Case Analysis
Untangling the Knowledge Management Dilemma at TPA
Sometimes individuals, teams, big and small companies, and other entities try to ‘reinvent the wheel’. These occurrences happen too often because many simply do not realize that what they are trying to do has already been done by someone else in some other venue, and more importantly they do not know where or how to access that knowledge. In addition, managers are overloaded with a constant stream of data daily. This overload of data is making knowledge management (KM) increasingly more difficult, but also more important, even necessary, for a business leader to have to lead his or her organization successfully. Since, leaders of successful organizations are
…show more content…
In 2005, he decided to introduce Microsoft SharePoint as the main tool for KM activities. What is SharePoint? Per Microsoft’s web site (Microsoft SharePoint) 1 the implementation of SharePoint can be summarized as follows:
Share and connect with employees across the enterprise - use SharePoint to engage with people, share ideas, and reinvent the way you work together.
Organize. Whether working as a team or an individual, SharePoint helps you organize information, people, and projects.
Discover. SharePoint makes it easy to find answers, discover insights, and connect with experts.
Build. Developers and web designers can create new experiences on SharePoint using familiar tools and Internet standards. Manage. SharePoint provides powerful controls that allow IT departments to manage cost, risk, and their time.
Share Point appeared to unite all the characteristics TPA’s needed to establish a better KM system. However, after SharePoint was introduced to the three divisions (IT, Project Planning and Operation) several problems appeared, and complaints were expressed by TPA’s employees. The first problem was that the IT department set up a default structure to be user friendly and yet broad enough to apply to both external and internal projects at TPA. Many project teams complained that the differences between SharePoint sites were significant. Another problem was that the IT Department for security
Click here to unlock this and over one million essays
Get AccessSome companies try to implement new ideas and ways to increase efficiency and productivity in the workplace. This is a great idea for companies to increase the output of the product or service they are performing for the consumers. However, not everything goes so well when implementing new ideas. There are hardships that need to be overcome, the costs of implementing a new system can be overwhelming at first, and many others. I will describe to you some of the hardships of adding new groupware to a system that is already in place. Also have you ever wondered what a wiki does or what it could do
At Bayer, there are multiple methods used to collect, organize and communicate information to the employees. First, information at the site level distributes across email. For example, the emails include information such as community events, safety issues, Level 3 meeting minutes, construction updates, HR communications, promotion announcements, and short-term assignments. Also, some other technologies are used, including LMS (learning management system). As an illustration, this system is used to communicate and track training and OPLs (one point lessons) mainly for safety issues happening at the site. Additionally, there is also a company Sharepoint that can be used to gather and distribute information to the site. In the same way, management can post necessary information and
The superior capabilities of knowledge management systems provide an opportunity for the business to engage the most effective components and recognize the importance of communication to make informed, accurate decisions (McGrath, 2001). This system can organize the company’s knowledge resources, knowledge obtaining, organizing, and applying to make a sound routine the will enforce effectiveness (Niu, 2008). The dynamic function of knowledge management to create, capture, and apply knowledge to achieve an organization’s objective will allow them to be more profitable and successful (Zucker, 1986). In addition to increasing profits, the system can be also used to reduce costs and enhance research and development (DeTienne & Jackson, 2001). With all of these advantages, it would be wasteful for a company to not employ knowledge management. As seen in the Discovery Communications, Inc. example, the company can attribute their new productivity levels and increase in ease of securing documents to the knowledge management system that put into place by Carefree Technology. Like Discovery Communications, Inc., knowledge management is so popular today because companies can collect, process and share knowledge to ignite employees ' creativity which in turn will make the business grow. Wenhong and Jianhua (2009) explained the core of knowledge management is to convert company’s knowledge resources into an increased company
This is a very important risk in Information Systems Projects. The project structure clearly outlines the outputs and the processes of the whole project. It also seeks to explain the command power and source, and the decision-making approach. If the project structure is not well explained and understood, the requirements of the project will not be meant since it will not be easy to make strategic decisions and how the work should flow and who should be involved. In the case of FoxMeyer, the project had collapsed due to poor planning, user involvement and lack of restructuring of the internal work systems to accommodate the project (Portny 38). Highly structured projects helps individual teams and supervisors to understand their responsibilities. These makes staff more focused on their requirements. This risk could, therefore, be avoided if a comprehensive and formal project structure is created. In so doing, it becomes easier to integrate the responsibilities of each team towards a common goal and
Before Unity, their social computing tool, collaboration in LM was through traditional tools: e-mails, attachments of relevant documents, spread sheets (Microsoft Excel), and slide sheets (Microsoft Power Point). Unity is integration of Google enterprise search appliance, Microsoft SharePoint and Newsgator Enterprise Server. The strategic choice of technology was based on their existing IT environment and collaboration culture as SharePoint was already being used.
The purpose of this essay is to compare the management information systems (MIS), organizational use of information systems to help manage internal operations, and the use of information technology for competitive advantage. In conclusion, the author will appraise the individual, and organizational consequences of the use of information technology, and recognize potential security breaches and computer crimes. Sources for the content of this paper include web resources, and other course related materials.
First off, SharePoint is a great site to utilize for collaboration and offers valuable tools to manage information, tasks, documents, projects and more. For instance, according to Marquette University, gathering and sharing information is already challenging enough, however using SharePoint as a central site, a team is able to collaborate, set securities, meetings, tasks and track projects. Additionally, many benefits of using SharePoint exist, including but not limited to the following
O’Brien, J. & Marakas, G. (2011). Management of Information Systems. New York, NY. McGraw-Hill Irwin. Retrieved from https://www.betheluniversityonline.net
Lieutenant Morse response was “It is a great collaboration tool”. It allows you, your unit/office, and DOD personnel a place to access documents, upload files, and check dates and tasks in one location. SharePoint provides you with a central location for all of your documents, files, and calendars. Within my section we use this capability to ensure all users has the ability to upload and change information within our section.
The organizing function of management deals with activities that result in the formal assignment of tasks and authority and a coordination of effort. Management staffs the work unit, trains employees, secures resources, and empowers the work group into a productive team. Organizing is the managerial function of arranging people and resources to work toward a goal. The purposes of organizing include but are not limited to determining the tasks to be performed in order to achieve objectives, dividing tasks into specific jobs, grouping jobs into departments, specifying reporting and authority relationships, delegating the authority necessary for task accomplishment, and allocating and deploying resources in a coordinated fashion.
To develop the knowledge infrastructure, McKinsey made a major commitment to build a common database of knowledge accumulated from client work and hired a full time practice coordinator who acted as an "intelligent switch". They also expanded its hiring practices and promotion policies to create a career path for deep functional specialist whose narrow expertise would make them more I-shaped than the normal profile of a T-shaped consultant. They also created computerized data bases such as Firm Practice Information System, Practice Development Network and a manual Knowledge Resource Directory.
Davis et all. (2008) believe that a good management tool that can be used to offer a detailed and easy-understanding
| MS SharePoint allows the sharing of documents with colleagues, manage projects with partners, and publishing of information. This allows employees quicker access to Subject matter experts and other knowledgeable staff in the company.
In order for public and private organizations to exploit and manage knowledge in their daily processes and integrate knowledge management in their strategic planning, the managers of the organizations must know the actual meaning of knowledge. Right now, the three-knowledge management models being used in organizations are Nonaka and Takeuci’s (knowledge spiral), Firestone and McElroy’s (knowledge life cycle) snowden’s (Cynefin Model) (Heaidari, Khanifar & Moghimi, 2011).
Sharepoint is used to team site which is fast and very cost effective way to communicate information in a professional looking way to the team.