An examination of how a multicultural organization can become a Community of Practice with support from ICT and Information Architecture
Translated title
En undersøgelse af, hvordan en multikulturel organisation kan blive et Community of Practice ved hjælp af ICT og informationsarkitektur
Author
Hansen, Jacob Krag
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2018
Submitted on
2018-09-20
Pages
127
Abstract
Dette speciale undersøger, hvilke typiske kommunikations- og vidensdelingsproblemer der opstår i en dansk, multikulturel organisation, og hvordan information- og kommunikationsteknologi (ICT) samt informationsarkitektur (IA) kan støtte udviklingen mod et Community of Practice (CoP). Gennem et kvalitativt casestudie af Foldens Hotel & Café i Skagen, der rummer seks nationaliteter og markante sprog- og kulturforskelle, kombineres interviews og deltagerobservationer med en induktiv og deduktiv indholdsanalytisk tilgang. Teorigrundlaget omfatter Etienne Wengers CoP, Edgar Scheins organisationskultur og -læring samt Rosenfeld, Morville og Arangos IA-principper. Analysen peger på forskellige motivationer for at arbejde i Danmark, betydelige sprogbarrierer (begrænset dansk og udfordringer med engelsk) og manglende vidensdeling på tværs af nationaliteter, hvilket fører til små subgrupper og fragmenteret problemløsning. Afslutningsvis præsenteres et muligt ICT-design i form af sitemap og wireframes med fokus på enkel terminologi, primært tekstbaserede labels frem for ikoner og en tydelig, hierarkisk organisering og navigation for at gøre indhold let tilgængeligt og dermed understøtte fælles praksis og læring.
This thesis investigates the typical communication and knowledge-sharing challenges that arise in a Danish multicultural organization and examines how information and communication technology (ICT) and information architecture (IA) can support the transition toward a Community of Practice (CoP). Using a qualitative case study of Foldens Hotel & Café in Skagen—characterized by six nationalities and notable language and cultural differences—the study combines interviews and participant observations with inductive and deductive content analysis. The theoretical framework draws on Etienne Wenger’s CoP, Edgar Schein’s organizational culture and learning, and IA principles from Rosenfeld, Morville, and Arango. Findings indicate differing motivations for working in Denmark, significant language barriers (limited Danish and difficulties with English), and limited knowledge sharing across nationalities, resulting in small subgroups and fragmented problem solving. The thesis presents a proposed ICT solution as a sitemap and wireframes emphasizing simple vocabulary, primarily text-based labels rather than icons, and clear hierarchical organization and navigation to make content easily accessible and foster shared practice and learning.
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