Using a Structurational Methodology to Develop a Sophisticated Understanding of the Knowledge Economy
Speaker: Prof Han Chun Kwong, Graduate School of Management, Universiti Putra Malaysia
When: 2003-07-09 11:00:00
Venue: 78-622
Host: Dr Margot Brereton
Abstract:Structuration theory has been highly influential in research in the
social sciences in the past decade, and in information systems
research in recent years. In spite of its powerful insights, its
value as a theoretical foundation for understanding the knowledge
economy has not been documented. This paper illustrates how the
concepts of structuration theory were used in developing a
sophisticated understanding, by drawing on hand-on experiences and
longitudinal analyses of government policy initiatives to transform
an Asian country into a knowledge-based economy.
Malaysia is redefining its developmental strategy to turnaround from
a production economy to a knowledge-based economy (k-economy)
whereby the production, distribution and utilization of knowledge
constitute the primary bases for economic growth and wealth
creation. Various initiatives are being designed and executed at the
national, state and industry levels to sustain competitiveness as
new information communications technologies (ICT) and globalization
rapidly erode traditional advantages. The structures and processes
by which these k-economy initiatives are developed and implemented
are complex economic-social-political decisions that are little
understood and not rigorously analyzed. I want to draw upon more
than a decade of experience as an interpretive action researcher and
as a reflexive practitioner to make sense of these structures and
process, and suggest how success strategies can be crafted from new
theories built by using a reflexive methodology with sound
theoretical bases.
A theoretical framework is constructed using concepts drawn from
structuration theory, and this provides a sophisticated way of
seeing, thinking and interpreting the new world of the k-economy and
k-society. An in-depth understanding of the issues in strategy is
illustrated and assessed using three case studies, concerned with
formulating and implementing the national k-economy masterplan, a
state-level k-economy ICT blueprint, and the contact centre industry
blueprint. The cases provide examples of problem situations
associated with differing mindsets, structural contradictions and
conflicts, politics and power relations, divergent values,
unintended consequences, restricted knowledge domains and
stakeholder vested interests. From the analyses, implications are
drawn regarding the theory of strategy, the practice of success
strategy, and doing interpretive research of value in the local
context.
Biography:Professor of e-Business
Graduate School of Management
Universiti Putra Malaysia
43400 Serdang, Selangor D E, Malaysia
han@putra.upm.edu.my
Type: ITEE Seminar
Contact:Dr Margot Brereton, seminar host (margot@itee.uq.edu.au)
or Guido Governatori (ITEE seminar co-ordinator)
(guido@itee.uq.edu.au)