Conveying Knowledge Using Visualization vs. Text : Empirical Evidence from Asia and Europe
Type
conference paper
Date Issued
2010-09-01
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Tochtermann, Klaus
Maurer, Hermann
Abstract
In this study we look at an innovative approach to knowledge management, namely the use of graphical representations for conveying a specific type of knowledge. We focus on business strategy and investigate how this type of knowledge can best be communicated by comparing textual and visual representations. Through a controlled experiment we examine the effect of knowledge representation on understanding and recall of participants in Europe and East Asia. The results show that knowledge visualization is superior to text, independent of culture, and that culture does not have a negative mediating role on the reception of knowledge. However, we also find that subjects underestimate the benefits of visual representations of information for building up knowledge in both cultures. We believe that these findings reveal the hidden benefits of visualization for knowledge work. Communicating knowledge with visual formats or representations thus seems a promising, but undervalued practice for
international, intercultural contexts.
international, intercultural contexts.
Language
English
Keywords
Knowledge communication
Visual representation
Cross-cultural communication
Strategic knowledge visualization
Recall
HSG Classification
not classified
Refereed
Yes
Book title
Proceedings of I-KNOW '10 : 10th International Conference on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Technologies
Publisher
Verlag der Technischen Universität Graz
Publisher place
Graz
Start page
483
End page
488
Pages
6
Event Title
10th International Conference on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Technologies I-KNOW
Event Location
Graz, Austria
Event Date
01.-03.09.2010
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
63904