WEB 2.0 TECNOLOGIES AND ITS USE IN ORGANIZATIONS
Background of web 2.0 technologies:
Originally web was not perfect but with some work done by web developers it is continuously evolving, changing and becoming more accessible to all. Here came a mechanism called “web 2.0” technology. The term “Web 2.0” was coined by O’Reilly Media at a conference in 2004 and it has become the mechanism to refer to the next generation Web. Rather than providing just a static repository for data, the “Web2.0” technology has become a platform to describe many recently popularized web applications and the enabler for on-line participation& collaboration O’Reilly media (cited in Gibson. B, 2007).
The web2.0 applications became friendlier, more stylish, with many useful features and a high level of interactivity. These are generally aimed towards online collaboration or sharing of information. Some of the applications are used mainly for entertainment purpose but more specific applications of web2.0 technologies that we are going to discuss in this article are Weblog, Wiki, and RSS & Podcasting. Think all the tools as read/write environment than read only. To describe briefly about all these web tools let’s start with weblog (Dominic Mircea. K, Fransic. S, Ion .T, 2008)
Applications of web2.0 technologies:
A weblog (or blog) is a website that contains chronologically arranged postings which typically look like diary entries, announcements, photos, news, or commentary - depending on the purpose of the blog being posted all the time, usually by one individual on a personal basis. Blogging allows interaction from readers in the form of comments (Brady, M, 2005).This led to be challenging about what they have posted. But many organizations realised that the blogs are an excellent way to disseminate information and news organizational wide and so they started using them for organizational purpose.
The term “wiki” comes from the Hawaiian word for “fast”. Wikipedia’s success started with a new software known as Wiki which was created by Ward Cunningham in 1995.Coming to what is wiki, its a software that makes it possible to create a dynamic website, here multiple people can edit the webpage quickly and easily using the web browsers. Practically saying I don’t prefer Wiki because every one can change available context but there are many professionally edited ones .To simply say wikis are nothing but an essential things with an edit button (Helen.H, Charmaine.C, 2006).
RSS stands for really simple syndication or rich site summary, the first version of RSS was created in 1999 and the current version is 2.0.This is a handy way to make information come to you. Many of us in the modern world don’t have time to enter different websites and go through the updates where as if we subscribe to RSS we get continuous updates from variety of sources, including many news sites and podcasts. This is really hot issue to the modern world because we will get the updates whenever we want (Jeff Cold, 2006).
To discuss the evolution the “pod” comes from Apple’s iPod…which initially had nothing to do with podcasting and the “casting” comes from broadcasting, which means sending a radio signal. Podcasting enables learning anytime, anywhere. Podcasts are audio or video programmes available for down loads on demand. We can play or down load the podcast to portable media player such as MP3 player, mobile or PDA. To access podcasting we can subscribe to the content using an “RSS news reader” (Pat R.Ormand, 2008)
My critical analysis for the tools using an organization:
After all these discussion about web 2.0 technologies we shall consider an organization and see how these tools are useful in their activities. We shall take educational system and see how the tools make the system work more effectively. By using web2.0 tools educational system can gain up to date information very easily and effectively. Weblogs and wiki’s gives system to know new ways to generate and share knowledge. We can know how efficient different organisation work and improve accordingly. Comments in these help the users to rectify the mistakes and respond to different users.
Whereas RSS provides the system to stay up to date and to push the latest information from all over the corners of the world to be accurate and up to date. By using these, systems will be up to date and know about different policies, new publications and whatever the interested topic might be, the information is directly sent without browsing websites and finding information. Podcasting enables audio and video programmes available for downloads on demand for the educational system. In this way the web 2.0 technologies helps the educational system to run effectively.
References:
1) Gibson. B, (2007) Enabling an accessible web 2.0, ACM publications Newyork , vol.225, USA.
2) Doinic Mircea. K, Fransic. S, Ion. T, (2008) Web 2.0 technologies in web application development, ACM publications, Romania.
3) Brady. M, (2005) Blogging, personal participation in public knowledge on the web, CHIMERA working paper number: CWP-2005-02, Colchester.
4) Jeffcold. S, (2006) Usually RSS to enhance student research, ACM vol.3, issue 1, USA.
5) Hasam. H, Charmaine. C,(2006), The wiki: an environment to revolutionaries employees interaction with corporate knowledge, ACM OZCHI vol.206, USA.
6) Pat R.Ormand, (2008), Podcasting enhances learning, Consortium for computing sciences in colleges, vol.24, Issue 1, USA.
