Knowledge Management

BMIS 33142 Jan Semester, 2010

Lecture 1 Introduction

Contents

This lecture will address:

Knowledge management motivation What is knowledge management? What are the forces that drive KM? Organizational issues related to KM. Knowledge Management Systems Internet contribution to KM usage.

Knowledge Management Motivation

The 20th anniversary of the

landing of an American on the surface of the Moon occasioned many bittersweet reflections. Sweet was the celebration of the historic event itself... Bitter, for those same enthusiasts, was the knowledge that during the twenty intervening years much of the national consensus that launched this country on its first lunar adventure had evaporated...
[Fries,S. 1992].

Copyright NASA, Apollo 11 mission

Knowledge Management Motivation

Impart: We should!

Importance of KM What it is? How to implement?

Knowledge as Key Resource

Knowledge has become the key resource, for a nations

military strength as well as for its economic strength is fundamentally different from the traditional key resources of the economist land, labor, and even capitalwe need systematic work on the quality of knowledge and the the performance capacity, if not the survival, of any organization in the knowledge society will come increasingly to depend on those two factors [Drucker,1994]

productivity of knowledge

What is Knowledge Management?

Knowledge management (KM) may be defined simply as doing what is needed to get the most out of knowledge resources. Can be applied to individuals and organizations Most vital resource for todays enterprise KM focuses on organizing and making available important knowledge, wherever and whenever it is needed. Knowledge about:

Processes, procedures, intellectual property, documented best practices, lessons learned, solutions & expert minds

Related to the concept of intellectual

capital (both human and structural). Human capital body of knowledge Structural capital remains : databases,
customer file, software, manuals

Forces Driving Knowledge Management

Increasing Domain Complexity

Knowledge required for specific business processes

Accelerating Market Volatility

Market and environmental influences can result in overnight changes in organization

Intensified Speed of Responsiveness

Time required to take action based on changes is decreasing High turnover rates have resulted in individuals with decision making authority having less tenure.

Diminishing Individual Experience

Role of KM in Todays Organization

KM is important for organizations that continually face downsizing or a high turnover percentage due to the nature of the industry. The forces indicate, in modern world, knowledge necessary to make good decisions cannot thus need to provide with the knowledge needed.

reside all in decision maker,

Facilitate todays younger manager to make the tough decisions daily needed

What is Knowledge Management Systems ?

Social/Structural

mechanisms (e.g., mentoring and retreats, etc.) for promoting knowledge sharing.

Leading-edge

information technologies (e.g., Web-based conferencing) to support KM mechanisms.

management systems (KMS): the synergy between social/structural mechanisms and latest technologies.

Knowledge

KMS
Today, knowledge is accumulating at an ever increasing rate. It is estimated that knowledge is currently doubling every 18 months and, of course, the pace is increasing.. Technology facilitates the speed at which knowledge and ideas proliferate.

Classification of Knowledge Management Systems

Knowledge Discovery Systems Knowledge Capture Systems Knowledge Sharing Systems Knowledge Application Systems

Experience Management
Experience management
Tech can be used to capture and manage

General experience (experience captured over time)

General knowledge

Effective Knowledge Management

80% - Organizational processes and human factors 20% - Technology

PEOPLE

OVERLAPPING FACTORS

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

TECHNOLOGY

Effective Knowledge Management Cont

Knowledge is first created in the peoples minds.

KM practices must first identify ways to encourage and stimulate the ability of employees to develop new knowledge.

Effective Knowledge Management Cont

KM methodologies and technologies must

enable effective ways to elicit, represent, organize, re-use, and renew this knowledge.

Effective Knowledge Management Cont

KM should not distance itself from the knowledge owners, but

instead celebrate and recognize their position as experts in the organization.

End of Part One