Knowledge Construction Across Work Contexts

Keywords

• Learning and ICT
  
• Collective knowledge construction in work-life
• Sociocultural perspective
• Activity theory

Overview

My focus is on the collective of knowledge construction in work life and the design and use of ICT-tools as mediating means in everyday work and learning

Aims

The aim of the project is to analyze how knowledge construction are supported in two different organizations and how ICT-tools mediate these processes. I will study tools in use as well as design and introduction of new ICT tools. I
will study how stakeholders reason around knowledge construction, and how these visions are represented in the designs embedded in the tools. I will also analyze how these mediating means are used in everyday work and knowledge construction. 

Methods

The project is anchored in Socio-cultural theory.This frame will structure the theoretical, as well as the empirical approach. Cultural historical Activity-theory (CHAT) will be used for analyzing the individual in relation to the social environment.
I will conduct two case-studies where I will follow the design and use of computer-based tools in two different work contexts. The first case-study focuses on a small to medium technology-company which faces the challenges of geographical distribution and rapid expansion. The second case is focusing on a large health-care organization seeking to change aspects of existing practice in the relocation process. The two case studies correspond by the incentive of designing and using a digital artifact as a means of supporting the collective knowledge-development in the organization.

Partners

Duration

2006-2010

Outcomes

PhD thesis and three scientific articles

Related projects

KIKK

Ahus  

Funding

University of Oslo

KP-Lab