A 1997 presentation at Stockholm Business School in our small group working on the book "Imaginary Organizations" (Elsevier, 2002)

1. Are there new avenues in knowledge creation ? Prof. Philippe Baumard Presented at the University of Stockholm to a PhD Seminar organized with Prof. Bo Hedberg Research on Imaginary Organizations, Stockholm School of Business June 8 th , 1997 In honor of my dear friend Bo and his long-lasting influence on how I perceive the world! 

2. Part I What is knowledge ? How is it generated ?

3. What is “knowledge” ? A balance between dependent and autonomous processes, outputs, and inputs : “Da-Sein” Representations Post-dictive Pre-dictive Instant Abstractive Un-abstractive Insights FOK Feeling Of Knowing Constructions Modelisations Imagination Procdural technologies Know-How Skills Talent Foreknowledge Intuition Premonitions Sensations HIGHLY AUTONOMOUS

6. How knowledge is renewed in organizations ? Adapted from Ekstedt, 1989 Organization, Structures & Capital Individuals Generation Where knowledge is embodied... Groups & Communities Socialization Imitation Invention Imagination Learning R&D Investments Scanning Interaction Enactment « Boundary spanners » Intrusions Deviance Crises Action generating KNOWLEDGE GENERATION

7. Through its diffusion… Adapted from Ekstedt, 1989 Organization, Structures & Capital Individuals Generation Diffusion KNOWLEDGE RENEWAL Where knowledge is embodied... Groups & Communities Socialization Imitation Invention Imagination Learning Rotation Standardization Codification Socialisation R&D Investments Scanning Interaction Enactment Routines Explicitations Procedures Redondancies « Boundary spanners » Leadership « Top-Down » Culture Training Reporting Intrusions Deviance Crises Justifying performance Action Action generating Reporting

8. Through its preservation… Adapted from Ekstedt, 1989 Organization, Structures & Capital Individuals Collective memory Individual memory Know-how Communities of practice Generation Diffusion Preservation KNOWLEDGE ASSIMILATION Where knowledge is embodied... Groups & Communities Socialization Imitation Invention Professional codes and traditions Imagination Codified norms Archives Patents & Secrets Learning Rotation Databases Contracts Reports Specialization Standardization Codification Socialisation Dynamic preservation though action R&D Investments Scanning Interaction Enactment Routines Explicitations Procedures Redondancies « Boundary spanners » Leadership « Top-Down » Culture Training Reporting Intrusions Deviance Crises Justifying performance Action Action generating Reporting Rules of thumb

9. Through its discontinuation… Adapted from Ekstedt, 1989 Organization, Structures & Capital Individuals Collective memory Individual memory Know-how Communities of practice Generation Diffusion Preservation Discontinuation KNOWLEDGE RENEWAL Where knowledge is embodied... Groups & Communities To forget To unlearn To convert Socialization Imitation Invention Professional codes and traditions Organization dissolution Socialization "flakes" Imagination To resign Transfer Reengineering Restructuration Fusion & decline Codified norms Archives Patents & Secrets Learning Rotation Databases Contracts Reports Divisionnalization Specialization Standardization Codification Socialisation Dynamic preservation though action R&D Investments Scanning Interaction Enactment Routines Explicitations Procedures Redondancies « Boundary spanners » Leadership « Top-Down » Culture Training To self-deceive Reporting Intrusions Intangible assets depreciation Normalisation Deviance Deviance Crises Justifying performance Action Action generating Reporting Rules of thumb

12. Part II How to Study Knowledge Generation ?

17. How ambiguity and (un)learning interact ? (inspired from Levine, 1985; Hedberg, 1981; March, Olsen, 1975; Quinn, Cameron, 1988; Starbuck, 1983; Weick, 1976; Baumard, 1996; Brown & Duguid, 1991) Ambiguity KILLING IGNORING ACKNOWLEDGING Individuals Groups Bonding through diffuseness Adapting through loose-coupling Organizational reframing Generating organizational slack Self-protection (opacity) Evocative allusions (metaphors) Escalating of commitment Relying on affect solely Clearing premises Self-deception Forcing univocality (cognitive mastery) Individual reframing Thriving in the fog (opportunistic) Monopoly of esoteric knowledge Instrumental indeterminacy Relying on myths Relying on traditions & programs Tests and conflicts avoidance Collective defensiveness Self-deception Descrimination Blind Spoting Enforcing rules IMPOSING NEW KNOWEDGE INFUSING NEW KNOWLEDGE AVOIDING NEW KNOWLEDGE Reconciliating old and new knowledge Acknowledging knowledge propension for its autonomous development Fossilizing old knowledge Opposing old and new knowledge Old knowledge is viewed as a sin New knowledge is univocal Exploiting equivocality Preparing ground for clashing frames (implicit incompatibility keeps on growing) Developing communities of practice Institutionalization of defensive routines.

19. Part III Do New Organizational Forms can contribute to Knowledge Generation ? Why ? And How ?

23. Both hierarchies and IO, however, need interpersonal networks… Societal Integrity (knowledge externality) Its social value Individualistic Integrity (knowledge internality - the inner value) Generating Visibility Preserving From Visibility Talents From Christian Maravelias & Ph. Baumard, 1997 IMAGINARY ORGANISATIONS INTERPERSONAL NETWORKS HIERARCHIES Affective Trust Institutionalized Trust Contracts Moral Trust ? Performative Trust ?

24. Are IO purposefully ambiguous designs ? Societal Integrity (knowledge externality) Its social value Individualistic Integrity (knowledge internality - the inner value) Generating Visibility Preserving From Visibility Talents From Christian Maravelias & Ph. Baumard, 1997 INDIVIDUAL EXPERTS IMAGINARY ORGANISATIONS INTERPERSONAL NETWORKS HIERARCHIES Affective Trust Institutionalized Trust Contracts Cognitive Trust Moral Trust ? Performative Trust ? MARKET Ontological & scope ambiguity

25. Are IO the organizing principle to generate new knowledge ? COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE INDIVIDUAL KNOWLEDGE Generating EXPLICIT KNOWLEDGE Preserving IMPLICIT KNOWLEDGE Talents From Christian Maravelias & Ph. Baumard, 1997 INDIVIDUAL EXPERTS IMAGINARY ORGANISATIONS INTERPERSONAL NETWORKS HIERARCHIES Affective Trust Institutionalized Trust Cognitive Trust Moral Trust ? Performative Trust ? MARKET Ontological & scope ambiguity Routines