Knowledge Management Techniques - Assignment Example

Knowledge management techniques Answers to question 1: What is Knowledge Management? Evaluation of the four definitions Part A 1. Davenport and Prusak, defines knowledge management as, it draws from existing resources that one’s organisation may already have in place, good information management systems, organisational change management, and human resources management practices (Davenport & Prusak, 1998). The underlying assumption in this definition is that, for an organisation to be successful in its operation, it should harness knowledge and realize that knowledge is a crucial source and therefore it should be managed judiciously. The definition also indicates that knowledge management needs a main shift in the cultures of an organisation and commitments in all the organisation’s department levels such as human resource department and information system department. The definition is subjective; this is because it looks at business organisations and avoids other social organisations. This implies that it is more relevant to a specific field (business) and generally applicable to various cultural settings. However, Davenport and Prusak’s definition is relevant to practice because, for an organisation’s knowledge management to be successful various departments need to be actively involved. In my opinion the most useful aspect of the definition is that it advocates for the commitment at all organisational level. The involvement of all organisational levels in knowledge management and the general management of the organisation enables the knowledge management and the entire organisational learning to be able to bear any kind of problem. 2. Nonaka and Takeuchi, defines knowledge management as the capability of an organisation to create new knowledge, disseminate it throughout the organisation and embody it in products, services and systems (Choo, 2013). The main assumption to this definition is that it emphasize on the organisational management continuously creating and innovating on new knowledge. The central idea in this definition is that organisation’s knowledge creation should be accomplished through the conversion of the existing knowledge into new knowledge that is explicit and support it. Nonaka and Tacheuchi’s definition on knowledge management does not assume any particular view of knowledge such as being subjective, objective, or personal. Its assumptions are general. The definition is relevant both to practice and theory. This is because it is easy to practice it and at the same time the new knowledge that is converted to can be expressed in numbers, words, and easily shared and communicated in scientific formulae (Choo, 2013). Moreover, the definition is not more relevant to any specific field. This means that it can be applicable in any field such as business and any non business organisation and at any cultural setting. To my opinion, the most useful aspect of the definition is that it advocates for continuous new knowledge creation. I find it ore useful because any organisation can improve its competitive advantage or its operations if it supports the issue of new knowledge creation and conversion. 3. The scholar Wiig, defines knowledge management as knowledge being the insights, understanding, and practical know how that we all posses, and management being the fundamental resource that allow us to function intelligently. The scholar further expresses that, over time, considerable knowledge is also transformed to other manifestation, such as technology, books, traditions, and practices, within organisations of all kinds and in society in general. The transformation resulted in cumulated expertise and, when used appropriately, increased effectiveness (Wiig, 1993). The main assumption for this definition is that, for an increased effectiveness of any organisation, an organisation need to accumulate expertise through acquiring new knowledge and skills, and using the new knowledge appropriately. The definition does not assume any particular view of knowledge such as personal or subjective. The implication of the definition is that it can be both theoretical and practical. This is because he expresses that new knowledge can be transformed to manifestation such as books and practices. Moreover, the definition is more generally applicable since it does not specify any field of application. Furthermore, the definition is not more particular to any cultural setting. To my opinion, the most useful aspects of the definition is that it advocates for organisation to allow for the accumulation of expertise in new knowledge. 4. Finally, corso et al, defines knowledge management in his book that, KM is about creating an environment that encourages people to learn and share knowledge by aligning goals, integrating bits and pieces of information within and across organisational boundaries, and producing new knowledge that is usable and useful to the organisation (Corso, 2006). The main assumption in the definition is that organisations should create an environment that is able to encourage its workers to share and learn new knowledge. The definition does not assume any particular view of knowledge such as being either personal or subjective. The definition is more relevant to practice other than theoretical and also it not specific to nay cultural settings. This means that it is contains generally applicable information. The most useful aspect in the definition is that, it encourages organisations to create conditions that allow all its parties to be involved in sharing and learning on new skills and knowledge. Part B From the definitions given, the best one that can fit my way of thinking on the current world’s perspective is the one from Nonaka and Takeuchi. This is because it emphasize on continuous creation of new knowledge in any organisation that its goals are set for success. The scholars expressed that creation of new knowledge should be disseminated and