Knowledge Management System - Essay Example

Knowledge Management System By Student’s Name Course + Code Class Institution Date Assessment Task 1 Part A 1. Key forms of knowledge that KCA create and share across their business operations a) The use of manufacturing knowledge which includes patent and licenses over products, technologies including information and supply chain data and process innovation. b) Knowledge on marketing which includes the following; data and information knowledge obtained from competitors, consumers, markets, community, and the environment. c) Sales knowledge which includes all information data related to market share, sales data and consumers trends, taste and preference d) Corporate knowledge which includes all management information, human resource, financial data and knowledge, and information. 2. KCA benchmarking process and how it lead to cultural change at KCA The KCA benchmarking process involves the following; Since all KCC plants can access the database which consists all the operation equipment the other plants in the same organization use all over the world, KCA plants use these data to compare itself with other plants that have similar production process. The company developed a common performance measure strategy to ensure that there will be always a standard reporting procedure for all firm focusing on the three main aspects of efficiency and performance of the production process. These three aspects include waste, speed, and delay. The KCC plants usually put their performance data in terms of all measures and receive comparative performances. All these reports are then reviewed in each and every month by Asset team leaders and Operation Manager so as to identify where there should be a change or improvement as achievements of different firms in the particular area are highlighted. After that, all information and knowledge about how the performance improvement was achieved are then acquired bu use of operation work groups. The CC company has developed a global working group of operation managers who serve as sources of information on matters concerning production processes and techniques used by various plants. These KCC working groups then meet face to face from time to time where members are supposed to maintain regular contacts in between the meetings by use of distribution lists and email discussions. In the meetings the following activities occur; Sharing about equipment modifications, answering and asking special methods concerning different production processes, organizing how plants will run tries for other plants and various safety measures are shared. In addition, the plant's regular shares information concerning the Single Minute Exchange Dies (SMED). SMED is a method of production designed to enhance effective production by reducing equipment and machinery changeover times as a way of reducing the downtime in the production line. The system help to review all major process taken in changeover so as to identify those that can be easily be completed to reduce the downtime.After that, all improvement ideas and production methods changes are shared within the working groups which later share it with the Operation Managers to the asset teams on the shop floor by use asset team leaders. The benchmarking process has led to a number of cultural changes in the KCA plant. In 1997 before the beginning of benchmarking process, the operation manager noted that there was a general belief that the plant was doing okay in terms of production processes. The benchmarking program made a notation there was a gap for improvement. In addition, the benchmarking program improves the transparency levels in terms of production data and information. 3. Needs for KCA to constantly create and share knowledge The plant need to constantly create and share knowledge due to the following reasons; a) To sustain company reputation as a leading corporate citizen by demonstrating positive roles to the community in the community where it operates and ensuring strong and constructive relationships with staffs and workers. b) To create basis for stronger customer relationship through strengthening all customer related attentions c) To improve the manufacturing process by use of modern production processes and efficient technologies. 4. KCA syndicate team approach for knowledge management development and the major benefits of the team approach. The KCA Syndicate team is made up of employees from various parts and divisions in the company. Each team is assigning a specific problem relating to the business which works on the problem and develops a solution that is applicable. This team provides various benefits to the plant which include proper measuring and evaluating the solutions against the training investments. In addition, the team's work is based on knowledge sharing and there is an increase in employees understanding of their decisions and impacts to the company. Other than that, the teams enable the company to directly capture the benefits of the training through sharing of knowledge among the students concerning the other plants and organizations. 5. Strengths and weakness of the System The strengths of the system are that it allows a high level of employee satisfaction as related to work experience mainly in the development of knowledge and skills acquisitions. However, the system has a weakness in such a way it stimulates the company to change production processes time to time due to sharing initiative and knowledge acquisition introduced. Part B- Knowledge Management Plan Executive Summary Knowledge management involves all activities that an organization use in the process of gaining knowledge through self-experience and experience from other organization so as to full fill certain company objectives.The following study seeks to the apply the knowledge of management in developing a management plan for Kimberly Clerk Australia(KCA). KCA is a plant own by Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KCC) which is one of the best marketers, manufacturers, and sellers of both family and health care and related products. KCA Company operates in a highly competitive environment due to its business area of manufacturing, marketing, and selling. Due to this reasons, the company needs to be upgrading its technologies, processes, and products. This can only be fulfilled if the company adopts knowledge management plans that are effective and applicable to outweigh the competitors. Aims and Objectives The plan aims to demonstrate how KCA Company can use different knowledge management strategies in the production process. The following are the objectives; 1. To discuss different purposes and outcomes of Knowledge management in KCA. 2. To demonstrate what knowledge need to be created in KCA Company. 3. To demonstrate how the created knowledge should be used and the process of creation. 4. To discuss KCA Company staff learning and development needs plans, knowledge management resources and difficulties experienced in the process. The Need for Knowledge Management in KCA The most crucial purpose of creating knowledge management in KCA Company is to sustain company reputation as a leading corporate citizen. The company is determining to create a positive and continuous image to its staff, community and in the market. The company needs to establish and maintain a strong relationship with the staff and community where it operates by ensuring a good progression in employment conditions and proactive human resources. Information and knowledge management about the environment and the community surrounding the company or where the company operates will sustain the leadership of KCA in the market and make the community feels like a family of the organization. To perform this, the company should fund significant community programs, recognize and practice social responsibilities and attempt to integrate some firms divisions into the society. The second purpose is to create knowledge as a basis for stronger relationships between the company and the customers. This involves the use of market knowledge including market results and customers taste and preferences. This is critical