Knowledge Management Model - 'Epistemological'
After looking at a few journals and articles, I was unable to come up with a good understanding of what a KM model is and how it can be applied. I found an explanation from Wikipedia which gives understanding to the novice (me! i.e. without much knowledge of KM). At least it is a start of a long journey to understanding KM in depth.
Epistemology according to Wikipedia is also known as the 'theory of knowledge'. it focuses on the nature and scope of knowledge. It seeks to address ongoing questions about knowledge such as: "What is knowledge? How it is acquired, amongst other things". - Wikipedia
My understanding is that epistemological model seeks to analyze the nature of knowledge and the relationship between as truth, belief, and justification when knowledge is concerned. I hope I can safely presume that in getting definitions of terms in KM and their correct uses over the past week or two, I am getting closer to what epistemology stands for.
I look forward to learning and indeed being knowledgeable on this particular model.
Wednesday 28 January 2009
Tuesday 27 January 2009
Week 2 continued
Uses and Misuses of Terms in Knowledge Management
Data: is a raw presentation with out meaning unless it undergoes some form of processing e.g. numbers in a cell of a spreadsheet means nothing until it has been processed or defined
Information: is when raw data has been given some meaning or has been processed.
Information needs to be timely, meaningful and useful e.g. following the analogy above of numbers in a cell of a spreadsheed, it becomes information when the provider names the cell ‘Friday’s Team Attendance’ for instance.
Knowledge: is information that changes something or somebody -- either by becoming grounds for actions, or by making an individual (or an institution) capable of different or more effective action." -- Peter F. Drucker in The New Realities
My deduction is: there is a relationship between data, information and knowledge. Without data information cannot exist and without information knowledge cannot exist either. And the next step in the ladder as it were is wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to apply acquired knowledge.
Data: is a raw presentation with out meaning unless it undergoes some form of processing e.g. numbers in a cell of a spreadsheet means nothing until it has been processed or defined
Information: is when raw data has been given some meaning or has been processed.
Information needs to be timely, meaningful and useful e.g. following the analogy above of numbers in a cell of a spreadsheed, it becomes information when the provider names the cell ‘Friday’s Team Attendance’ for instance.
Knowledge: is information that changes something or somebody -- either by becoming grounds for actions, or by making an individual (or an institution) capable of different or more effective action." -- Peter F. Drucker in The New Realities
My deduction is: there is a relationship between data, information and knowledge. Without data information cannot exist and without information knowledge cannot exist either. And the next step in the ladder as it were is wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to apply acquired knowledge.
Week 2
Knowledge Management
Knowledge Praxis “defines knowledge management as a business activity with two primary aspects:
Treating the knowledge component of business activities as an explicit concern of business reflected in strategy, policy, and practice at all levels of the organization.
Making a direct connection between an organization’s intellectual assets — both explicit [recorded] and tacit [personal know-how] — and positive business results”.
An imperative point made by ‘Knowledge Praxis’ as noted above, the knowledge element of any business needs to be evidently shown in the strategy and policies of the organization.
Reference: RO Barclay, PC Murray - Knowledge Praxis, 2000 - providersedge.com
Knowledge Praxis “defines knowledge management as a business activity with two primary aspects:
Treating the knowledge component of business activities as an explicit concern of business reflected in strategy, policy, and practice at all levels of the organization.
Making a direct connection between an organization’s intellectual assets — both explicit [recorded] and tacit [personal know-how] — and positive business results”.
An imperative point made by ‘Knowledge Praxis’ as noted above, the knowledge element of any business needs to be evidently shown in the strategy and policies of the organization.
Reference: RO Barclay, PC Murray - Knowledge Praxis, 2000 - providersedge.com
Sunday 25 January 2009
Lessons Learned from Week 1 Continued
Organization Vs Communities of Practice (CoP)
Given the definitions of both an organization and CoP, there exits a relationship between both groups. Both groups work towards benefiting it’s environment either by Cops withing an organization influencing its immediate environment through knowledge sharing and thereby increasing efficiency in processes then profit.
However one needs to consider their differences which are reflected on below.
Both groups work towards certain specified goals. For CoP’s, it’s goal is to come together and share experiences and transfer knowledge through sharing where the goal of a business organization is to make profit through execution of certain processes giving predefined output into it’s environment.
