Lecture 5 Technology, Information and Collaboration

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Lecture 5Technology, Information and
Collaboration
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Learning Outcomes

• Understand role technology plays in KM
• Investigate information processes related to KM
  and technological application
• Review characteristics of KM system

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Functions of an Information System
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Interrelationships among Systems
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I.T marries KM
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Review of KM

• Knowledge Management seeks to develop a strategy
  for the capture, use and transfer of knowledge
  across the organisation, to improve efficiency
  and increase competitive edge (Demerest, 1997).
  It is concerned with embracing a diversity of
  knowledge sources, cultivating knowledge wherever
  it resides (Microsoft, 1999).

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Challenge for Integrated Solutions
People
Process
Technology
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Technologies for KM

• Technology can be viewed as both a key
  contributor and key enabler to the field of
  Knowledge Management
• Davenport Prusak, 1998
• Human expertise is amplified by computers.
  Software is an encapsulation of knowledge.
  Knowledge, constantly renewed and enhanced, is
  the primary source of competitive advantage
• Martin, 1998

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Confusion !?!

• Repackaging of existing software applications
  under the KM label
• Quandary between knowledge and information
• Publicity that investment in I.T. will result in
  improved business performance
• How much technological involvement is required
  for successful Knowledge Management?

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Informational Processes

• Internal and External information
• Increased volume of information Information
  Fatique IF Unlig, 1996, Vulliany, 1996
• Information overload Infoglut Offsey, 1997
• Information access Knowledge silos Offsey,
  1997
• Perceived lack of information Infofamine
  Offsey, 1997

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Information Audit

• Used to discover information held in organisation
  Swash, 1997, Hanczel, 2000
• Link people to information via technology
• The Information Audit is a Knowledge Management
  tool which can help an organization to begin to
  understand how its information assets are being
  put to use and how these can be more effectively
  harnessed to achieve optimum productivity and
  strategic advantage
• Swash, 1997

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ICT Development

• Evolving through three phases
• Mainframe
• Personal Computer PC
• Networking
• Knowledge discovery
• Corporate collaboration
• Rapid decision making

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ICT for KM

• The cybercorp needs a knowledge infrastructure
  to capture and create knowledge, store it,
  improve it, clarify it, disseminate it and put it
  to use
• Martin, 1998
• The critical role for I.T. lies in the ability
  to support communication, collaboration, and
  those searching for knowledge and information,
  not static repositories of best practices
• Monasco, 1996

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Knowledge Management Systems

• Users should not have to learn new ways of
  working with technology Microsoft, 1999
• Consideration must be given to awareness,
  accessibility, availability, input and
  maintenance of information Offsey, 1997
• Functionality, usability and characteristics of
  the system must be contemplated taking HCI
  factors into consideration Lawton, 1999
• A well designed KM system leaves users with the
  skill to communicate without depending on the
  computer
• Senge, 1994

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Technological Tools for KM

• Knowledge Management technology is a broad
  concept, encompassing much more than Notes and
  the Web. Firms can apply a wide variety of
  technologies to the objectives of managing
  knowledge, some of which have been available for
  many years
• Davenport Prusak, 1998
• Collaboration
• Content Management
• Business Intelligence

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What are Collaborative tools?

• Collaborative tools (groupware) are
  computer-based tools that help people work
  together and share information
• They allow for virtual on-line meetings and data
  sharing
• They facilitate the role of the knowledge worker
  using networked behaviour (Knets - Palmer
  Richards, 1999) consider the relationships
  between human beings within a virtual
  environment. Assume a borderless world where all
  things are possible, even probable, but never
  certain

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Collaborative Tools

• Calendar
• Bulletin board
• Chat
• Whiteboard
• Audio
• Video
• Newsgroups (discussion groups_
• File sharing tools
• Presentation tools
• Instant messaging
• Text tools , etc.

• Groupware Technology
• Electronic Mail
• Meeting Support Systems
• Knowledge Directories
• Intranets/Extranets

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AskMe

• AskMe is a leading provider of knowledge sharing
  solutions for corporations. AskMe Enterprise
  provides a new context for communication within
  large organisations, allowing employees to easily
  find answers to business questions and share
  their personal knowledge with other employees,
  partners, suppliers and customers
• http//www.askmecorp.com/demo/demoskin.html

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Brightsuite

• BrightSuite is a comprehensive and easy-to-use
  Groupware package on the market today. Combining
  25 application modules using a common database
• BrightSuite provides unparalleled power and
  efficiency and is designed to run on a web
  server. The software can easily be installed on
  your companys Intranet or an Internet website.
  The backend database can be Microsoft Access ,
  Microsoft SQL Server, or MySQL

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• Brightsuite Tour
• http//www.dcasoft.com/BSpromo2/Tour1.htm

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eRoom

• Virtually all companies who develop and deliver
  products and services today have teams comprising
  people from different departments. eRoom
  Technology was founded to help organizations
  across multiple industries build a better
  workplaceone where the work, the tools and the
  workplace come together one that provides
  business agility and one that enables people to
  get more work done while creating a better
  balance between work and life.

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• eRoom Demo

http//www.documentum.com/solutions/collaboration/
index.htm
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• Everybody expects technology to be a silver
  bullet - it isnt. You cannot ignore technology,
  but we must remember it is only an enabler. The
  real value is in linking people together, not in
  the technology itself
• Ward, 1996

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• The organisations that are best at knowledge
  sharing are not necessarily those with the best
  technology infrastructure. But they do have a
  culture of teamwork and trust. If you have that
  culture and put in tools to help knowledge flow
  quickly around the organisation, you have a
  hugely powerful combination
• Lank, 1997

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Tutorial Task (Weeks 5 8)

• What do you think will be the new ICT
  developments and/or changing use of existing ICT
  technologies that enable Knowledge Management
  within the next 5 to 10 years?
• What are the drivers that influence take up of
  these technologies?
• How do these drivers influence technological
  implementations