Designing the Knowledge Management System - Coursework Example

The Knowledge Management Name: Student’ Number: Course: 1.0 Strategy The strategy to be used in designing the knowledge management system is the risk that the knowledge can lead to. The knowledge of the skills and handling of asbestos materials could cause a lot of problems because careless handling of the materials. This is because the removing of asbestos from their pits requires special skills and knowledge which should be provided by the company permanent employees who are trained to do so. The technics used to remove the asbestos from the pits was being alleged that the methods would expose workers and the general public to problems that come with danger of asbestos. The knowledge in the case study is that the asbestos being exposed to human can cause infections and therefore, the company NBN removing the material from the pits was not in a manner that was protecting the workers and the general public. This could expose people to infections that would result into diseases. The knowledge about asbestos effects should have been handled in a way that will not affect people’s health. This will call for introduction of a knowledge management system that will be followed to solve any issues that might arise while the work is being carried out. It is well known that asbestos materials have a lot of health risks involved with them and, therefore, the materials should be handled by people who are trained and have the skills and equipment to handle them. There has been laid down rules in most countries on how the asbestos should be handled so as to avoid and eliminate any risks involved. 2.0 Actors The actors in this case study are the people who are directly involved in the dissemination of the knowledge and any other information related to this issue. The actors in this case study are those who own the knowledge, its custodian, the users and even those who created the knowledge. This will help identify each and every aspect that will help in guiding any person on identifying the responsibilities of the knowledge stakeholders. This will help in identifying the knowledge gaps that need to be eliminated so as to have sufficient delivery of the knowledge. This will also promote the way breaching of the knowledge principles that are laid down as guidelines. The actors in this case study are Telstra Company is the creator of this knowledge and this is evident because it created the knowledge and installed it in the country for the purpose of the communication. This leads us to the users of this knowledge are the general public who use knowledge for communication. The general public use the knowledge in a modified form because the company installations are the asbestos cables in the pits so as to allow use of copper telephone lines. The National Broadband Network Company is taking up the ownership of this knowledge so as to modify the communication by installation of fibre optic cables. The company will ensure that the knowledge is maintained in the best way possible so as to ensure the best results are realized in the process. The company is also the custodian because it has to ensure that the rolling out of the network is done so as to promote efficiency and the communication in the country. 3.0 Infrastructure The company should invest in infrastructure that will help in passing the knowledge from one generation to the other without any risk of losing it. The company should ensure that equipment such excavation tools are available to their employees so as to ensure they do not touch the asbestos with their hands. The company should also have cans where the asbestos materials will be put after being removed from the pits so as to avoid any effects being passed to the employees or the general public. The company should also invest in research and development to ensure that the current knowledge is improved and passed to the new employees. This will help breach the knowledge gap that may arise during employees’ engagement in their duties. The company should also have a developed software and hardware system that will ensure that the current knowledge is stored in a save mode for easy access by the employees and any other person who might be interested in information about the asbestos. The company should use their website so as to improve the knowledge of the general public about the asbestos. The information should be produced in the printed media such as newspapers and printed papers that should be available to the general public especially in the public libraries. The company should also go an extra mile to building their libraries that will be open to the general public. This will ensure that knowledge is imminent and the general public is well protected from any harm that will arise from handling of asbestos materials. The company should also have stores and warehouses where the equipment will be kept so as to allow easy access by the employees and so as to maintain them for the future. The company should have network connections in their premises so as to ensure that workers can access knowledge from the central server without going to the main offices. This will help in saving time during knowledge research and network is also a very important storage tools. 