In the case of an organization, it has a formal structure whilst a social network could have some sort of structure but not a formal one.structured. For example, an organization would have levels such as top level management, middle level and operational level where as with CoPs there needn’t be a formal structure to its existence.
Another difference lies in their entity i.e. a business organization is a legal entity bound by certain rules and laws where in the CoP there may be rules that the members have laid down but they are not legally binding hence a CoP is not a legal entity.
Even though differences exist in what these groups stand for, I still feel the organization can benefit from CoPs as long as the agenda and or objectives of the CoP(s) align with the overall goals and objectives of the organization thereby averting conflict(s).
Given the definitions of both an organization and CoP, there exits a relationship between both groups. Both groups work towards benefiting it’s environment either by Cops withing an organization influencing its immediate environment through knowledge sharing and thereby increasing efficiency in processes then profit.
However one needs to consider their differences which are reflected on below.
Both groups work towards certain specified goals. For CoP’s, it’s goal is to come together and share experiences and transfer knowledge through sharing where the goal of a business organization is to make profit through execution of certain processes giving predefined output into it’s environment.
In the case of an organization, it has a formal structure whilst a social network could have some sort of structure but not a formal one.structured. For example, an organization would have levels such as top level management, middle level and operational level where as with CoPs there needn’t be a formal structure to its existence.
Another difference lies in their entity i.e. a business organization is a legal entity bound by certain rules and laws where in the CoP there may be rules that the members have laid down but they are not legally binding hence a CoP is not a legal entity.
Even though differences exist in what these groups stand for, I still feel the organization can benefit from CoPs as long as the agenda and or objectives of the CoP(s) align with the overall goals and objectives of the organization thereby averting conflict(s).
Saturday 24 January 2009
Lessons Learned from Week 1 Continued
Social Network
Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision – http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/
A very good example, if we were to follow the description of a ‘society’ as narrated by Wikipedia is the society we live in i.e. we are co-existing with other living things whether we know it or not or even if we have volunteered to or not.
My View
Now, combining that with the definition of ‘network’ being the interconnection of systems, groups or people, it can be said of social network that it is a continued voluntary connectivity amongst individuals and groups. These social networks can either be physical or online. An example of a physical social network could be our local running club who come together once a week to enjoy the sport or to train for a more competitive purpose. Examples of online social networks we may be familiar with are: Facebook, MySpace etc
Definitions:
Social refers to a characteristic of living organisms. It always refers to the interaction of organisms with other organisms and to their collective co-existence, irrespective of whether they are aware of it or not, and irrespective of whether the interaction is voluntary or involuntary - Wikipedia
Network as defined by wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn is an interconnected system of things or people;
Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision – http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/
A very good example, if we were to follow the description of a ‘society’ as narrated by Wikipedia is the society we live in i.e. we are co-existing with other living things whether we know it or not or even if we have volunteered to or not.
My View
Now, combining that with the definition of ‘network’ being the interconnection of systems, groups or people, it can be said of social network that it is a continued voluntary connectivity amongst individuals and groups. These social networks can either be physical or online. An example of a physical social network could be our local running club who come together once a week to enjoy the sport or to train for a more competitive purpose. Examples of online social networks we may be familiar with are: Facebook, MySpace etc
Lessons Learned from Week 1 Continued
Strategy: Definitions
A strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. Strategy is differentiated from tactics, or immediate actions, with resources at hand by its nature of being extensively premeditated, and often practically rehearsed.- Wikipedia
"Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long-term: which achieves advantage for the organisation through its configuration of resources within a challenging environment, to meet the needs of markets and to fulfil stakeholder expectations" - http://tutor2u.net/business/strategy/what_is_strategy.htm.
Strategic: Definitions
Nature of strategy – dictionary.com
Strategics - the science or art of strategy - wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Me: Strategic is the very nature of a strategy i.e. the way in which a business strategy is to be implemented.
My View on Strategy
Strategy can therefore be a definitive plan on the way forward for any given organization. Contrary to the definition, an organizations strategy can indeed be short term taking into consideration emerging markets and evolving technologies. A strategy can start off being long term but with provisions to change directions as and when necessary as dictated by a few influences such as the environment, the economy, political changes, change in technology etc.