Friday, 27 March 2009
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
week-1 communities of practice
Communities of practice:
The term "community of practice" is of relatively recent coinage, even though the phenomenon it refers to is too-old. This turned to provide a useful perspective on knowing and learning. A growing number of people and organizations in various sectors are now focusing on communities of practice as a key to improving their performance (Etienne Wenger ,2002). Unless you are able to involve practitioners actively in the process, your ability to truly manage knowledge assets is going to remain seriously limited and to see it unlimited the knowledge of practitioners is not merely the knowledge of an individual. They need to interact with colleagues because they benefit from the stimulation and because knowledge of any field is too complex for any individual to cover. This is where the notion of community of practice comes to play a critical role.
Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly(Etienne Wenger ,1998).
This will tend to think in a way that the role of managers is not to manage the knowledge directly , but to enable practitioners to do things in an expertised manner.This gives relief as well as challenge , relief because the responsibility for managing knowledge is one that can be shared. It is a challenge because it is not easy to create an environment that is conducive to and enabling of practitioners acting as knowledgemanagers.There are three elements of community of practice namely domain, community, practice.
Domain: It is the area of the knowledge that brings community together, gives it its identity, and defines the key issues that members need to address. As it would be for a team, but by an "area" of knowledge that should to be explored and developed.
Community: The group of people for whom the domain is relevant, the quality of the relationships among members, involves people who interact and who develop relationships that enable them to address problems and share knowledge.
Practice: The body of knowledge, methods, tools, stories,cases, documents, which members share and develop together to gain practical knowledge in their domain, which makes a difference to their ability to act individually and collectively.
The combination of domain,community and practice is what enables communities of practice to manage knowledge. Domain provides a common focus;Community builds relationships that enable collective learning and Practice anchors the learning in what people do.
What do communities of practice look like: They look like Problem solving, Developing new capabilities, Leveraging best practices, Standardizing practices, Time savings, Increase in talent, Avoiding mistakes.
Where does this communities of practice come from: For this the answer is so simple that it came from learning theory(Jean Lave&wenger .E,2000). The term community of practice was coined to refer to the community that acts as a living curriculum for the apprentice. Once the concept was articulated,and started to see these communities everywhere, even when no formal apprenticeship system existed. And of course, learning in a community of practice is not limited to novices. The practice of a community is dynamic and involves learning on the part of everyone.
My own view on communities of practice is what we do regularly in our organizations of knowledge management.Suppose lets consider an example of educational system to apply COP that is very familiar to us.Does community of practice exist here?Yes. Schools and colleges are organizations in their own right, and they too face increasing knowledge challenges. The first applications of communities of practice have been in teacher training and in providing isolated administrators with access to colleagues. There is a wave of interest in these peer-to-peer professional-development activities. But in the education sector, learning is not only a means to an end: it the end product. The perspective of communities of practice is therefore also relevant at this level.The communities of practice affects in three dimensions:
1) Internally: How to organize educational experiences that ground school learning in practice through participation in communities around subject matters?
2) Externally: How to connect the experience of students to actual practice through peripheral forms of participation in broader communities beyond the walls of the school?
3) Over the lifetime of students: How to serve the lifelong learning needs of students by organizing communities of practice focused on topics of continuing interest to students beyond the initial schooling period?
From this view, the school is not the privileged locus of learning. It is not a self-contained, closed world in which students acquire knowledge to be applied outside, but a part of a broader learning system. The class is not the primary learning event. It is life itself that is the main learning event. Schools, classrooms, and training sessions still have a role to play in this vision.This gives a brief understanding of communities of practice.
REFERENCES:
1) Wenger.E,(2004) Knowledge management is a doughnut: shaping your knowledge strategy with communities of practice, Ivey business journal, London N6A 3K7.
2) Wenger.E,(1998) communities of practice a brief introduction:learning,meaningand identity, Cambridge university press,London.
3) Lave.J&Wenger.E(2002)communities of practice a brief introduction:learning,meaning and identity,cambridge university press,London.
The term "community of practice" is of relatively recent coinage, even though the phenomenon it refers to is too-old. This turned to provide a useful perspective on knowing and learning. A growing number of people and organizations in various sectors are now focusing on communities of practice as a key to improving their performance (Etienne Wenger ,2002). Unless you are able to involve practitioners actively in the process, your ability to truly manage knowledge assets is going to remain seriously limited and to see it unlimited the knowledge of practitioners is not merely the knowledge of an individual. They need to interact with colleagues because they benefit from the stimulation and because knowledge of any field is too complex for any individual to cover. This is where the notion of community of practice comes to play a critical role.
Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly(Etienne Wenger ,1998).
This will tend to think in a way that the role of managers is not to manage the knowledge directly , but to enable practitioners to do things in an expertised manner.This gives relief as well as challenge , relief because the responsibility for managing knowledge is one that can be shared. It is a challenge because it is not easy to create an environment that is conducive to and enabling of practitioners acting as knowledgemanagers.There are three elements of community of practice namely domain, community, practice.
