Knowledge Management

Objectives

The course aims to introduce students to the importance of managing Knowledge effectively in a contemporary Knowledge-based Economy, where knowledge and learning play fundamental roles in the successful evolution of organizations.
There are a number of reasons for the growth of interest in these topics, including:
i) The effects of Internet and other globalizing forces that are sweeping away many of the traditional sources of competitive advantage, such as location, superior technology and access to capital;
ii) The shift in industrial activity and the commensurate changes in occupational skills required.
Knowledge residing in the brains of the workers is now the most powerful engine of economic performance and competitiveness; it is the source of innovation, best described as ‘the application of knowledge to tasks and situations, in order to develop new products, processes and services'.
The course is divided in three modules: fundamentals, tools and governance.
In the first module, Fundamentals, will be highlighted the principles of knowledge management and of the knowledge work (processes, purposes and contexts). Will be discussed the critical importance of knowledge by understanding how its different forms come together to act as a resource that organizations can draw on to perform more efficiently, innovatively and flexibly (Introducing knowledge work: processes, purposes and contexts). The module will then focus on "organizing aspects" of knowledge creation, exchange and learning (managing knowledge creation in teams and project based organizations and knowledge work).
In the second module, Tools, will be addressed three tools: change management, design thinking and social network analysis. First, will be addressing change management, its models and challenges and knowledge management implications. Secondly, the design thinking as a tool for innovation relying on collaboration and empathy. Finally, will be addressed social networks and there organizational impact, as they can serve as channels for the flow of knowledge through connectivity between individuals and organizations. Studies highlight the importance of active networking by individuals or groups/organizations for information sharing and knowledge management and this subject will be addressed in the course program through the usage of Social Network Analysis. Using the Gephi and SNA theory, we will have a hands-on approach project on how to map the social networks within an organization.
Finally, in the third module, Governance, will be addressed the collective intelligence and the knowledge-based enterprise. Today a critical factor in business success is not just to be an efficient organization, but also how intelligent it is. The technologies available today allow for a wide-range of communication solutions at very low cost, enabling organizations to collaborate more effectively, to respond more quickly to business challenges, and to identify innovation opportunities. In this context the role of ICT in supporting knowledge work, by overcoming geographical and temporal separation, will be dealt with as a fourth element of the course. We will address the information systems role in supporting knowledge management and the growing importance of Web 2.0 applications and technologies, particularly the advent of the so-called Enterprise 2.0. This new culture of collaboration is contributing to more productive, effective, and intelligent organizations, which will lead us to the study of Collective Intelligence and the impact it has on collaboration, knowledge management, and value creation.
In order to understand how industry is using knowledge management as a key resource in their challenges, will be presented the views of industry experts in a seminar.