Knowledge Management General Topics

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KM principles & practices
o Theories & Perspectives of KM
o Tools & techniques for KM
o Knowledge Audit
o KDLC stages

1 2 "opposite" positions on the nature of knowledge are:
1) Knowledge is essentially a personal and subjective construction
2) Knowledge corresponds to some objective reality
Briefly explain these 2 views, and discuss their implications for KM
A  Knowledge that is personal and subjective primarily means it is connected to all of our understanding of the world arising from our experience, then it is inherently personal and specific to us. This is called subjective knowledge.
 Knowledge that corresponds to some objective reality - we take the word 'knowledge' in the objective or impersonal sense, in which it may be said to be contained in a book; or stored in a library; or taught in a university. This is called objective knowledge.
 Knowledge Management if influenced by subjective knowledge will only contain what one person believes or aspires to. If it is influenced by objective knowledge, then it will contain many ideas and twists of knowledge on a more vast scale.

2 2 "strong" positions on the nature of knowledge are:
1) Knowledge is essentially a personal and subjective
2) Knowledge located socially and objectively
Briefly explain these 2 views, and discuss their implications for KM
A  Knowledge that is personal and subjective primarily means it is connected to all of our understanding of the world arising from our experience, and then it is inherently personal and specific to us. This is called subjective knowledge.
 Knowledge and scientific beliefs are social. To have something social and objective is nearly impossible, but objective cannot be refuted.
 View: the subjective knowledge is according to what you have learned and know. It may not be relative to KM where you may have to do research and find other answers. Objective is more rote and is cut and dry. Socially it may be refuted but not objectively. These would all tend to taint KM.

3 Compare and contrast the view of knowledge as "objective" and "culture-based".
A • Objective knowledge cannot be refuted as with 1 + 1 = 2
• Culture-based knowledge refers to shared ways of being, knowing, and doing. This refers to learning the ways, values, norms, knowledge, beliefs, practices, experiences of the culture at hand.
• Contrast is that objective cannot be refuted but culture-based could be with another culture's knowledge.

4 Compare and contrast the view of knowledge as "commodity" and "construction".
A • Knowledge as a commodity means it can be parcelled out and sold as a thing.
• Knowledge as a construction means many people build upon the knowledge each has coming together to build solutions.
• Contrast is that commodity doesn't make one think - they just take it for granted that it is what it is. Construction makes the person build upon the knowledge.

With reference to below Knowledge Development Life Cycle (KDLC)

5 What is meant by a "Knowledge Audit" for an organisation? What are some of the potential benefits to an organisation of carrying out a knowledge audit?
A A knowledge audit is a systematic examination and evaluation of organizational knowledge which includes knowledge needs, assets, resources, flows, future needs, gap analysis as well as the behaviour of people belonging, sharing , and creating knowledge.

6 Explain what should occur in the "Investigation Preparation" and explain why it is an essential stage of the process.
A The Investigation Preparation is the stage where you need to ask a lot of questions and obtain a lot of information in order to prepare what you want to write or document about a particular subject or topic. You need to know where to document this information in KM and you need to know as much as possible about it. It is essential to accurate information being entered into the KM. The investigative part should take as long as the preparation part.

7 Explain what should occur in the "Fixing Knowledge Gap" stages of the KDLC
A • Analyze the problem
• Examine all the information at hand - through the investigation
• Pose several possible solutions
• Step ...