Domain: It is the area of the knowledge that brings community together, gives it its identity, and defines the key issues that members need to address. As it would be for a team, but by an "area" of knowledge that should to be explored and developed.
Community: The group of people for whom the domain is relevant, the quality of the relationships among members, involves people who interact and who develop relationships that enable them to address problems and share knowledge.
Practice: The body of knowledge, methods, tools, stories,cases, documents, which members share and develop together to gain practical knowledge in their domain, which makes a difference to their ability to act individually and collectively.
The combination of domain,community and practice is what enables communities of practice to manage knowledge. Domain provides a common focus;Community builds relationships that enable collective learning and Practice anchors the learning in what people do.
What do communities of practice look like: They look like Problem solving, Developing new capabilities, Leveraging best practices, Standardizing practices, Time savings, Increase in talent, Avoiding mistakes.
Where does this communities of practice come from: For this the answer is so simple that it came from learning theory(Jean Lave&wenger .E,2000). The term community of practice was coined to refer to the community that acts as a living curriculum for the apprentice. Once the concept was articulated,and started to see these communities everywhere, even when no formal apprenticeship system existed. And of course, learning in a community of practice is not limited to novices. The practice of a community is dynamic and involves learning on the part of everyone.
My own view on communities of practice is what we do regularly in our organizations of knowledge management.Suppose lets consider an example of educational system to apply COP that is very familiar to us.Does community of practice exist here?Yes. Schools and colleges are organizations in their own right, and they too face increasing knowledge challenges. The first applications of communities of practice have been in teacher training and in providing isolated administrators with access to colleagues. There is a wave of interest in these peer-to-peer professional-development activities. But in the education sector, learning is not only a means to an end: it the end product. The perspective of communities of practice is therefore also relevant at this level.The communities of practice affects in three dimensions:
1) Internally: How to organize educational experiences that ground school learning in practice through participation in communities around subject matters?
2) Externally: How to connect the experience of students to actual practice through peripheral forms of participation in broader communities beyond the walls of the school?
3) Over the lifetime of students: How to serve the lifelong learning needs of students by organizing communities of practice focused on topics of continuing interest to students beyond the initial schooling period?
From this view, the school is not the privileged locus of learning. It is not a self-contained, closed world in which students acquire knowledge to be applied outside, but a part of a broader learning system. The class is not the primary learning event. It is life itself that is the main learning event. Schools, classrooms, and training sessions still have a role to play in this vision.This gives a brief understanding of communities of practice.
REFERENCES:
1) Wenger.E,(2004) Knowledge management is a doughnut: shaping your knowledge strategy with communities of practice, Ivey business journal, London N6A 3K7.
2) Wenger.E,(1998) communities of practice a brief introduction:learning,meaningand identity, Cambridge university press,London.
3) Lave.J&Wenger.E(2002)communities of practice a brief introduction:learning,meaning and identity,cambridge university press,London.
Friday, 6 February 2009
WEEK-3 Knowledge management theory
Theory Of Knowledge Management
Knowledge management field deals with many things and this is vast. To start with it i just started with distinction between Data, Information and Knowledge. It gave me some knowledge about knowledge management.
Data: As all know that data is raw facts and figures(Oxford English dictionary). Datum is singular of data. Datum in the computer world is 00001010 . If any body who know binary system think that it is number with value 10 but for who don’t binary system it mean nothing to them. There are chances think it as 10 apples,10desks,or possibly any thing. My view on data is just a factual information , this information becomes useful for analysis, it may be used for making decisions.
Information: The data which is processed by specific procedures which apply relevant meanings and facts to produce information. Information according to oxford dictionary as: “Data arranged in a meaningful pattern”. In my view on the face of it, there is no reason to think that every meaningful sign must carry information, it depends on the context we see as discussed in the class. My information becomes data to someone and vice versa. I will discuss that with an example stating that suppose we have a phone number which is called data but if i get whose that number is and details about that person it may become information.
Knowledge: Its just an acknowledgement according to oxford dictionary that means it is a proof. Knowledge according to(Roos,j.,& Dragonetti,N.C,1998) is a personal subjective process emerging from previous experiences and current events. while information is the objective data about the environment. My view on Knowledge is that which enables the generation of new information with the existing information.
" SUCCESS IN THE MARKET PLACE TODAY IS DIRECTLY
PROPORTIONAL TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT AN
ORGANIZATION CAN BRING TO BEAR,HOW
FAST IT CAN BRING THAT KNOWLEDGE TO
BEAR AND THE RATE AT WHICH IT ACCUMULATES
KNOWLEDGE"(peter drucker in an article1993)
It is only from the past few years that the world of business has begun to recognize the importance of knowledge as a resource. I will consider mainly in law firms context. Knowledge management in simple words is managing knowledge in a proper way. Knowledge is a fluid mix of contextual information, values, experiences, and rules.