Organization
Organization as defined by wikipedia is “a social arrangement which pursues collective goals, which controls its own performance, and which has a boundary separating it from its environment”.
Laudon and Laudon in Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm (10th Edition) suggests the above definitions are technical organizations and reveals there is a behavioral definition of an organization. This is: “A collection of rights, privileges, obligations, and responsibilities that are delicately balanced over a period of time through conflict and conflict resolution”.
My stance is that, in looking at and considering the definitions of an organization from both Wikipedia and Laudon, a good organization should have both the technical and behavioral attributes embedded in it. It should have a set of goals and objectives that its members understand and work towards achieving by following the strategy or strategies laid down by senior management toward the advancement of the organization and mainenance of it competitive advantage.
A strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. Strategy is differentiated from tactics, or immediate actions, with resources at hand by its nature of being extensively premeditated, and often practically rehearsed.- Wikipedia
"Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long-term: which achieves advantage for the organisation through its configuration of resources within a challenging environment, to meet the needs of markets and to fulfil stakeholder expectations" - http://tutor2u.net/business/strategy/what_is_strategy.htm.
Strategic: Definitions
Nature of strategy – dictionary.com
Strategics - the science or art of strategy - wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Me: Strategic is the very nature of a strategy i.e. the way in which a business strategy is to be implemented.
My View on Strategy
Strategy can therefore be a definitive plan on the way forward for any given organization. Contrary to the definition, an organizations strategy can indeed be short term taking into consideration emerging markets and evolving technologies. A strategy can start off being long term but with provisions to change directions as and when necessary as dictated by a few influences such as the environment, the economy, political changes, change in technology etc.
Organization
Organization as defined by wikipedia is “a social arrangement which pursues collective goals, which controls its own performance, and which has a boundary separating it from its environment”.
Laudon and Laudon in Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm (10th Edition) suggests the above definitions are technical organizations and reveals there is a behavioral definition of an organization. This is: “A collection of rights, privileges, obligations, and responsibilities that are delicately balanced over a period of time through conflict and conflict resolution”.
My stance is that, in looking at and considering the definitions of an organization from both Wikipedia and Laudon, a good organization should have both the technical and behavioral attributes embedded in it. It should have a set of goals and objectives that its members understand and work towards achieving by following the strategy or strategies laid down by senior management toward the advancement of the organization and mainenance of it competitive advantage.
Friday 23 January 2009
Lessons Learned from Week 1
Communities of Practice
A community as defined by wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn is a group of people living in a particular local area…
Practice: knowledge of how something is usually done; "it is not the local practice to wear shorts to dinner" wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Repetition of an activity to improve skill; the ongoing pursuit of a craft or profession en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Practice
From the above definitions of Community and practice I can say that a community of practice is a gathering of people in a group that meet for a particular purpose or goal and indeed to further understand that goal and expand it.
This idea is shared and further explained by the following definitions from
http://www.co-i-l.com/coil/knowledge-garden/cop/definitions.shtml:
Common practices and language: "Communities of Practice" is a phrase coined by researchers who studied the ways in which people naturally work and play together. In essence, communities of practice are groups of people who share similar goals and interests. In pursuit of these goals and interests, they employ common practices, work with the same tools and express themselves in a common language. Through such common activity, they come to hold similar beliefs and value systems. Collaborative Visualization (CoVis) Project
Groups that learn: Groups that learn, communities of practice, have special characteristics. They emerge of their own accord: Three, four, 20, maybe 30 people find themselves drawn to one another by a force that's both social and professional. They collaborate directly, use one another as sounding boards, and teach each other.
"The Invisible Key to Success"
If we follow the definitions above then a good example of a community of practice could be group of Christian evangelists that come together from various church organizations, meet on a regular basis to share knowledge about the sole purpose of winning souls for Christ for the furtherance of the gospel.
A community as defined by wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn is a group of people living in a particular local area…
Practice: knowledge of how something is usually done; "it is not the local practice to wear shorts to dinner" wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Repetition of an activity to improve skill; the ongoing pursuit of a craft or profession en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Practice
From the above definitions of Community and practice I can say that a community of practice is a gathering of people in a group that meet for a particular purpose or goal and indeed to further understand that goal and expand it.
