Understanding shared knowledge creation spaces around business processes: Precursors to process innovation implementation

The thesis of this paper is that the implementation success of process innovations is facilitated by having an organizational environment that is conductive to effective shared knowledge creation around the process that is being improved. The paper describes a research study to better understand shared knowledge creation around business processes by developing a model of shared knowledge spaces that includes catalysts, organizational values, information technology infrastructure, and SKC processes. The context used is the new product development process in two high technology companies in Finland. Findings are presented and implications for creating effective shared knowledge creation environments are drawn. The paper ends with a call for creating such spaces as precursors to process innovation implementation.