Knowledge management covers three main knowledge activities :
1)Generation
2)codification
3)transfer
Knowledge Generation: It includes all activities which bring to light knowledge which is “new” whether to the individual, to the group, or to the world. The tools for the generation is mainly like a mind (machine)(George Johnson’s book, no date).
Knowledge Codification: It is the capture and representation of knowledge so that it can be re-used either by an individual or by an organization. It is like knowledge captured for later sorting or it is pre-screened.
Knowledge Transfer: It involves the movement of knowledge from one location to another. The goal of such tool is ultimately shared memory and understanding. If knowledge is considered to be alive then it is ever charging and growing. In modern ways electronic communication transfers knowledge.(Rudy L. Ruggles,1966)
The power of knowledge management is to enable and enhance the productivity of these activities and to leverage either value for the group as well as individual. Knowledge management tools are
1)Data management tools
2)Information manage ment tools
Data management tools allow organizations to generate, access, store, and analyse data, usually in the form of facts and figures, which can be considered “raw material”.
Information management tools enable the manipulation of information Examples of this include automated information search and retrieval agents.
Why problems arise in implementation of knowledge?
Because many times organizations react to the ideas of knowledge management by buying the tools, installing them, and then expecting over night results.
Knowledge management envisages a learning loop with in an organization. The knowledge base exists with in the organisation and combining this knowledge with the employee’s own knowledge and this makes achieve some best results. But some times the credit is not going to the right person in this case.
My ideas on knowledge management:
Let me think iam doing a project on XP. Here the main groups are customers and programmers. The customer gives the requirements they need, then the programmers understand the task of customer and splits the task and use the knowledge to complete the task. So here management should complete the task in scheduled time. The programmers in XP keeps its views in the project and simultaneous iterations are done. The beneficial thing in XP is that they keep the customer presence while doing the project. Here, if u see the data which is given by the XP customer is converted in to information by understanding and the programmers implement their knowledge in implementing it and to see the results. here the knowledge is generated ,coded &processed(KM).
References:
1) Roos,J., Roos,G., Dragonetti,N.C and edvinsson,L(1997) Intellectual capital , Mac milliam business press.
2) The new shorter oxford English dictionary clarendon, oxford(1993).
3) Rudy L.Ruggles(1966) Knowledge management tools, Business publications.
4) Peter Drucker(1993) no information
5) George Johnsons(n.d)Machinery of mind
Knowledge management field deals with many things and this is vast. To start with it i just started with distinction between Data, Information and Knowledge. It gave me some knowledge about knowledge management.
Data: As all know that data is raw facts and figures(Oxford English dictionary). Datum is singular of data. Datum in the computer world is 00001010 . If any body who know binary system think that it is number with value 10 but for who don’t binary system it mean nothing to them. There are chances think it as 10 apples,10desks,or possibly any thing. My view on data is just a factual information , this information becomes useful for analysis, it may be used for making decisions.
Information: The data which is processed by specific procedures which apply relevant meanings and facts to produce information. Information according to oxford dictionary as: “Data arranged in a meaningful pattern”. In my view on the face of it, there is no reason to think that every meaningful sign must carry information, it depends on the context we see as discussed in the class. My information becomes data to someone and vice versa. I will discuss that with an example stating that suppose we have a phone number which is called data but if i get whose that number is and details about that person it may become information.
Knowledge: Its just an acknowledgement according to oxford dictionary that means it is a proof. Knowledge according to(Roos,j.,& Dragonetti,N.C,1998) is a personal subjective process emerging from previous experiences and current events. while information is the objective data about the environment. My view on Knowledge is that which enables the generation of new information with the existing information.
" SUCCESS IN THE MARKET PLACE TODAY IS DIRECTLY
PROPORTIONAL TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT AN
ORGANIZATION CAN BRING TO BEAR,HOW
FAST IT CAN BRING THAT KNOWLEDGE TO
BEAR AND THE RATE AT WHICH IT ACCUMULATES
KNOWLEDGE"(peter drucker in an article1993)
It is only from the past few years that the world of business has begun to recognize the importance of knowledge as a resource. I will consider mainly in law firms context. Knowledge management in simple words is managing knowledge in a proper way. Knowledge is a fluid mix of contextual information, values, experiences, and rules.
Knowledge management covers three main knowledge activities :
1)Generation
2)codification
3)transfer
Knowledge Generation: It includes all activities which bring to light knowledge which is “new” whether to the individual, to the group, or to the world. The tools for the generation is mainly like a mind (machine)(George Johnson’s book, no date).
