21860 Managing Knowledge

Subject level: Postgraduate

Handbook description

The basis for the global momentum of implementing knowledge management is the need to understand the real value of knowledge, to create new management philosophies, standards and practices and to establish new models of success. This subject examines the movement away from the traditional paradigm of 'hoarding knowledge' to a structured approach, which creates the incentive for sharing knowledge and establishes a knowledge management framework. It introduces the management initiatives of implementation, technology strategies, planning organisational transformation, and a general understanding of the future environment for managing knowledge within the organisation

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Identify and understand the benefits, concepts and techniques of knowledge management.
2. Understand the impact upon enterprise stakeholders, organisational design and processes, and organisational culture and relationships of the increasing significance of knowledge.
3. Identify and understand knowledge management infrastructures, implementation strategies and the initiatives to meet different business needs based on creating a knowledge environment that supports business goals.
4. Understand the appropriate role of supporting technology.
5. Understand and identify technologies - the Internet, Intranets, groupware, and expert systems - that support workflow management and knowledge sharing objectives.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject provides a foundation for the understanding of organisational knowledge and the application of knowledge management for the core of the Master of Business in E-Business. It contributes to the objectives of the core by focusing on the fundamentals of knowledge management; the processes of implementation, which establishes an understanding of the strategies and organisational issues, associated with the development of E-Business management; and an understanding of the environment for the establishment of E-business relationships.

Teaching and learning strategies

Lectures and group discussions; case analysis and presentation; and workshops. Reading and library search; Internet search and analysis of material; use of collaborative communication software products.

Content

• An Introduction to Knowledge Management
• Organisational Strategy and Knowledge
• Organising Knowledge Work Flows
• Designing the Knowledge Infrastructure
• Learning and Sharing Knowledge
• The Reality of Knowledge Management Projects.

Assessment

Recommended text(s)

Davenport, T. H. and Prusak, L., 1998, Working Knowledge, Boston, Massachusetts: Havard Business School Press

Koulopoulos, T., Spinello, R. and Toms, W., 1997, Corporate Instinct, New York: Van Nostrand, Reinhold.

Indicative references

Davenport, T., 1997, Information Ecology, New York: Oxford University Press

Leonard-Barton, D., 1995, Wellsprings of Knowledge, Boston: HBS Press

Martin, J., 1996, Cybercorp, New York: AMACOM

Nonaka, I. and Taceuchi, H., 1995, The Knowledge-Creating Company, New York: Oxford Press

Tobin, D., 1997, Knowledge-Enabled Organization, New York: AMACOM.