Executive Summary: Thisreporthasshowndifferenttypesofknowledgeandtheimportanceof their interrelationship for making the company beneficial. It has been described creation of knowledge management and its all main types which shows different types of linkage between tacit and explicitknowledge.Further,ithasalsobeenshownimportanceofdifferenttypesof organizational cultures as it helped the company in making all processes and functions in an easy manner. Community of practices also played an important role because they share common goals and values which improve their relationship and an effective knowledge management. 2
Table of Contents Executive Summary:2 INTRODUCTION4 MAIN BODY4 Concepts and framework of knowledge management4 Importance of knowledge management to society and business5 Development of knowledge management programs in businesses8 Knowledge management system11 Ethical and professional issues raised by knowledge management11 CONCLUSION11 3
INTRODUCTION Knowledge management is a process that shows the way of sharing knowledge and influences of corporate culture. It can also be said that it is a system that allows employees of the company to share information’s, communicate and update business knowledge. This present study is based on ASDA which is the second largest retailer in the United Kingdom. It is also the largest subsidiary of Wal-Mart. It has approximate 165,000 employees and 633 areas or locations in which it provides its services. It has approximate 321 stores across the UK and Northern Ireland. This study is going to shows the main concept and two type of knowledge that are important at both personal and professional level. It will also show some importance of managing knowledge for both people and the company along with 4 types of knowledge creation process. Further, this report of knowledge management will describe different types of cultures such as hierarchical, adhocracy, clan and market that have several advantages, disadvantages and purposes. Different types of organizational cultures help an organization in managing knowledge within its workplace. Lastly, it shows ethical and professional issues related to knowledge management and community of practices that try to solve all these problems and make the company able to accomplish its goals. MAIN BODY Concepts and framework of knowledge management Knowledge can be defined as a concept and skills that are being acquired by experience, education as well as practical understanding of a particular subject. Getting knowledge is not tough but managing that knowledge and skills in an effective manner at both professional and personallifeisquitetough(Kotabe,Casper andUpadhyay,2017). Effectiveknowledge management can make an individual able to accomplish their goals and getting whatever they want to achieve. So, it is important for people and the manager of ASDA to have ability to manage knowledge in an efficient manner at all level of its workplace. For more understanding knowledge it can be understood by its 2 types. There are mainly 23 types of knowledge which is the key and central of knowledge management such as Tacit and explicit. 4
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Tacit or Implicit: Tacit or implicit knowledge refers experimental, subjective and cognitive learning. It is being gained by experiences and jobs. Some examples of this type of knowledge is intuitions and insight that are important to have at workplace. It is personal and sensitive context. People have to face difficulties in sharing as well as capturing this type of knowledge. After having difficulties it can also be said that it has high value and a lot of human interpretation and this is the reason it is hard to document and transfer (Garrick and Chan, 2017). Explicit knowledge:This type of knowledge is digitized in documents, books, reports etc. It is justoppositeofimplicitknowledgebecausepeopledonotfinddifficultiesinsharing, transferring and identifying knowledge as it is a type of documented information’s which can be achieved by anyone. It is easy to share, documented and codify as it is fixed content and structured. It is objective, rational and technical. It is written down and accessible so, people find easy to communicate and store in the context of knowledge management (Rogers,Revesz and Rebuschat, 2016). So, from the above discussed types of knowledge, it can be understood that knowledge plays an important role at different level. Both type of knowledge plays a vital role. For building knowledge management framework there are some steps which need to be followed by ASDA such as: identification of needs to manage knowledge, identification of appropriate knowledge resources, and creation of all knowledge resources and storage of knowledge. It can also be said that these processes and steps should be followed in a systematic manner as all these are dependent to each other’s and are affected by several factors. Knowledge managementof ASAD is closely relatedas well as dependent to strategies, information management of the company. So, making knowledge management more effective, there is a requirement to focus on other elements and strategies as well. In the context of retail sector and ASDA, it can be said that innovation is the main key of the success of the business which makes an individual and company able to take competitive advantages which is the main purpose of knowledge management. Innovation is made up of 5 elements such as: learning , strategies, process, building organizations and linkage that all are dependent with knowledge management as well. Digital media, advanced technology and other human resources plays an important role in managing 5