Knowledge Codification: It is the capture and representation of knowledge so that it can be re-used either by an individual or by an organization. It is like knowledge captured for later sorting or it is pre-screened.
Knowledge Transfer: It involves the movement of knowledge from one location to another. The goal of such tool is ultimately shared memory and understanding. If knowledge is considered to be alive then it is ever charging and growing. In modern ways electronic communication transfers knowledge.(Rudy L. Ruggles,1966)
The power of knowledge management is to enable and enhance the productivity of these activities and to leverage either value for the group as well as individual. Knowledge management tools are
1)Data management tools
2)Information manage ment tools
Data management tools allow organizations to generate, access, store, and analyse data, usually in the form of facts and figures, which can be considered “raw material”.
Information management tools enable the manipulation of information Examples of this include automated information search and retrieval agents.
Why problems arise in implementation of knowledge?
Because many times organizations react to the ideas of knowledge management by buying the tools, installing them, and then expecting over night results.
Knowledge management envisages a learning loop with in an organization. The knowledge base exists with in the organisation and combining this knowledge with the employee’s own knowledge and this makes achieve some best results. But some times the credit is not going to the right person in this case.
My ideas on knowledge management:
Let me think iam doing a project on XP. Here the main groups are customers and programmers. The customer gives the requirements they need, then the programmers understand the task of customer and splits the task and use the knowledge to complete the task. So here management should complete the task in scheduled time. The programmers in XP keeps its views in the project and simultaneous iterations are done. The beneficial thing in XP is that they keep the customer presence while doing the project. Here, if u see the data which is given by the XP customer is converted in to information by understanding and the programmers implement their knowledge in implementing it and to see the results. here the knowledge is generated ,coded &processed(KM).
References:
1) Roos,J., Roos,G., Dragonetti,N.C and edvinsson,L(1997) Intellectual capital , Mac milliam business press.
2) The new shorter oxford English dictionary clarendon, oxford(1993).
3) Rudy L.Ruggles(1966) Knowledge management tools, Business publications.
4) Peter Drucker(1993) no information
5) George Johnsons(n.d)Machinery of mind
WEEK-2 organisation & strategy
Organization And Strategy
Organization:
Organizations are social entities that are goal directed , designed as deliberately structured and co-ordinated activity systems which are linked to external environment by (Richard L.Daft1997). Organization only exist when it is interacting with customers, suppliers, competitors, and shares information &technology to their mutual advantage. Do u think organizations are important?
Some reasons why organizations are important to u and the society is
1)they bring resources to achieve desired goals and out comes
2)produce goods and services efficiently
3)facilitate innovation
4)use modern manufacturing and computer-based technology
5)adapt to and influence a changing environment
6)create value for owners, customers, employees
7)accommodate ongoing challenges of diversity, ethics, career patterns, and the motivation and co-ordination of employees
So understanding of organization theory enables managers to design organizations to function more effectively(Michael A.Hitt ,1995). There is a distinction in organization as open and closed system. Closed system org in real cannot be seen but for example scientific management ,internal designate,. The organizations that we see in our day to day life are open systems. They interact with the environment to survive. To understand lets view organization as a system. A system is a set of interacting elements that acquires input from the environment, transforms them ,and discharges outputs to the environment. Input to an organization system include employees, raw materials and other physical resources, information, and financial resources. Transformation process changes these inputs into something of value like products and services for customers and clients through output.
Do u think organizations should have structure? Yes, they include small things like
1) Environment
2) Goals and strategy
3) Size
4) Culture
5) Structure
6) Technology
Hierarchy of authority is another word to discuss a lot ,it describes who report to whom . In an organization to be effective, the authority to make decisions should be centralised that to at the top level. The organisation should consist of experienced and innovative people to run efficiently.
Strategy:
Fundamental concepts in the area of strategy are generally accepted and hardly questioned. This means that strategy cannot be summarised into broadly agreed on definitions, rules, matrices and flow diagrams that one must absorb and learn to use(Bob Dewit and Meyer,1999).
If the only tool u have is a hammer, you treat everything like a nail(Abraham Maslow1908-1970 an American psychologist). To avoid hammering strategy issues with only one theory, a variety of ways of viewing strategic questions will be presented.This point can be made clear by extending Maslow’s hammer and nail analogy. To become a good carpenter ,who wisely use a variety of tools depending on what is crafted, an apprentice carpenter will need to learn about these different instruments. One way is for apprentice to study the characteristics and functioning of all tools individually, and only then apply when appropriate.
Understanding the broad spectrum of theories is not an end in itself, but a means for more effective strategizing.There are three dimensions of strategy that can be recognized in every real-life strategic problem situation(Pettigrew,A 1977).
