KNOWLEDGE CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE AEROSPACE CONTEXT

This paper attempts to examine how knowledge is constructed within the workgroup environment of a large North American aerospace company. Group member interactions within the firm had been evaluated across an ethnographic case study approach involving direct observations and interviews, whereby qualitative empirical results were interpreted and analysed across discourse analysis for emergent categories. A dialogical model is proposed describing both verbal and non-verbal interactions between group members leading towards knowledge complexification. This single case study prevents us from generalising the findings across the entire firm in question; and by extension, any manner of external validity outside of the firm's context. Additional workgroups/teams within the firm need to be evaluated; while similar studies in other institutions within the knowledge economy are to be envisaged. The practical implications to this work suggests that workgroup managers must nurture an environment conducive towards mutual trust and respect, where individuals are given the time and freedom to express themselves all the while being open to differing viewpoints and experiences. This paper presents the 'how' and 'why' of an effective knowledge complexifying dialogical process occurring at the interpersonal level.