FM & KM

In a relationship of knowledge management and facilities management, they are coopertive each other. Either of these is not effective by itself and thus the connection could be comparable to one between software and hardware. Technically, there would be some overlapped part, both of them have distintive part. Knowledge could be included as facilities, but it could enable them to have more efficient processes. Therefore, the relations have to be balanced each other, and applied in the organization.

Source: Olomolaiye, A., Liyanage, C., Egbu, C., & Kashiwagi, D. (2004) Knowledge Managment for Improved Performance in Facilities Managment. The international construction research conference of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Cobra 2004.

Wave Riders is a small company that could accept any changes more easily than enterprises. Therefore, it would be better to have structured systems first, changing any parts they want. For future market in Europe, based on the structure, it would have more advanced business, technically and economically. Because the facilities cover the broad part of assets, in most sectors, Wave Riders will make good fundamentals.

Jun Choi : 10 May 2011 19:21 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Qualitative & Quantitative analysis

Empirical research: data (numbers-quantitative, not numbers-qualitative)

Quantitative emprical research: data as numbers, Qualitative empirical research: data as (mostly) words

Questions -> methods, Research questions -> Research methods

Qualitative: All research ultimately has  a qualitative grounding - Donald Campbell.

                  The aim is a complete, detailed description.

                  Researcher may only know roughly in advance what he/she is looking for

                  Recommended during ealier phases of research projects.

                  The design emerges as the study unfolds.

                  Research is the data gathering instrument.

                  Data is in the form of words, pictures of objects.

                  Subjective- individuals' interpretation of events is important.

                 Qualitative data is more rich, time consuming, and less able to be generalized.

                 Researcher tends to become subjectively immersed in the subject matter.

Quantitative: There's no such thing as qualitative data everything is either 1 or 0

                    The aim is to classify features, count them, and construct statistical models in an attempt to explain

                    what is observed.

                    Researcher knows clearly in advance what he/she is looking for.

                    Recommended during latter phases of research projects.

                    All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected.

                    Researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or equipment to collect numerical data.

                    Data is in the form of numbers and statistics.

                    Objective seeks precise measurement & analysis of target concepts.

                    Quantitative data is more efficient, able to test hypotheses, but may miss contextual detail.

                    Researcher tends to remain objectively seperated from the subject matter.

The scientific method in the social sciences

Theory (to explain the data) <-> Data (to build theory)

Neill, J. (2007). Qualitative versus Quantitative Research: Key points in a classic debate.

from http://wilderdom.com/research/QualitativeVersusQuantitativeResearch.html

Punch, K. (2005).  Introduction to social research: quantitative and qualitative approaches. London: SAGE.

Jun Choi : 22 Apr 2011 04:47 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

K & A Management process

Figuring out every condition, in the final stage, people need to have and show their creativity. In our virtual project, as a team consultants suggested effective ideas for the improvement of asset and knowledge magagement. This requires innovative solutions and thus depends on the ability of consultants. Because there are not definate answers for problems, the capability is a critical point in our project. Through these processes, I feel why a job; consultant is attractive and MBE courses are so helpful in executing consulting in our whole course. In WaveRiders, since we make their assumption about conditions and situations, it was not that hard to find solutions, but in reality they might be far more complicated. In terms of it, we also be proactive to prepare for unexpected events that hardly happen and every possibility. I got job fair about theconsutant about two weeks ago, and found much similiarities between what we are doing in our course and what they explained, and thus will be able to cope with them well, even though the task is extremely hard.

Jun Choi : 07 Apr 2011 23:20 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Knowledge in an organization

Knowldege is a very so broad term that we cannot easily define. Compared to asset aspects, there are much more kinds of them, so in organization people have to consider their uniqueness and specific features. In terms of knowledge, communication and culture would affect substantially. No matter how excellent knowledge and information the comapny owns, if they are shared evenly, it would be meaningless. Definately if they share everything, there is possibility of some guys stealing information for their competitiors, so proper allocation is important. In cultural aspects, as organizations are afraid of changes, they want to keep continuing their cultures, which could be the other barrier. Most modernized companies might contain those kind system to adapt change for knowledge. The more conventional and smaller the size of companies are, the more difficult they change them. In my country, even some multinational companies are old-fashioned in some part, the condition is not appropriate. I am afraid if I have such difficulties when I get my job in the future. Such information of market analysis in Europe could be similar, in organizations, the culture is unique even if companies are in the same field. Because culture is very sensitive, it also has considerable effect.

Jun Choi : 06 Apr 2011 04:35 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Errors

As analysisng errors aroud us, we could find them in the stages of gathering, interpreting information and anticipation stage. There were some cases that accidents happened from errors. It is hard and define to find errors in stages we are working. Individually, when making them unconsciously to the final stage, it would result in horrible outcomes. For example, when working on PMA of our modules, if one is working on them, after reading the question wrongly and find errors when making conclusion just before deadline, it is so tough decide to redo or submit. In this case "information not observed" could be applied in this case. This is one of the most usual example around us. Furthermore, the kinds of error are inter-related each other, so in this analysis I think the best way is to apdapt as many as we can in errors to prevent them.

Jun Choi : 04 Apr 2011 22:34 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Decision making style

Decision making process is also related to other processes such as leadership's. It is also so complicated and could be subjective process with bias. Some can insist with the depending on bias, the process might not needed in the decision making process and this kind of things is seriously happening in reality. In leadership module, someone mentioned that Eastern and Western style of leadership is different with some apspects, and in my opinion, they are similar in this process as well. At a glance, decision makers are relatively dictative!!! They cosider expertises' opinions but in the final stage, using their intuition, make most decisions and get their responsibilities as well after the decision. There can be advantatges and disadvantages. Since they are more aware of entire situations and circumstances after combining all aspects that could be flexible. However, in terms of critical reasoning, the Eastern style includes more negative aspects. Theorically, each expertise in each part has to participate in the process and analyse it. That's why there are many kinds of tools in decision making depending on processes. Leaders do not have to do everything. However fortunatelly, the stuructures are being changed gradually. Therefore when working in the company in my future, I hope to find this process.