1) Strategy process :It is concerned with how is ,and should ,strategy be made ,analysed, dreamt-up, formulated ,implemented ,changed and controlled ;who is involved ;and when do necessary activities take place ?Here strategies identify the opportunities , threats and create the future.
2) Strategy content :The product of strategy process is referred to as the strategy content.Hierarchy of organizational levels like business ,corporate and network levels comes under this .A strategy may also be for a group of firms.
3) Strategy context :The set of circumstances under which both the strategy process and strategy content are determined is referred to as strategy context .
My critical analysis on organization &strategy is just seen in the following example. Suppose we get an opportunity to perform OLYMPICS ,then what should the organization primarily have is
1) billions of fund
2) thousands of staff members for various specialisations
3) volunteers
4) security
5) sanitation services
6) venues for various activities
7) computer technology
8) broadcasting services and many other resources .
All these are directed towards a common goal of performing OLYMPICS in a extraordinary manner to get fame for the country .So organization in my words is a team driven by people for discovering ,work collectively to produce results and motivated & driven by a leader to share information between them . I like to give an example of how strategy is implemented is When Honda entered the US motorcycle market in 1959, their strategy appeared planned and deliberate. But in reality, good luck, experimentation and instinct played the biggest role in strategy implementation .My opinion is Organizations exist to fulfil a purpose and strategies are employed to ensure that organizational purpose is realised.
References :
1)Bob,D&Ron,M,(1999) International Thomson business press,Netherlands.
2)Richard L.Draft(1997) Intrnational Thomson publication,united states of america.
3) Michael A.Hit, R.Duane Ireland,and Robert E.Hoskisson, Strategic Manegement: Competetiveness and Globalization (St. Payl, Minn.: West,1995),238.
4) Pettigrew, A.(1977) ‘Strategy Formulation as a Political Process’, International Studies of Management and Organization,International Thomson business press Vol. 7 , Summer, pp. 47-72.
Organization:
Organizations are social entities that are goal directed , designed as deliberately structured and co-ordinated activity systems which are linked to external environment by (Richard L.Daft1997). Organization only exist when it is interacting with customers, suppliers, competitors, and shares information &technology to their mutual advantage. Do u think organizations are important?
Some reasons why organizations are important to u and the society is
1)they bring resources to achieve desired goals and out comes
2)produce goods and services efficiently
3)facilitate innovation
4)use modern manufacturing and computer-based technology
5)adapt to and influence a changing environment
6)create value for owners, customers, employees
7)accommodate ongoing challenges of diversity, ethics, career patterns, and the motivation and co-ordination of employees
So understanding of organization theory enables managers to design organizations to function more effectively(Michael A.Hitt ,1995). There is a distinction in organization as open and closed system. Closed system org in real cannot be seen but for example scientific management ,internal designate,. The organizations that we see in our day to day life are open systems. They interact with the environment to survive. To understand lets view organization as a system. A system is a set of interacting elements that acquires input from the environment, transforms them ,and discharges outputs to the environment. Input to an organization system include employees, raw materials and other physical resources, information, and financial resources. Transformation process changes these inputs into something of value like products and services for customers and clients through output.
Do u think organizations should have structure? Yes, they include small things like
1) Environment
2) Goals and strategy
3) Size
4) Culture
5) Structure
6) Technology
Hierarchy of authority is another word to discuss a lot ,it describes who report to whom . In an organization to be effective, the authority to make decisions should be centralised that to at the top level. The organisation should consist of experienced and innovative people to run efficiently.
Strategy:
Fundamental concepts in the area of strategy are generally accepted and hardly questioned. This means that strategy cannot be summarised into broadly agreed on definitions, rules, matrices and flow diagrams that one must absorb and learn to use(Bob Dewit and Meyer,1999).
If the only tool u have is a hammer, you treat everything like a nail(Abraham Maslow1908-1970 an American psychologist). To avoid hammering strategy issues with only one theory, a variety of ways of viewing strategic questions will be presented.This point can be made clear by extending Maslow’s hammer and nail analogy. To become a good carpenter ,who wisely use a variety of tools depending on what is crafted, an apprentice carpenter will need to learn about these different instruments. One way is for apprentice to study the characteristics and functioning of all tools individually, and only then apply when appropriate.
Understanding the broad spectrum of theories is not an end in itself, but a means for more effective strategizing.There are three dimensions of strategy that can be recognized in every real-life strategic problem situation(Pettigrew,A 1977).
1) Strategy process :It is concerned with how is ,and should ,strategy be made ,analysed, dreamt-up, formulated ,implemented ,changed and controlled ;who is involved ;and when do necessary activities take place ?Here strategies identify the opportunities , threats and create the future.
