All entries for March 2009

KBAM Presentation

Time really flies! Just realized that I have done most of the MBE core modules and probably all mini projects. The past months were busy, intensive and also enjoyable. Really like MBE class and my teams. Last team project was a really big one. We spent almost two weeks to do it. The presentation was given on Friday morning to the WaveRiders Board of Directors. Everyone in MBE class wore so formal and smart on that morning! That was our last presentation and we acted as in real life for the first time.

We have put lots of efforts in this team project. (I like our presentation slides, they were very nice.) We gave several assumptions of the problems that the WaveRiders were facing and suggested the solutions. After the presentation, I realized the biggest area that we need to improve is that although we have given many good approaches to the WaveRiders with showing the benefits of those approaches, we did not give a whole plan to the WaveRiders, and this whole plan should include where the WaveRiders needs to start, and what the holistic process, and also need to give more evidences, such as case studies and data, to support the approaches. We still have not treated it as real enough.

After we presented, one of the board members asked how to do with the KM, what the process of it. The question belonged to my part, I talked about the knowledge audit to help the WaveRiders to solve the targeted problems, but I still felt nervous to give the response (but I am sure that I was much better then before through all the team projects and presentations), thanks to my team mate to give a response to the board member. To that KM question, the answer that I could give is from a paper I have read "The Knowledge Audit" by Liebowita Jay, et al.

Knowledge audit steps:

(1) Identify what knowledge currently exists in the targeted area
a). Determine existing and potential sinks, sources, flows, and constraints in the targeted area, including environmental factors that could influence the targeted area.
b). Identify and locate explicit and tacit knowledge in the targeted area
c). Build a knowledge map of the taxonomy and flow of knowledge in the organization in the targeted area. The knowledge map relates topics, people, documents, ideas, and links to external resources, in respective densities, in ways that allow individuals to find the knowledge they need quickly.
(2) Identify what knowledge is missing in the targeted area
a). Perform a gap analysis to determine what knowledge is missing to achieve business goals
b). Determine who needs the missing knowledge
(3) Provide recommendations from the knowledge audit to management regarding the status quo and possible improvements to the knowledge management activities in the targeted area.

Thanks to my teammates and my MBE class! All the best to rest of our MBE course!

: 15 Mar 2009 23:26 |  Tags: Kbam |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

KBAM seminar —— debate

We had a different way of our seminar on Tuesday. Debating of if standards stifle creativity innovation in order to understand how we can use standards in a way that does not stifle creativity and innovation. The way of the seminar itself, I think, can be called creative and innovative. It is a good try.

Creativity and innovation are very important to the success of a business, especially in today's increasingly competitive world. Creativity and innovation are key factors to strategize during strategic planning, design new products and services and etc. The standards are usually established from the past experiences. They are often consistency and compliance. We can see that there are some conflicts between the standards and creativity and innovation, but standards do not kill creativity or innovation. Every company needs to perform in a consistent manner, and the improvement of the company needs creative thought process and innovative ways to do old tasks. I believe that the standards, creativity and innovation can complement each other if applied correctly.

: 13 Mar 2009 00:21 |  Tags: Kbam |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

First Day of KBAM

We had an introduction to the module of Knowledge-Based Asset Management this afternoon. This module runs for two weeks. I was not surprised with the whole week of team study in first week and half team studies + half seminars in second week. Self-study and study with different people in a team is an important way of learning in the MBE course. Yet, KBAM is the one has the most team studies and self-studies since the course started. So, I am blogging now - at the first day of KBAM. ^_^

Definitions:

Knowledge assets are the knowledge regarding markets, products, technologies and organisations, that a business owns or needs to own and which enable its business processes to generate profits.

Knowledge management involves the identification and analysis of available and required knowledge, and the subsequent planning and control of actions to develop knowledge assets so as to fulfil organisational objectives.

Nowadays, enterprises, especially big enterprises, are realizing the importance of knowing what they know, i.e. know what their knowledge assets are. Moreover, they need to know how to manage and utilize these assets to make maximum return. The marketplace is increasingly competitive and the rate of innovation is growing, it is therefore very important for a company to renew and apply its knowledge to business to increase its competitiveness.

: 02 Mar 2009 23:55 |  Tags: Kbam |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem