School of Management, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
MN50399 Knowledge management for strategic effectiveness |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Modular: no specific semester |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: Knowledge management is a newly emerging business model, which addresses the need to appreciate human and intellectual capital as core resources within a knowledge economy. This module will enable students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the nature of business or organisational knowledge as well as the processes within the organisation that facilitate the management of knowledge. Current organisational practice will be shared by reviewing success stories in this emerging field.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course students will be able to: * Apply the main theories and perspectives on Knowledge Management; * Identify appropriate knowledge management strategies in diverse environments; * Demonstrate an understanding of how various approaches to knowledge management can be integrated. Skills: Intellectual Skills * Theoretical comparison and application (taught) * Analytical skills (taught) * Knowledge mapping (taught) * the facility to apply subject-specific knowledge into a range of complex situations, taking into account the overall implications for the other areas of the business; T/A * a critical awareness of current issues and frameworks in management; T/F/A * the ability to acquire and analyse data, information and situations; to evaluate relevance and validity, and to synthesise it in the context of topical business problems; F/A * an understanding of appropriate research and methodological techniques that allow detailed investigation into topical business issues and ability to use these skills to produce professional, critical reports in business and management. T/F/A Professional Practical Skills * evaluate the current standing of an organization and practically contribute to the attainment of their company's strategies and objectives; T/A * operate effectively both independently as well as within teams and assume leadership roles where appropriate; F * be self-directed and able to act autonomously in planning and implementing projects at professional levels. F Transferable/Key Skills * an ability to develop a holistic perspective on an organization and an understanding of how the different functions relate to one another; T/F/A * ability to conduct in-depth research into management and business issues. T/F/A * Knowledge strategy development (facilitated) * Case presentation (facilitated). Personal/Interpersonal * the facility to communicate including presenting and marketing themselves and their ideas; preparation and production of effective business plans and reports. F Content: The course will consist of the following topics: * Organisational knowledge as a dynamic resource; * Knowledge-based view of the firm; * Knowledge management as a process; * The enablers of knowledge management; * Barriers to knowledge management; * Knowledge management strategies. * Mapping of knowledge (System Based Knowledge Management); Teaching methods will reflect the Knowledge Management Process by drawing on students' experience to make sense of theory and finally by integrating new frameworks into case-based applications Two case studies will be included - one a Harvard case with a visiting practitioner; the second will be a live case study within which the knowledge mapping approach has been used. |