Knowledge transfer and storage in mobile IT use for facilities maintenance

Abstract

Mobility and knowledge management theories have received rather little attention as related fields of research. Today, new mobile devices render new possibilities to interact and share knowledge. Taking a knowledge transfer and storage perspective, this thesis presents a minor ethnographic field study of mobile IT uses for facilities maintenance. This thesis discusses implications for mobile maintenance work. These implications are based on an extensive literature research combined with observations and interviews. When reviewing existing research concerning mobile IT support and knowledge management, in relation to my empirical study, I found that the mobile device must be embedded in the ongoing activities of the technicians. I also found that the mobile system supports knowledge transfer and storage in the sense that users could collect information from the system and put the information into practice.