Nominal ranking technique in information and knowledge management: A methodology to SoTL

Abstract

Background: The scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) makes provision for methodology contributions across disciplines. The information and knowledge management (IKM) discipline prepares students to function optimally in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). To keep abreast with continuous and agile change in the 4IR, a new contribution is made to the SoTL in the form of a nominal ranking technique (NRT) methodology in the IKM discipline.

Objectives: To develop the NRT methodology for constructing IKM heat maps of the 4IR elements and criteria relating to strategic information management (SIM) business case studies (BCSs). By sharing the NRT methodology, this paper aims to make a SoTL contribution in IKM.

Method: Using the qualitative research approach, content analysis was used to analyse 101 BCSs of SIM students. By employing critical case sampling and the NRT methodology, the top BCSs were identified for inclusion in constructing the IKM heat maps.

Results: Four BCS categories, unique, novice, duplicate, and duplicate-novice, were determined by applying the NRT methodology, with 5 elements and 25 criteria in constructing the IKM heat maps.

Conclusion: The NRT methodology serves as a guideline for constructing IKM heat maps, a unique contribution to the SoTL in the IKM discipline. Each application of the NRT methodology will be unique and beneficial.

Contribution: In this study, the value relates how the IKM discipline prepares SIM students to function optimally in the 4IR, evidenced by the four categories of BCSs.