The primary research question of this thesis, “How can social media tools be used to improve USMC tacit knowledge sharing?” will be investigated through the explorative case study of existing knowledge flows within a single USMC unit. The scope of this case study will be limited to the knowledge flows that can be identified via documentation, direct observation, and participant observation collected over the course of a period from 2008 to 2011. This case study is a holistic (single unit of analysis) Type I case study (single case) (Yin, 2009). A Type I case study is appropriate here because this case is representative of many similar USMC units, and the interpersonal communications and interactions typical between currently serving Marines. While the specific events and interactions explored in this case may differ slightly from those of other USMC units, the organizational structure (e.g., number of staff officers, spectrum of rank, and position), standard operating procedures (e.g., planning operations, adjacent unit coordination, interaction with higher headquarters) and patterns of interactions are common across the USMC for similar and dissimilar units. Therefore, this case study is intended to contribute to the body of knowledge pertaining to USMC individual and organizational knowledge flows. Existing knowledge flows must first be identified before recommendations can be made for improvements. Evidence from this case study will become the foundation for recommended USMC social media tool use cases in Chapter IV.
The principal investigator was assigned to a Marine Aircraft Group (MAG), on primary staff, as the group communications officer from 2008 to 2011. His unique position granted daily involvement with all staff departments and all unit operations. The primary investigator, as a primary staff officer of uniquely long tenure, was frequently in a position to perform the duties of other staff officers (e.g., logistics, operations, supply) during unit planning or operation execution. This broad experience led to a novel understanding of the intricate organizational behaviors and routines within the unit. The investigator observed and participated, firsthand, in the rotation of three commanding
officers, six operations officers, and several other staff position turnovers. The investigator, due to his tenure, was in a position to observe how learning occurred within the unit over time, how tacit knowledge flowed between individuals and how that knowledge was managed.
Due to the heavy reliance on the investigator’s past firsthand experience within the subject USMC unit, this case study will be historical in nature. Current non-unit specific USMC documents, publications, processes, and operating procedures will be included within the case to provide contemporary evidence of USMC knowledge flows; undoubtedly, some procedures and resources have changed since the investigator departed his unit nearly three years ago, but the case should reflect well on current organizations nonetheless.
1. Construct Validity
Construct validity concerns the application of operationalized measurements to minimize subjectivity within the case study (Yin, 2009). While the investigator’s impressions and experience are important, operationalized concepts defined during the literature review (e.g., knowledge flows, tacit knowledge sharing) will be used during case study analysis. Multiple sources of evidence will be used during this study in order to increase inquiry convergence. Documents, observation, and participant observation will be used to collect case evidence. Documents will include historical and contemporary USMC doctrinal publications, unit reports, and other USMC specific documents.
2. Internal Validity
Numerous threats to internal validity exist for the case study research method due to the difficulty in establishing causal relationships between events (Yin, 2009). The causal links involved in tacit knowledge sharing are complex and difficult to measure, due in part to a lack of empirical evidence in existing literature (Venkitachalam & Busch, 2012) and the availability of converging evidence for this particular case. Therefore an explorative narrative, grounded in operationalized concepts, will be used to generate
With additional evidence, future research could focus on more explanatory case studies to develop stronger causal inferences regarding tacit knowledge sharing. Recommendations for future research will be provided in Chapter V.
3. External Validity
External validity is concerned with “knowing whether a study’s findings are generalizable beyond the immediate case study” (Yin, 2009, p. 43). Evidence from this case study will contribute to the broader theory of tacit knowledge flows within the USMC. This particular case study, currently, stands alone as a single case. Due to the high standardization of organizational structures, patterns of interaction, processes, and procedures within the USMC, findings from this study are applicable across the service. Shared organizational similarities among the USMC, other military services, and even many hierarchical organizations create further additional opportunities for the application of these findings. Future case studies can be conducted using this framework to further improve the external validity of this study over time. Recommendations for future research will be provided in Chapter V.
4. Reliability
Reliability concerns the repeatability of the same case study by another researcher achieving the same findings (Yin, 2009). The principal investigator, no longer serving in the subject unit, has no motivation to be nonobjective regarding case evidence or findings. Additionally, the investigator’s current position as an experienced Marine officer improves reliability because it is reasonable to expect another Marine officer, of similar experience, to reach the same conclusions. Reliability of this study is highest if repeated within the USMC or other military organizations, but may not fare so well outside military organizations. The narrative case study report and analysis (Chapter IV) will serve as the blueprint for future replication (external validity) and repeatability (reliability) of this study.
B. CASE STUDY COMPONENTS