Group Report

• INSTRUCTIONS

  ApplicationWeek 4 Assignment 3

  Group Report
  This week, you learned how to collate knowledge by using information communication technology. You also learned how to expand existing knowledge by retrospecting, gathering knowledge from the right people (accelerated learning theory), and introducing community learning.

  Based on your readings for this week:

  Prepare a report on the Knowledge Management Consortium International (KMCI) Knowledge Life Cycle. The purpose of this report is to help you connect your learning from your Internet Web site evaluation assignments to KM theories, refining the lessons learned and corroborating, validating, and codifying them. This process is the essence of the KMCI Knowledge Life Cycle, as outlined in the McElroy (2002) reading. (See Week 2 Learning Resources.)

  Your report should not exceed 5 pages, exclusive of the title page, abstract, and reference list.

  Refer to the Week4_Guidelines for Assignments document uploaded in the Doc Sharing section of the classroom for complete details of the assignment.

Part I: Listing and Explaining Key KM Lessons Learned

List and explain the key common or shared lessons learned about KM from the Web site evaluations and Discussion area posting assignments in Weeks 1–3. List at least five common lessons learned about KM. If there are not at least five common lessons that are shared, complete the list of five lessons by using lessons discovered by individuals that are of greatest importance to each person. Explain why you believe each lesson is critical for the practice of KM in modern organizations.

Week 4: KM Tools, Techniques, and Technology

Introduction

In times of recession, organizations may cut costs by terminating employees. Do you think this can seriously affect organizations’ repositories of tacit knowledge? Earlier in this course, you read about tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge. Tacit knowledge is the knowledge ingrained in individuals, which translates into explicit knowledge when shared and exchanged through direct contact. Explicit knowledge can be shared through peer-assist meetings, training, and project-specific meetings. Knowledge shared is knowledge gained. Consider the fate of an organization if its senior employees leave without transferring their knowledge to new hires. On the other hand, consider an organization that uses a knowledge management (KM) approach and captures information loss through various technological means by using information communication technology.

This week, you will understand how technology can help in developing tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge. You will learn how information technology (IT) is used extensively in organizations as a natural medium for the flow of knowledge. In addition, you also will learn about the various constraints in the widespread use of technology in KM programs.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this week, you will be able to:

• Outline characteristics of communities of practice.
• Identify common pitfalls in implementing technology-enhanced KM programs.

Resources

• ACCESS RESOURCES

  Learning Resources
  Please read and view this week’s Learning Resources before you complete the Final Portfolio Proposal.Reading

  • Course Text: Collison, C., & Parcell, G. Learning to fly: Practical knowledge management from leading and learning organizations
  • • Chapter 9, “Learning After Doing—When It’s All Over”
    • Chapter 9 describes the importance of retrospection in a project or assignment. Specific steps and facilitator notes on how to retrospect are also provided.

      Focus on the subject-specific case study and the guidelines for reviewing your work.

  • • Chapter 10, “Finding the Right People—If Only I Knew Who”
    • Chapter 10 introduces you to accelerated learning theory and explains how this theory is associated with KM. A description of why bringing the right people together is more important than enabling connections is also provided.

      Focus on the steps necessary to retrospect, and then concentrate on the key learning and how it can be used in future projects. In addition, focus on the value of personal details in boosting business relationships.

  • • Chapter 11, “Networking and Communities of Practice”
    • Chapter 11 explains the importance of community learning and practice in KM. The chapter also explains that knowledge is not distributed evenly, and so well-planned networking is required to assimilate all of the knowledge resources.

      Focus on communities of interest, practice, and commitment to understand the network of people.

  • Article
  • • Moffett, S., McAdam, R., & Parkinson, S. (2004). Technological utilization for knowledge management. Knowledge and Process Management, 11(3), 175–184. Click here to download the article (PDF format)

    • This article analyzes the scope of information communication technology in KM. The article provides a reason technology has surmounted human efficiency. In addition, the article explains how human expertise can be augmented by integrating it with technology.