4.0 Functionality The knowledge management system design will aid in transferring knowledge and enhancing the way that knowledge is applied so as to achieve the best results. The design will ensure that there is a clear link between the new employees and those who have experience in handling asbestos material. This will help the new employees to gain knowledge on how things are done in the best way possible. This will avoid any risks that will arise from asbestos materials. This design will help improve the current knowledge because there will be so many ways to access the knowledge from different avenues. This increased awareness among the general public this will help reduce the risks. The company should also develop ways of communication within the company and outside so as to ensure that they are kept informed on any arising issues about asbestos in the neighbourhood. This will be a great step in maintaining the knowledge because it will be easy for all generations of employees to have the same knowledge and skills and even have ways to improve them. There is need to restructure the knowledge to work with the growing technology and to make it as current as possible. The network storage means that the information and knowledge can be accessed by so many people and this will eliminate the great risks of asbestos. The company should ensure that majority of the people are aware that it is the responsibility of the company to handle the asbestos material and dispose them. The company management need to identify ways of distributing the knowledge ensuring that the company principles are not breached in any way. This will protect the company policies as it maintains its responsibility by ensuring safety to the general public. The knowledge distribution should not breach any laws of the country. The skills to handle the asbestos and rolling out of the NBN were the responsibility of Telstra and its workers. 5.0 Delivery The system will ensure that the company’s knowledge of how to handle the asbestos materials is maintained and disseminated in the best way possible. The government should ensure that the knowledge is being maintained and distributed in the best way possible. The company will ensure that there is internet in the company to ensure easy access of the knowledge by the employees. The government should also introduce subjects about the asbestos and their harm to the people to be studied at all levels of education in the country. This will equip most people with the basics about asbestos this will help protect any arising harm. The company will also have to keep on training its employees on the asbestos. This training will be offered after every 3 months to ensure that the employees have the required knowledge. The company can also offer to have open days where it will be training the general public on the issue of asbestos. This could be open in the fields or even of the media so as to increase asbestos awareness. The company will develop special software that will ensure those who have disabilities can access the knowledge because they have a right to knowledge and should also be protected. The company will have refresher courses on their staff and ensure every new employee have to undergo a training to ensure that they have the required skills to protect themselves and the general public on how to handle asbestos. The KMS will keep on improving so as to keep up with the growing technology. 6.0 Knowledge The company employees have gone a lot of training on how to handle the knowledge about asbestos. Training being the source of knowledge should have ways to improve how it is disseminated. The knowledge dissemination includes the risks that come with careless handling of the asbestos materials. The company should also ensure that security of the company is not breached in any way. This will ensure that sensitive information that belongs to the company is not given to the employees and even does not go to the general public. The company principles and policies should follow the set rule and regulations on how to handle the asbestos materials. According to the Australian law there are laws that shows there are minimum requirements to be followed by the companies handling the materials. The knowledge in the case study is that the asbestos being exposed to human can cause infections and therefore, the company NBN removing the material from the pits was not in a manner that was protecting the workers and the general public. This could expose people to infections that would result into diseases. The knowledge about asbestos effects should have been handled in a way that will not affect people’s health. This will call for introduction of a knowledge management system that will be followed to solve any issues that might arise while the work is being carried out. 7. 0 Continuous improvement The company should have a performance management system so as to keep on reviewing the success of the company’s strategies. The performance management policy will ensure that knowledge is improved at any given time to ensure that they are responsible in the best way possible. A KMS should be regularly reviewed to ensure that it is meeting the objectives identified in the strategy and requirements. The company should device a way of getting feedback from the general public on how successful their strategies are. The company indicators of success will be the feedback from the general public and review of its policy after every three months. Any gaps that will arise during the reviews and feedback from the general public will be addressed in the best way possible. The measuring of the success will be on how the company removes the asbestos from the pits without any harm to the workers and the general public. In case there is no harm and exposing of the asbestos materials the company will be on the right track, but if this is not the case the company will have to improve on its strategies. The strategies should be able to handle the laid down requirements. The company strategies should be analysed once in a while so as to identify any gaps that are limiting the performance of the company. The analysis should be done by the employees and will involve their experience during carrying out their duty. The employees will have to write reports on their experiences and identify ways to improve the services of the company. The reports will act as an audit to the company so as to ensure the company is moving on the right track. The company should highly invest in research and development to ensure that there are no gaps in the service delivery. References Michel, Avital, Jessica, Carlo. What Knowledge Management Systems Designers Can Learn From Appreciative Inquiry. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2004. Stuart, Bairnes. Knowledge Management Systems: Theory and Practice. Cengage Learning. 2002. Read More