in such way it will retain the existing customers and maintain a high profile in production. The other one is to create knowledge that will be used in continuation of the manufacturing process improvement. The KCA company needs new manufacturing process, technologies, and methods for effective production. This can be obtaining through benchmarking other KCC companies in another region that are successful in certain areas. Knowledge Creation The company should create and acquire knowledge in various ways. The first way is through creating global links in research and development which is crucial for both process and product innovation. The company can use the KCC research facility located in Wisconsin so as to develop new products offering, technologies and production processes from the facility. In addition, the other way the company can create and develop knowledge is acquiring the local market knowledge and intelligence. This is important especially on the consumer’s attitudes towards the company’s family and health care products that are normally shaped by the surrounding community the company operates. The local market knowledge also involves the information and intelligence of the competitors on the available market activities by analyzing the trends involves. Knowledge Harnessing and Sharing In terms of facilitating knowledge sharing among the staffs, organizations and its customers KCA knowledge sharing practices are vitally important. The traditional business models use to base o divisions that focus on their own responsibility but the new KCA plan should focus on divisions that should be in touch with each other’s and their customers. The other sharing of knowledge should implement at a high rate when customers’ demands more data, information, and knowledge. The company should understand that to improve the responsiveness to the consumers is highly important. This is by determining the reasons why at various periods why the products have high demands and what is contributing to high profits at such periods. The use of more cross-division teams will improve knowledge sharing and communication. The cross division’s teams include learning communities inform of category management teams that represent certain divisions such as sales, marketing, human remorse, and finance. In addition, the company can also use benchmarking in harnessing and sharing strategies. Benchmarking will be significant as it will help the company understand various manufacturing processes other plants of KCC are using. Knowledge Management Process The effective knowledge management process is by use of Enterprise Reporting Planning (ERP) systems that always facilitate faster and more effective communication flows. KCA Company should use information and technology systems that allow storage of data and analyze all aspects of the company operations including supply chains, financials, customer’s records, and management information. In addition, the company should use performance management systems to reinforce the knowledge sharing. For example, the sales management teams should ensure all aspects related to sales have accurate records and processes. The other way of processing knowledge is by use of communications of strategic company information. There are a number of ways that internal communication of news is facilitated. The managing director can conduct communication session where information concerning market intelligence, new products and development, financial information and business success can be provided two times a year. The other one includes conducting a wide range of information’s sessions at particular work sites. Staff learning and Development needs The company should develop teams in the company that consists of employees from various levels and with different knowledge and assign them a certain problem to solve. Working as a team with different knowledge, the team's work is based on knowledge sharing and there is an increase in employees understanding of their decisions and impacts to the company. Other than that, the teams enable the company to directly capture the benefits of the training through sharing of knowledge among the students concerning the other plants and organizations. Knowledge Management Resources The development programs provide the basic resources in knowledge management. These programs tend to improve better communication and sharing of information in the company. KCA should use management development programs and business schools where a given number of employees should be selected time to time to go and gain knowledge for the benefit of the company. In addition, since the company has a high number of employees who have experience, mentoring should be also another form of resources for the company. Perceived Constrains and Contingency measures The knowledge management practices have been perceived to contribute to the bottom line through sharing of organization vital information to the public and to the competitors. In such scenario, the company should only share information that has a tendency of improving markets and decreasing costs of production. Evaluation of Knowledge Management System The knowledge management at KCA is the most contributing program that has helps the company to thrive very well and maintain its customers. There have been high records regarding sales and maintain ace of markets. In addition, the company has been rated as the best employer with high rates of workers satisfactions. Assessment Task 2 1. Concepts of knowledge management The following activities are involved in the concepts of knowledge management. First, as the business expands and divides it into small units or plants to make them benefit to face to face with management. The management circulates around workers asking and answering questions and sharing ideas including the highest and most trusted information. The newly generated ideas should then be put into practice to check whether they will bring a positive business impact. In general, it involves a systematic management of the knowledge of the organization for the purpose of creating strategies required in the production process. 2. Legislation, codes of practice and national standard relevant to knowledge management Some knowledge management legislations include privacy and confidentiality legislation, freedom of information legislation and knowledge management guide whereas organization codes of the standard include records management, proper information management, customer service, commercial confidentiality, benchmarking and standard organization operations. 3. key benefits of Knowledge management a) Knowledge management enables proper and faster decisions making process through delivering of information at the time needed for syndication and proper decision making. b) It makes it easier for management to find relevant information and solve a problem by analyzing trends, benchmarking and assessing the markets. c) Knowledge management also help in revising and reusing the ideas that were applied effectively from the previous problems or situations 4. Key organizational barriers of knowledge sharing a.) One of the key barriers to knowledge management is technological barriers. This includes poor integration of the information technology and how workers do processes. b.) The second one involves unrealistic high expectations of employees as to what technological devices can do. This involves lack of IT compatibility. c.) Content barriers that are experienced when transforming implicit knowledge into explicit data. d.) Barriers in procedures and routine where some routines fail to be recognized as routines by employees such as coffee brakes. e.) Organization barriers where the higher managers provide a bad role model. 5. Australian Standards of knowledge The standard is meant to assist the organizations and individuals in understanding the concept of knowledge management. The key concepts in the standards include competitive pressures, legislation requirement, customer services, operational effectiveness and risk management. Other factors such as content, processes, people and technology play a major role. Read More