Knowledge Management Implementation in Apple Inc.

Running Head: Knowledge Management
Knowledge Management
Report
System04104
1/25/2019

Knowledge Management
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Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Organisational Overview.......................................................................................................................2
Problem or opportunity that Apple faced.............................................................................................3
Nature of Knowledge Management Initiative.......................................................................................3
The process of KM Implementation in Apple Inc...............................................................................4
Difficulties during the implementation of KM in Apple Inc....................................................................5
The effectiveness of KM implementation..............................................................................................6
Success Metrics Used in the implementation of KM.............................................................................7
Recommendations and Conclusion.......................................................................................................8
References.............................................................................................................................................9

Knowledge Management
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Introduction
The modern era of the corporate world is the era of "knowledge-based economy." Every
organisation is trying to evolve their knowledge sharing system because success and failure
of the organisation now depend on how they are using the information they have.
“Knowledge is Power” so one has to store, manage, and use it to maintain an advantage over
others. Such things raise the organisation as a knowledge-generating, knowledge integrating,
and knowledge-protecting organisation. Knowledge management helps the organisation to
bring innovation to the organisation that further leads to better organisational performance.
Apple Inc. is one of the leading and world's best mobile (I-phones), Laptops, I-pads, and
smart watches manufacturing company and known for their innovative thinking and
technological advancement. Apple is also known as the best company who implement a
knowledge management system in the organisation. However, the company faced strong
competition after several other mobiles and personal computer-manufacturing companies like
Microsoft, Samsung, Nokia, and IBM entered the same industry. This required Apple to
implement Knowledge Management in the organisation to improve their performance in
terms of technical, production, and output aspects. This report shows the process of
implementation of knowledge management and what were the challenges the company faced
during the implementation of a knowledge management system.
Organisational Overview
Apple Inc. is one of the leading American Mobile phone and Personal computers
manufacturing company, which is also known for their other products such as portable music
players and media devices. Apple Incorporation is a popular company in the world and
incorporated on January 3, 1977. The company was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak,
and Ronald Wayne in 1976 to develop and sell Wozniak's Apple I personal computers.
Currently, Arthur D. Levinson is the Chairman of the company and Tim Cook is the CEO.
Apple is known for creativity and innovative approach in their products like Apple smart
watch and Apple I-phones. Apple is also known for the latest technologies used in their
personal computers, Laptops, and I-phones. Although the Increasing competition and a large
number of competitors force Apple to Implement knowledge management system in the

Knowledge Management
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organisation, and improve their productivity and organisational performance, this company
can easily face the global competition in the manufacturing of mobile phone manufacturing.
Problem or opportunity that Apple faced
It has been said by many people that learning is necessary for creating own culture in the
organisation and is a continuous process that helps an organisation to develop, adapt, and
transform themselves to meet the future needs and face the competition in the globally
competitive world (Jain and Moreno, 2015). Apple is known as a learning organisation that
includes five major factors such as system thinking, Personal mastery, mental models,
building b shared vision, and team learning. Knowledge management is a tool for learning
implementation (Gholami, Asli, Nazari-Shirkouhi, and Noruzy, 2013). A knowledge
management system is required to support the distribution of knowledge and support
learning.
Another challenge was faced by the Apple Company that company was facing strong
competition in mobile phone manufacturing sector where a large number of famous
companies like Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, and some other Chinese companies (Valentim,
Lisboa, and Franco, 2016). Although, Apple launched its I-phone in 2007, and the other
Apple products such as Apple I-pod and MacBook gradually show up in all over the world.
Thus, it can also be said that Knowledge management plays an important role in stimulating
innovation and fostering creativity in Apple Inc. (Kasemsap, 2016).
Nature of Knowledge Management Initiative
A large number of people believe that Knowledge management is the core competency of
Apple Inc. that is also displayed in their corporate culture and in their innovation value
processes. Company implement learning through knowledge management and the major
focus was on innovation and creativity. Apple first developed a knowledge model and then
knowledge management framework has been used to analyse Apple's Inc. Apple show how
knowledge management improves the organisational performance and is relevant to a
company in terms of technical production, and output aspects. Even it helps to compete with
competitors and always stay one step ahead. The top executives of Apple think that
knowledge management not only helps in the innovative approach and compete with other