Processes of Enhancing the Intelligence of Learning Organizations on the Basis of Competence Centers

Abstract

The process of organizational learning and proper knowledge management became today one of the major challenges for the organization acting in the knowledge-based economy. According to the observations of the authors of this paper the demand for formalization of knowledge management processes and organizational learning is particularly evident in research institutions, established either by the universities, or the companies. The goal of this article is to present the best practices related to the management of an exemplary learning organization. The authors describe the research and development competence center established by the Gdańsk University of Technology and IBM (called CAS, Centre of Advanced Studies). Such type of unit is supposed to improve the knowledge of all cooperating entities and improve the quality and efficiency of the existing processes (projects). This leads to an overall enhancement of intelligence throughout the organization – for both CAS and cooperating entities as well. The authors’ experience gathered during the number of R&D projects allows claiming that building an open collaboration environment for scientists and business representatives within the framework of joint projects can be simply an effective solution. The authors try to show the mechanisms, procedures and decisions taken in the creation of such a center, which lead to an overall strengthening of learning organization’s intelligence.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ss.85.3.8415