supported fully. Therefore, due to the current situation of the world business competition and the various changes in the social sector, in order for nay organisation to succeed in its operations, it must create an environment where new and useful ideas are readily accepted and implemented. The role and the importance of knowledge management in today’s organisations Because of the current trends in the various changes taking place in the world, more organisations are working hard to adopt new set ups and cultures for knowledge management. This is because, only those organisations with superior knowledge set ups competitive advantages than others. For instance, scholars have pointed out that most of the business organisations have basing their strategies on business capabilities based on knowledge , and not on industry or market derived outputs (Knowledge-Management-Online.Com, 2009). This means that knowledge durability is stronger than a product’s durability. Therefore, organisations which are able to adapt new knowledge with the change experienced, are able to bear any problem the encounter and become more success than others. Moreover, effective knowledge management has greatly contributed to the success of many organisations by dramatically reducing their operational costs, by providing them the potentiality to expand and grow, by increasing their profitability and value, by improving their services and products, and by making their response faster. This indicates that effective knowledge management underpins everything that any organisation does (Knowledge -Management-Online.Com, 2009). Issues raised by language diversity in shared knowledge systems The increase in globalisation has been forcing the business employees and managers to seek interaction across the linguistic boundaries. This means that language is a key factor that enables people to share ideas, express emotions, and convey knowledge and messages. The step of incorporating new capabilities, values and artifacts into the aspects of formal knowledge organisation is that of identifying the need of having language diversity (William f, 2012). Therefore, language diversity has contributed to the sharing, assessment, development and implementation of new modes in the organisation knowledge systems, taking into consideration the originality of this knowledge. Answers to Question 2: Knowledge Management Tools and Techniques a. Tetra Owners Spare Club is owned by a group of amateur enthusiastic who came together with an aim of pooling together their resources and making car spare parts. They are also joined by new members who pay some entry fee. Direct sale is the kind of business model for the club. This is because it carries out its sales directly to its customers. Their main topic of concern is that of making car spare parts which were hard to find before they established their club. They are also concerned on how to come up with a working system that is researchable from internet, and able to link them up with other groups of people interested in their services globally. The current state of their technological infrastructure is poor. This is because it cannot be able to serve their needs effectively since the information that their information system provide tend to be confusing between the latest and the oldest versions. Their operation culture is likely to change into a modern state. This is because they have realised that the current one has become obsolete and therefore needs to be changed by changing their entire systems. b. With regard to the case study on the tetra Owners Spare Club, the four knowledge management tools that can help the situation of the company include: Decision support system and it falls on the category of internalising and assimilating tools. This support system will enable the management and other users to make effective decisions by providing them with supporting information that is relevant; Database management system, this knowledge tool lies under the category of explicating and externalising knowledge tools. If the management of this company set up this program, they will be able to retrieve all the information that they need from one server that is secured and accurate. Also it will enable them to avoid mixing up their data; Another knowledge management toll that will be useful is the Social networking tool. This tool lies under the category of the communicating and sharing knowledge tools. Since the company needs to link up with various interested people in their products around the world, this tool will enable them to communicate and share ideas easily. This can be done through networking and chatting with people through social networks; and Expert system tool that is under the explicating and externalising knowledge management tools is another toll that can be useful to the company. By setting up this system, the experts will store there data in the systems and the data can be retrieved by the new comers after their retirement. Therefore, they will not need to look for expertise assistance when the experts will not be available. c. Decision support system Database management system Social networking Expert system Answers to Question 3: Metadata References Choo, C. W. (2013). Perspectives on Managing Knowledge in Organizations. Retrieved March 28, 2013, from http://choo.fis.utoronto.ca/fis/respub/ccq/default.html Corso, M. G. (2006). What Knowledge Management for Mobile Workers? Retrieved March 28, 2013 Davenport, T. H., & Prusak, L. (1998). Working knowledge. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. KnowledgeManagementOnline.Com. (2009). Why KM - the Importance of Knowledge Management. Retrieved march 28, 2013, from http://www.knowledge-management-online.com/the-importance-of-knowledge-management.html Wiig, K. M. (1993). Knowledge Management Foundations. Arlington: Schema Press. William f, K. S. (2012). An Open Model of Organisation for Diverse Knowledge Systems. Retrieved March 28, 2013 Read More