| Author: | Chiu, Suet-kuen Milhy |
| Title: | Coaching for performance through a knowledge-based virtual library |
| Degree: | M.Sc. |
| Year: | 2005 |
| Subject: | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations Organizational learning Knowledge management Employees -- Training of |
| Department: | Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering |
| Pages: | ix, 88, iii leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | In today's competitive business environment, knowledge and intellectual capital do provide companies with clear advantages. The literature reveals that effective knowledge management can empower users through knowledge sharing and creation to perform their roles fruitfully so as to maximize satisfaction and confidence, and productivity in performance in return. Thus, how to well manage company's explicit knowledge accompanying with employees' tacit knowledge is crucial. In recent decades, the trend for continuous learning is exacerbated by corporate downsizing and the extinction of job stability, and more specifically the self-directed adult learner in the workplace. This leads to a phenomenon that many personnel are required to have large caliber to take multiple roles to manage their company affairs. Some companies ignore the importance of company-wide knowledge sharing and do not invest resources to foster learning ethos, which as a result, obstruct organizational performance through professional development. They usually wholly rely on their company information systems which involve minimal human interventions. Some even outsource their information development and operations activities to consultancy firms as well. Certainly these strategies embrace both pros and cons in terms of time, resources, scalability and manageability, etc. Whereas, in contemporary management point of view, prompt responsiveness and thorough awareness of clients' needs are crucial for company's sustainability and profitability instead; and these can be acquired from company-wide knowledge. Hence, to be the forerunner, we should fully incorporate our company system information, tacit knowledge, know-how, and mind-sets to yield more valuable explicit knowledge and share amongst colleagues thereafter. Basically, knowledge management encompasses parameters like learning ethos (i.e. learning culture in workplaces), knowledge repository (in where both tacit and explicit knowledge upheld), and continuous performance measurement strategies (i.e. measures for accessing the effectiveness of the knowledge management). Conventionally, if there are apt strategies associated with IT advancement, both organizational and personal performance should be enhanced via a knowledge management establishment. To scrutinize this notion, this virtual library case study was brought about to substantiate whether effective knowledge management could help the company to facilitate continuous learning, workflow efficiency and improvement across its business on one hand, and on the other hand to encourage effective management of time and resources. Nonetheless, challenges and obstructions encountered while deploying the management approach in this case study. Indeed, not all employees relished the notion of their tacit knowledge being managed or shared; rather they would prefer being supported in their undertaking. They probably thought that their inimitable knowledge was their core competence, sort of bargaining power, and ignored the upshot of synergy through knowledge sharing. Thus management should tackle such kinds of people-related factors so as to streamline the knowledge management flow; otherwise, resources would be wasted no matter how much energy has been invested to the virtual library. Moreover, this virtual library actually does not come to bloom by itself. It is necessary to have a number of initiators or boosters for it, thus it is important to inspire employees to be passionate towards knowledge sharing and learning. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
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| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b18099981.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 6.25 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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