2) Strategy content :The product of strategy process is referred to as the strategy content.Hierarchy of organizational levels like business ,corporate and network levels comes under this .A strategy may also be for a group of firms.
3) Strategy context :The set of circumstances under which both the strategy process and strategy content are determined is referred to as strategy context .
My critical analysis on organization &strategy is just seen in the following example. Suppose we get an opportunity to perform OLYMPICS ,then what should the organization primarily have is
1) billions of fund
2) thousands of staff members for various specialisations
3) volunteers
4) security
5) sanitation services
6) venues for various activities
7) computer technology
8) broadcasting services and many other resources .
All these are directed towards a common goal of performing OLYMPICS in a extraordinary manner to get fame for the country .So organization in my words is a team driven by people for discovering ,work collectively to produce results and motivated & driven by a leader to share information between them . I like to give an example of how strategy is implemented is When Honda entered the US motorcycle market in 1959, their strategy appeared planned and deliberate. But in reality, good luck, experimentation and instinct played the biggest role in strategy implementation .My opinion is Organizations exist to fulfil a purpose and strategies are employed to ensure that organizational purpose is realised.
References :
1)Bob,D&Ron,M,(1999) International Thomson business press,Netherlands.
2)Richard L.Draft(1997) Intrnational Thomson publication,united states of america.
3) Michael A.Hit, R.Duane Ireland,and Robert E.Hoskisson, Strategic Manegement: Competetiveness and Globalization (St. Payl, Minn.: West,1995),238.
4) Pettigrew, A.(1977) ‘Strategy Formulation as a Political Process’, International Studies of Management and Organization,International Thomson business press Vol. 7 , Summer, pp. 47-72.
KM MODELS.........
knowledge management is a new era & it has its own importance now a days.
Why the models have evolved?
The models have been selected with a view to providing the widest perspective of KM as a whole.Problems seen in knowledge management is that knowledge is not spread equally in the organization.This is reason why we should follow a model.
Some of models i came across..........
Von krogh & Roos KM models (1995) differentiates b/w individual knowledge & social knowledge.In general human is the source of information.Then this information in our senses r manipulated for gaining knowledge & this knowledge is seen in external view to make it through logical views.
Nonaka & Takeuchi spiral model(SECI):
Knowledge is principally "group knowledge" which is converted , mobilised &transferred from one another.
example:Along the individual(researcher) to the group &then to the organisation from there to ontological dimension.One of the model named SECI was the secret for the success of japanese companies.It deals with socialisation,externalization,combination&internalization.
Socialisation:This is sharing the knowledge face to face through social interaction.Socialisation is amongst the easiest forms of exchange knowledge becuase this is what we do in cafeteria. In this there r drawbacks like these r rarely capture,noted.It remains only in mind.This may not result in transmitting and sharing(davenport & prusak 1998).
To improve brainstorming and knowledge cafes must be arranged frequently.
Externalisation:It gives a visible format for tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge.
example: A knowledge journalist is someone who can interview knowledge individuals in order to
extract ,model&synthesize.
HERE knowledge is tangible and permanent.
Combination:It is explicit to explicit knowledge.The process of recombining discrete pieces of explicit knowledge into new form.No new knowledge is created per see;it is a new combination or representation of existing or already explicit knowledge.
example:In developing a training course or curriculam for a university course,existing,explicit knowledge would be recombined into a form that better lends itself to teaching and transforming this content.
Internalization:
It mainly comes with learning while doing.Once knowledge is internalised it is then used by employees who broaden it,extend it & reframe it with in thier own existing knowledge.
So,finally knowledge ,experiences,best practices,lessons learned &so on go through the conversion process of socialisation,externalization,combination but they cant halt at any stages mentiond but only when knowledge is internalised.
REFERENCES:
1)Von krogh,G.,&Roos,j.,(1998)knowledge in firms:understanding managing,london stage publications,
2)Nonaka,l.,&takeuch,h.(1995).the knowledge creation community.Newyork:oxford university press
3)Davenport,t&prusak,l(1998)working knowledge boston:harvard business school press.
4)knowledge management in theory & practice.
Why the models have evolved?
The models have been selected with a view to providing the widest perspective of KM as a whole.Problems seen in knowledge management is that knowledge is not spread equally in the organization.This is reason why we should follow a model.
Some of models i came across..........
Von krogh & Roos KM models (1995) differentiates b/w individual knowledge & social knowledge.In general human is the source of information.Then this information in our senses r manipulated for gaining knowledge & this knowledge is seen in external view to make it through logical views.
