Strategies for Innovation: Producing Mode III Knowledge & Personal Capital in Organizations

Arthur Harkins, Ph.D.

John Moravec, Ph.D.

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA

The Six Knowledge Modes1. Scientific

2. Applied (Action) Science

3. Personal

4. Contextual

5. Machine/Software/IA/AI

6. Chaordic

A seventh Knowledge Mode: Mode 0 = No knowledge production

Mode III Knowledge Production Mode III = permits the creation,

identification, measurement, and utilization of personal knowledge resources that would otherwise remain fallow or trapped in the netherworld of social invisibility (Harkins, 2002).

Importance of Mode III KN Production

Goal: to demonstrate how personal and social capital can be enhanced in transitional countries by the development of Mode III knowledge production

Personal CapitalPersonal capital = a fusion of the functional &

procedural knowledge, skills, talents, imagination, creativity, courage, attitude, worldview, vision, energy, passion, organization, wisdom, intuition, emotional intelligence, communication, relationship skills, social capital and networks, initiative, leadership and other personal resources.

Social CapitalSocial capital = the synergistic application of

personal capital within value-creating institutions, organizations, and corporations.

Selected Assumptions:1. Commodification of Knowledge

2. The Emergence of Knowledge Workers and Innovational (applied) Knowledge Workers

3. Cultural Factors (new sciences, role of media, management)

4. Societal Factors (heterarchy over hierarchy)

5. Changing Work Place Factors

A Need for Synergy Between Individuals & Organizations Personal capital development Expansion of mission definitions and

broadening markets Reengineering of learning and action

context(s) Rejection of Mode 0 activities Hyper-development of Mode III

Implications of Mode III Knowledge for Organizations KN Based Continuous Innovation

Organizations are emerging Cultures must choose how to support such

organizations Developing Mode III knowledge production

is the first step in such support Mode III knowledge is based on

individualistic thought and innovation

Implications of Mode III Knowledge Production Processes Individualistic thought and continuous

innovation run counter to traditionalism Organizations must decide to manage the

interactions of knowledge Mode III against the backgrounds of existing and desired legacy factors

Development of Mode III opens up organizations to new types of workers and consumers

Implications of Mode III Knowledge for Organizations Mode III will require major cultural changes in

knowledge development, assessment, and innovation applications

Mode III “opens up” organizations to new types of employees and consumers, because societal complexity and the demand for new knowledge and continuous innovation will apply to everyone, not merely to select classes of professionals, intellectuals, technician/scientists, and artists

Implications of Mode III Knowledge for Organizations Mode III supportive organizations will

become more instrumental in producing employees and consumers capable of developing and working with three emerging knowledge Modes:

Context Machine Chaordic

Implications of Mode III Knowledge for Organizations Three Emerging Knowledge Modes… Mode IV: KN based on context creation and culture

design Mode V: KN produced by machines, IA, AI, and SW Mode VI: KN based on the creation and

management of “chaordic systems,” or systems intended to cope with unpredictable change

Implications of Mode III Knowledge for Organizations The three emerging knowledge modes are

already becoming drivers of exponentially increasing change

Altogether, Knowledge Modes I-VI are helping to bring about what Kurzweil and others call the Singularity, or the arrival of globally distributed human and non-human intelligence

Implications of Mode III Knowledge for Organizations There are various development futures for

organizations working to develop Mode III services, initially, and quickly moving along to Modes IV through VI

Our conclusion is that organizations must be continuously innovative in order to create and take advantage of Knowledge Modes III-VI

Implications of Mode III Knowledge for Organizations Our position is that there will be little payoff

for organizations attempting to play “catch up” with leaders, because this approach will put them even further behind over time

This approach will also hold back their societies from the optimal development and use of personal capital, which is the major driver of new and desperately needed social capital

Thank you!

We are now open for points and questions…