Knowledge in collectives of experts exposing the role of social processes in developing and sustaining expert knowledge.

Abstract

This doctoral thesis explores development and sustainability of knowledge within expert collectives, as an outcome of a dynamic social phenomenon. The rationale of this research is the observation that collectives of experts are a classic example of knowledge based social structures, where a group of specialists jointly learn and share their knowledge to achieve a common goal or to fulfil a shared interest. Therefore, the social processes within these communities are worthy of investigation, in particular, as to how they contribute to the collective cultivation and renewal of expert knowledge. A qualitative inquiry of case study analysis is employed to investigate the research problem. In doing so, two case studies representing two different alternatives of expert collectives are explored in this research. The findings reveal that the development and sustainability of knowledge in expert communities is an evolving cycle of collective learning and sharing facilitated through a complex and unique set of social processes. From a theoretical perspective, this thesis makes a novel contribution to theory by introducing the collectives of experts‟ perspective of knowledge. By doing so, it reveals how the notion of collectives of experts can be used to inform the knowledge refinement and revision in specialist groups more broadly. Secondly, this research broadens the traditional understanding of knowledge by elaborating its sociological importance. From the practical perspective, this thesis contributes to improve the managerial practice, by informing managers the significance of social interactions and relationships between employees, to effectively leverage their specialist knowledge. In doing so, the findings of this research inform managers how they could foster social dynamics conducive for the advancement and renewal of the specialist knowledge in their organisations.