accessible knowledge facilities in the context of the knowledge economy. The goal is therefore to create an environment in which individuals, institutions and companies are being stimulated to share their knowledge and thus develop new knowledge (Gemeente Enschede, 2012). One of the target groups that might benefit from the development of Het Kennishuis is the fast growing group of self-employed people (without employees). Het Kennishuis gives self-employed people the opportunity to make use of a workplace and to share interesting knowledge with other self-employed people. When self-employed people share knowledge in het Kennishuis, this can benefit for the self-employed people, the library of Enschede as well as for the de economy of Twente. The main question in this research is thus: “How can knowledge sharing between self-employed people (without employees) in Het Kennishuis be improved?” To answer this question, first of all is investigated what sharing of knowledge is and what barriers and facilitators related to knowledge sharing are. Based on this literature, an interview schedule is developed for interviews with 15 self-employed people from business services and 6 experts in the field of self-employment support. Thus is examined how these factors are viewed in practice and what actually conducive is to knowledge sharing among self-employed people. This way is also inventoried how Het Kennishuis can be distinctive in what they offer in Enschede in the field of knowledge sharing amongst self-employed people. By means of a focus group interview with 5 self-employed people in addition to the individual interviews there is jointly thought about the application of the stimulating deemed factors from the individual interviews. Both with the individual interviews as well as with the focus group interview a systematical approach of data analysis and interview schedules were used. Twelve factors have emerged from the analysis that may promote knowledge sharing between self-employed people. First of all it should be clear to all in Het Kennishuis who the present knowledge sharers are and what their expertise’s and current proceedings are. In addition to that there will have to be made use of personal (face-to-face) and digital information and communication means for knowledge sharing. Also a supporting work environment will have to be shaped that meets the needs of the self-employed people and is it beneficial when Het Kennishuis itself takes an active stance in sharing knowledge. It is also beneficial if there is a diverse group of self-employed people from business services and that membership for Het Kennishuis is mandatory and that long opening hours are facilitated. Furthermore a decentralised and flat organisational structure seems beneficial for the sharing of knowledge between self-employed people. Besides that, awareness will have to be created under self-employed people that sharing of knowledge is necessary and the fact that sharing of knowledge is a reciprocal process. An atmosphere of trust is also found conducive for the sharing of knowledge. Finally, a central location, low cost and ‘more appealing naming’ are deemed conducive for sharing knowledge in Het Kennishuis. From this research five points have also come forth in which Het Kennishuis can be distinctive in what she offers to self-employed people in Enschede in the field of knowledge sharing. In the first place, het Kennishuis can be distinctive by specifically targeting on self-employed people, whereby the needs of the self-employed people take a central position and the self-employed people are getting actively involved in the implementation of the organization. Also, Het Kennishuis will have to consist of a diverse group of knowledge sharers. Het Kennishuis can also distinguish itself by becoming a facilitating node for other networking clubs or informative institutions for self-employed people. Furthermore Het Kennishuis will be able to be distinctive by taking the above-mentioned active role in sharing knowledge and by offering a central location, approachability and low costs. When these conducive factors for knowledge sharing are taking into account and the points in which Het Kennishuis can be distinctive, Het Kennishuis can develop itself to a distinctive workplace for self-employed people in which sharing of knowledge takes a central place. Finally, some recommendations for future research and recommendations for the practice will be made. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 81 education, teaching |
| Programme: | Educational Science and Technology MSc (60023) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/64230 |
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