Implementing KM technologies

KM strategy

Many organizations use Internet and Intranet networking channels to share information and data. “Increasing take-up of a ‘knowledge web’ so that it is first port of call can be achieved through training and incentives” (Holbeche, 2005). The intranet medium may be very effective in the process of knowledge sharing but at times it may take some time to update the latest information on the system. Organizations to make the most of intellectual capital should have a clear communicated KM strategy.

The integrated approach of human resource department, IT department and the IT professionals is essential in making the KM strategy a success at all levels within the organization. According to Christina Evans (2003) these departments should understand the value of information they have. Vital information is often lost in bundles of data and understanding the significance of this data is crucial in the KM process. Additionally, these departments should locate the sources of information that people need to complete their tasks effectively.

Get quality help now

writer-Charlotte

Verified writer

Proficient in: Information

4.7 (348)

“ Amazing as always, gave her a week to finish a big assignment and came through way ahead of time. ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

This will ensure the ease of access to the relevant information.

The KM strategy should identify the requirements and list the priority of the information needed. Keeping the process simple will make it more convenient and easier to manage. The managers should treat knowledge management as a task that has a deliverable and therefore requires an allocation of time. Employees should be provided the basic tools and trained on how to use these tools. Often failures in the implementation of KM strategy provides the managers with a fair idea of what went wrong and what could have been managed differently to avoid such instance again.

The integration of KM systems

Moreover, they should ensure that the new KM system they are implementing should integrate with the existing systems. The growing use and dependence of organizations on adopting e-learning process to diffuse knowledge management within the organization has given way to a new concept “e-knowledge”. “E-knowledge is technologically realized by the fusion of e-learning and knowledge management and through the networking of knowledge workers” (Norris et al. , 2003).

The advancing technology and increasing wireless communication in the offices have enabled a new form of communication and collaborative medium between individuals across geographic border. Physical presence for learning or accessing information is not required and people have their laptops and PDAs to access information remotely. Synchronous communication also allows individuals to converse and interact through the information highway using web-conferencing technologies. Emails, live chats, discussion boards and web-conferencing tools have eased the process of knowledge sharing to a considerable extent.

E-learning

Communication of messages and information transfer is almost instantaneous. In their book A Revolution in Knowledge Sharing, authors Norris and group (2003) observe that true knowledge based enterprises “leverage their knowledge assets in every aspect of their activities, cultivate the process of knowledge sharing and creation, extend knowledge boundaries beyond the enterprise, and develop effective knowledge strategy. ” Managers are rapidly incorporating various methods to enable knowledge sharing within the organization. E-learning is one such area of focus for developing suitable human resource strategy to enhance employee performance.

“E-learning is commonly referred to the international use of networked information and communications technology in teaching and learning. It refers to educational processes that utilize information and communications technology to mediate asynchronous as well as synchronous learning and teaching activities. ” (Naidu, 2006). Naidu claims that the growth of e learning is directly related to the increasing access to information and technology, as well as its decreasing cost. The capacity of information and communications technology to support multimedia resource-based learning and teaching is also relevant to the growing interest in e learning.

The role of information technology

The role of information technology in the knowledge management process The role of information technology in the field of Knowledge management has been very significant especially in the past few decades. Managers have been looking for suitable technologies and medium to share knowledge effectively within the organization. “While it is certainly true that knowledge management is not a technology issue, effort must still be spent in providing a suitable environment to facilitate knowledge capture and sharing” (Robertson, 2004). Various types of tools and technologies are being used in the application of KM within enterprises.

These tools include data warehouses, online communities, e-learning applications using synchronous and asynchronous collaborative tools, and intranets. These tools can highly effective provided it is applied in the right settings and implemented at the operational level. The key to successfully implementing KM technologies is to identify the information requirements. Based on the nature of information to shared or communicated, the mode of delivery is chosen. “If there’s a good understanding of the information requirement, you can make more intelligent decisions about the technology you choose” (EIU, 2005).