Jun Choi : 19 Mar 2011 10:41 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Leadership

Leadership & excellence is one of the most challenging subject for me. Studying natural science, I have never been interested in this part, but could have a good opportunty to access it. First of all, to me leadership is a final destination if one is alive and is trying to be advanced in ones life. In not only a business, but also an entire life, leadership can be stimulation for people to oberve a big picture. This is first perception that I realised in this subject. I did not consider the leadership as considerable motivation, but one subject. This is why I think it is tough. In Hoshin Kanri, a leader has to balance every aspect of the company. Combing all factors, the leader can make a decision from employees. As the process has to go through every aspect and situation, it cannot help being complex. The methodology also has to so flexible and neutral that decision making process should not be in the extreme position. That is why Hoshin Kanri is a highly effective tool in terms of flexibility and became a major thought of TQM in Japan. I have read about James McNerney who is CEO of Boeing but used to be a CEO of 3M. I thought 3M is famous for post it and searched it and realised it is related to technology products. Although both companies of Boeing and 3M are based on technology, they are not directly linked each other. In here I wondered how one chairman can be transformed in each company and even he is not an engineer. Finally I found the common part was leadership. Although he doesnt figure out everything in a company he owns his differenciated leadership in a company in his field. In my experience, it was the time in a module a leader got a new task from Paul and studied about it no matter how long it takes. For the rest of time for his team, the leader's capability was required to understand situations as soon as possible. Coaching a person, I also had difficulties with many factors. First of all it is very hard to put my thought on other's process of thinking. I did not have any specialised knowledge and cofidence to persade people. That is why the job, consultant is very hardworking and get paid considerablly. In order to consult people, the consultants have to acquaint with details before consulting. James has also worked in McKinsey firm. I dont know what he did specifically in the company, but in my opinion, consulting is a practice and efficient step to become a leader. In the stage one works on knowledge to be complete, one must become versatile. Corporate social resposiblity is optional, but at least companies have to follow the law. In ethics problem, I have heard the issue is quiet new. I have watched a TV show and it said as high percentage of graduates from top MBA shools went jail, schools started to program classes about moral issues. CSR can be used as advertisement, but looking news that top business men in the U.S.A voluntarily return their assets for society, I was so impressive comparing to those in Korea. Since I could feel that they are chasing for their profit even when using CSR. It can be a problem related to steps of the company. MS was critised as it detroyed SMEs when growing up, but none can critisise that after becoming one of the biggest company, Bill established the foundation and decided to return his properties. As it is optional, it is not easy to say, but the issue has substantial value.

Jun Choi : 18 Feb 2011 04:22 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

range of variation

In this module, first of all there were some part related to previous one, creating business excellence which is profound knowledge. Deming used the term as cause with special and common, but in six sigma it is being expressed as variations. These are not exactly same but more easily understandable for me. As these factor are used in both them, it is a crucial factor so we should analyse critically with statistics and exprements in order not to be confused. Most people know the significance of this, but hardly percept which tools they have to use and how to analyse it. PISSU's goal introduced me to practical ways with online systems and some experiments in classes. Especially, PMI delivered what kinds of mistakes employees and even a leader of the team generate in an organization such as what managers want to adapt and apply the changes and tranformation as soon as they obtain it from analysis on problems and find solutions. In a pizza strore, a facilitator helps them to transform themselves, but prohibited from implementing transformation. In my opinion, as many organizations are afraid of transformation, it contains substantial risks in there, so if they perform well they would get considerable benefits from it but if not they would go backward and even be bankrupt. Therefore even though they found solutions, they were on the stages of test theories, study results, implement, stadarise and finally review again.

Jun Choi : 21 Nov 2010 14:33 |  Tags: Sigma Six Variation |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Presentation

Most of us in the class talked about ISO and EFQM today. There were some differences such as methodolgy but most people understood basic and fudamental sturucture of the models. In essence, ISO is auditing standard for an organisation to get certificate which can be literally a goal not a purpose of improvement of the organisations. Furthermore, the system considers the process of manufacturing, not the guality of products. This is the point I have not realised since I thought both systems work for the quality of products. However in EFQM, because it is self-assessment tool of the company, it is relatively flexible to set a goal and adapt changes in a group,so employees also have various responsibilities. It also allocate different points depending on the factors in the assessment. Self-assessment is for the improvement of the firm, so employees should be honest and the score system is very strict. These points are the main factors I remember and I learnt even during presentations of other groups and feedback from paul. I thought I read and prepared quite many things, but they were not still enough to cover everything abuot the methods and I though I need to equip practical experince to figure out and use the tools.

Jun Choi : 27 Oct 2010 23:14 |  Tags: 2000 9000 Efqm Iso |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Organizational Learning

In Organizational Learning, some factors such as Inter-company learning, learning climate and self development opportunities for all are included to figure out specific situations of the company trying to change its learning system. However, differences with EFQM are OL does not consider factors which can be Results in EFQM. Therefore in my opinion, OL emphsises the motivation of employees such as why the company want to be changed and which factors it wants to learn about, but does not reflect the results to adapt systems in the company. They can encourage people to learn enough providing problems, but require them to find solutions and adapt them by themselves if OL is compared to EFQM

Jun Choi : 25 Oct 2010 08:16 |  Tags: Motivation |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem