2018/2019

Knowledge Management Strategy

Type: Mago-Lego

Delivered by: School of Economics and Finance

When: 3, 4 module

Instructors: Mariya Molodchik

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 36

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course "Knowledge Management Strategy" introduces basic concepts and ideas on knowledge acquisition, creation and externalization in modern organization. The main aim of the module is to enable students to acquire a critical understanding of knowledge as a driver of organization inimitable strategic capabilities. This module addresses different aspect of knowledge management: knowledge taxonomies, SECI model and its applications, knowledge driven value creation, polarity management and learning organization.

Learning Objectives

• Upon the successful completion of the course the students acquire deeper understanding of knowledge phenomenon; develop their analytical skills for diagnostic of organization intellectual ability as well as managerial skills for knowledge based strategy implementation.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Specify pivotal role of knowledge in new economy.
• Recognize ambiguous nature of knowledge and specify polarity strategies.
• Identify what knowledge is critical for the success of a particular company and identify managerial implications of its attributes.
• Identify key knowledge-related processes in a particular company and diagnose potential barriers to their efficient flow.
• Diagnose the fit between current organizational strategy and knowledge management initiatives and develop proposals on how to improve this fit.

Course Contents

• Knowledge: taxonomies, basic features, management issues
  The role of knowledge in organizations and society, KEI (Knowledge Economy Index), GCI (Global Competitiveness Index), basic definitions: data, information, knowledge and wisdom; tacit and explicit knowledge; personal and organizational, internal and external knowledge; the rise of knowledge management; knowledge management and other disciplines.
• Knowledge based theory of the firm: theoretical background
  Theory of firm (Penrose), resource based approach, knowledge based view, specific features of competitive resource: valuable, rare, inimitable, non-transferable (VRIN), dynamic capabilities, concept of learning organization, core knowledge, knowledge gap, knowledge based strategy.
• Knowledge creating company
  Explicit and tacit knowledge, knowledge creation, socialization-externalization-combination-internalization model, barriers of knowledge sharing.
• Knowledge management strategy
  Ambiguity of knowledge, polarity management, knowledge management strategy, codification vs personalization, communities of practice, fit between organizational and knowledge management strategies.
• Knowledge management processes: primary and secondary activities
  Knowledge Chain Model, primary activities: acquisition, internalization, generation, externalization; secondary activities: control, measurement, leadership, culture, the role of leadership in knowledge management, intrinsic motivation, entrepreneurship ability, sustainable innovation through knowledge management.

Assessment Elements

• Essay
• Seminar work
• Self-study work
• Exam

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (4 module)
  0.3 * Essay + 0.4 * Exam + 0.15 * Self-study work + 0.15 * Seminar work

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Creating Value with Knowledge : Insights from the IBM Institute for Business Value. (2004). New York: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/0195165128.001.0001

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Argote, L. (2012). Organizational Learning : Creating, Retaining and Transferring Knowledge. Heidelberg: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=528244