Application of the SOM for Visualizing Knowledge Boundaries within an Organization

Innovation depends on the degree of exchange and acquisition of information about innovative ideas across different knowledge boundaries. Hence, it is important to know how this knowledge is actually exchanged and acquired. Despite its importance, there is limited research into the examination of knowledge boundaries. Our study initiates an understanding of the knowledge boundary phenomenon within an organization through the application of the self-organizing map (SOM) technique for visualizing knowledge boundaries. Accordingly, this research lays the foundation for future research in this area. A Taiwanese company provides the context for our study. We choose a case study methodology for our investigation of the research question because we conducted an exploratory study with the goal of looking into the knowledge boundary phenomenon.