Nonaka & Takeuchi spiral model(SECI):
Knowledge is principally "group knowledge" which is converted , mobilised &transferred from one another.
example:Along the individual(researcher) to the group &then to the organisation from there to ontological dimension.One of the model named SECI was the secret for the success of japanese companies.It deals with socialisation,externalization,combination&internalization.
Socialisation:This is sharing the knowledge face to face through social interaction.Socialisation is amongst the easiest forms of exchange knowledge becuase this is what we do in cafeteria. In this there r drawbacks like these r rarely capture,noted.It remains only in mind.This may not result in transmitting and sharing(davenport & prusak 1998).
To improve brainstorming and knowledge cafes must be arranged frequently.
Externalisation:It gives a visible format for tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge.
example: A knowledge journalist is someone who can interview knowledge individuals in order to
extract ,model&synthesize.
HERE knowledge is tangible and permanent.
Combination:It is explicit to explicit knowledge.The process of recombining discrete pieces of explicit knowledge into new form.No new knowledge is created per see;it is a new combination or representation of existing or already explicit knowledge.
example:In developing a training course or curriculam for a university course,existing,explicit knowledge would be recombined into a form that better lends itself to teaching and transforming this content.
Internalization:
It mainly comes with learning while doing.Once knowledge is internalised it is then used by employees who broaden it,extend it & reframe it with in thier own existing knowledge.
So,finally knowledge ,experiences,best practices,lessons learned &so on go through the conversion process of socialisation,externalization,combination but they cant halt at any stages mentiond but only when knowledge is internalised.
REFERENCES:
1)Von krogh,G.,&Roos,j.,(1998)knowledge in firms:understanding managing,london stage publications,
2)Nonaka,l.,&takeuch,h.(1995).the knowledge creation community.Newyork:oxford university press
3)Davenport,t&prusak,l(1998)working knowledge boston:harvard business school press.
4)knowledge management in theory & practice.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Knowledge management &more about it
Knowledge management is the process through which organizations generate value from their intellectual and knowledge-based assets. Most often, generating value from such assets involves sharing them among employees, departments and even with other companies in an effort to devise best practices.
ref: CIO Magazine .
" This may be a learning loop with in the organisation "
Example: The revenues for a particular entrée in a restaurant could, if related to other menu-item data, reveal a correlation between the purchase of a particular dessert with that menu-item.
I have an example stating that US gov. spent $800 computers in the 1980's and yet productivity dropped by 3%,this means that they have not managed the knowledge properly.
ref: CIO Magazine .
" This may be a learning loop with in the organisation "
Example: The revenues for a particular entrée in a restaurant could, if related to other menu-item data, reveal a correlation between the purchase of a particular dessert with that menu-item.
I have an example stating that US gov. spent $800 computers in the 1980's and yet productivity dropped by 3%,this means that they have not managed the knowledge properly.
definitions & my view on KIDS stuff
DATA:As all know that data is raw facts and figures.My view on it is its just a
factual information,this information is further used for analysis,it is used
for making decisions in future.
For computer science it may be numericals or other information.
EXAMPLE: any numbers ,any data collected with out knowing any thing about it.
factual information,this information is further used for analysis,it is used
for making decisions in future.
For computer science it may be numericals or other information.
EXAMPLE: any numbers ,any data collected with out knowing any thing about it.
INFORMATION:Data which is arrangad in a meaningful format.
In my view on the face of it, there is no reason to think that every meaningful sign must carry information ,it depends as we discussed that in class.
my information becomes data to some and viceversa.
EXAMPLE:Suppose we have a phone number which is called data but if i get whose that number is and details about that person it may become information.
KNOWLEDGE:In oxford dictionary it means just acknowledgement,recognition or cognisance and these all mean that it is proof.
So knowledge says that its a personal subjective process emerging from previous experiences and current events.while information is objective data about the environment.
(ref:Roos,j.,Dragonetti,n.c.,1998).
Knowledge is that which enables the generation of new information with the existhing information.
Example:Suppose we know an information it can be used in any way to make it as knowledge.
" SUCCESS IN THE MARKET PLACE TODAY IS DIRECTLY
PROPORTIONAL TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT AN
ORGANIZATION CAN BRING TO BEAR,HOW
FAST IT CAN BRING THAT KNOWLEDGE TO
BEAR AND THE RATE AT WHICH IT ACCUMULATES
KNOWLEDGE"
ref:Peter drucker 1993 in an article
Saturday, 24 January 2009
week1 takings of our professional meeting
these r my team members cathing the A-team mission
closer view
me with new friend Hamza having our views on community of practice
some of my classmates discussing on org,strategy&cop
Thursday, 22 January 2009
organisation
org is team(people) for discovering,individual work collectively to produce results,its driven by leader,motivating every one in the team,xchange of d informationb/w themetc.,
Friday, 16 January 2009
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