This idea is shared and further explained by the following definitions from
http://www.co-i-l.com/coil/knowledge-garden/cop/definitions.shtml:
Common practices and language: "Communities of Practice" is a phrase coined by researchers who studied the ways in which people naturally work and play together. In essence, communities of practice are groups of people who share similar goals and interests. In pursuit of these goals and interests, they employ common practices, work with the same tools and express themselves in a common language. Through such common activity, they come to hold similar beliefs and value systems. Collaborative Visualization (CoVis) Project
Groups that learn: Groups that learn, communities of practice, have special characteristics. They emerge of their own accord: Three, four, 20, maybe 30 people find themselves drawn to one another by a force that's both social and professional. They collaborate directly, use one another as sounding boards, and teach each other.
"The Invisible Key to Success"
If we follow the definitions above then a good example of a community of practice could be group of Christian evangelists that come together from various church organizations, meet on a regular basis to share knowledge about the sole purpose of winning souls for Christ for the furtherance of the gospel.
Thursday 22 January 2009
What is Knowledge?
Me:
Knowledge is what you know based on your experiences which I guess can be said comes from information available. I think knowledge is the ability to apply the information and your experiences.
Others:
Don Clark further reinforces what my initial thoughts on knowledge are. He quotes John Locke (1689) BOOK IV. Of Knowledge and Probability. "An Essay: Concerning Human Understanding.as defining knowledge as "a fluid mix of framed experience, contextual information, values and expert insight that provides a framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information”
Knowledge is information that changes something or somebody -- either by becoming grounds for actions, or by making an individual (or an institution) capable of different or more effective action." -- Peter F. Drucker in The New Realities
Knowledge is what you know based on your experiences which I guess can be said comes from information available. I think knowledge is the ability to apply the information and your experiences.
Others:
Don Clark further reinforces what my initial thoughts on knowledge are. He quotes John Locke (1689) BOOK IV. Of Knowledge and Probability. "An Essay: Concerning Human Understanding.as defining knowledge as "a fluid mix of framed experience, contextual information, values and expert insight that provides a framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information”
Knowledge is information that changes something or somebody -- either by becoming grounds for actions, or by making an individual (or an institution) capable of different or more effective action." -- Peter F. Drucker in The New Realities
Friday 16 January 2009
1st KM Lab and Workshop
Wow! I created my first blog ever - what an achievement, I thought, and it is!!! I give myself a pat on the back, seeing I had no experience in this area whatsoever before embarking on the journey yesterday. Anyway, I have not only learnt how to create a blog, I have also learnt to follow others blogs, to comment on them and to add a html link for others to be able to visit my blog - double wow! Please forgive my excitement, I just feel really proud of my achievement. Apart from the fact that it's great to see your own creation and manage it, it also fetches some 5% marks from the lecturer(s). It can only be good!Then onto the lecture/workshop... what can I say... It was an eye opener to know that we'll be teaching ourselves. I was a bit disillusioned to start with but things got clearer by the end of the session. I am really looking forward to getting into the courseworks. I know it will come with it's own challenges but I am ready work through them step by step, precept upon precept...
Thursday 15 January 2009
Just
A Snippet
I am Yemi Emovon, a full time postgraduate student at the Middlesex University, Hendon Campus. I am studying Business Information Systems Management (MSc BISM), at present focusing on Knowledge Management Strategy and Information Systems Quality Management modules - Very interesting and challenging.
A SnippetI am Yemi Emovon, a full time postgraduate student at the Middlesex University, Hendon Campus. I am studying Business Information Systems Management (MSc BISM), at present focusing on Knowledge Management Strategy and Information Systems Quality Management modules - Very interesting and challenging.
I am married with 2 wonderful boys aged 9 and 6.
When I am not studying, mothering and wifing (if there's such a word), I am a Test Practitioner who specialises in delivering test consultation to the public sector, especially the MOD and the Criminal Justice Departments. I will hopefully like to move into a Quality/Knowledge Management Role on completion of my course
I enjoy cooking, dancing, swimming, reading novels (gossip and suspense thriller), running, cycling, playing tennis when I get the time in my so clumped up scheduled.
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