knowledge and skills at different levels of the company in a very efficient manner. Skilled and experienced workforce has tacit knowledge that is essential for the company to have for managing knowledge. Importance of knowledge management to society and business Knowledge management refers a system and skills to manage knowledge of employees and the company at different levels of workplace which allows people in the company to share, update as well as access business information’s. There are several tools and stratrgies that can help the company in managing knowledge. Some tools which are being used by ASDA for sharing business information’s and knowledge includes: Cross training program:Mentoring and training program is the best way of making aware to employees about the importance of knowledge management as well as teach them the way of knowledge management, It allows employees of ASDA to gain business information’s and knowledge by watching others (Garg, Pandey and Vashisht, 2018). Social networking tools:Workplace by Face book and Slack are effective social networking tools which allows employeesto communicate as well as collaborate for sharing knowledge and business information’s. Chatbots:Chatbotsrepresentthenaturalevolutionofknowledgemanagement. Artificialintelligence is the best examplewhich is being used to provide solutionsand responding employees queries. Some benefits of knowledge management t for society and ASDA are discussed as below: Getting information’s:By using effective tools of knowledge and information’s sharing allows all employeesto get the same message and business information’sas soon as possible. Technology has made it more facilitate which decrease miscommunication. This barrier in communication improve relationship of employees and also allow customers to get any type of detail. Make fewer mistakes:The main benefit of knowledge management is it allows employees to share and collaborate with each others which decreases the chances of mistakes. On the other 6
hand, it can be said that if employees of ASDA do not share and communicate with other employees then they commit the same mistakes over and over again. It decreases the quality of products and services. Decreased and poor quality dissatisfy customers which is not good for the society (Hislop, Bosua and Helms, 2018). Knowledge creation process: It refers a continuous combination, transfer as well as conversion of different kinds of knowledge. In other words it can also be said that it is a creation and development of new concepts that occur through making an effective interaction between two type of knowledge such as tacit and explicit in the mind of people. There are mainly 4 types of knowledge creation process by which is known as SECI model. It represents and stands for socialization, externalization, combination and internalization. All these types of knowledge creation are discussed in detail as below: Figure1: SECI model Socialization:This type of process mainly focuses on making linkage between tacit to tacit knowledge. New knowledge as per this process can be created by using the process of interactions, discussing and spending time together while living in the same environment. It is also a process of making and converting new knowledge via shared experiences (Li, Liu and Zhou, 2018). In the context of ASDA, it can be said that it gains this type of knowledge by interacting with its people such as: customers, stakeholders, suppliers etc. Externalization:It is other and important type of knowledge creation process in which, company focuses on making link between tacit to explicit knowledge. It is known that tacit knowledge is achieved by its boundaries and experience so, new knowledge can be created in an efficient manner.The process of externalization is often driven by metaphor analogy and 7
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models. Employees of ASDA make a linkage between their learning and experienced for making a new knowledge and making working environment more innovative. It helps them out in solving critical problems which they were trying to solve for providing better services to customers. Combination:It is other process in which company and people focuses on making a new knowledge by making an effective link between explicit to explicit knowledge. In this type, financial department of ASDA collect all necessary financial reports and information’s from each department of the company and publics aconsolidated annual financial performance report. For getting business report, there is a requirement to make a creative use and combination of some element and functions such as: adding, sorting and categorizing (Nonaka and Toyama, 2015). Internalization:In this type, company focuses on creating explicit knowledge bymaking an effective use of tacit knowledge as well as sharing it to all departments and areas of the company. It is stated that when employees read this tacit knowledge then it spread an area of learning spiral of knowledge creation (Knowledge management System, 2019). When this type of knowledge is socialization then ASDA tries to innovate and learn this knowledge. For internalizing this tacit knowledge by employees of the company, ASDA provides effective training to them. It makes all employees more able to internalize tacit knowledge after the process of internalization. So, from the above it can be said that the best process of knowledge creation is externalization because in this type, knowledge become permanent as well as easier to share with others. Development of knowledge management programs in businesses It is stated that knowledge management is an effective process of sharing; creating and managing information’s of an organization in an effective manner and communicate with all membersofthecompany.Fordeveloping,designingandlaunchinganewknowledge management program there is a requirement to make an effective planning. There are several stpes involved in the process that needed to be followed in a sequence otherwise it can become the reason of failure of the knowledge management. ASDA focuses on 5 key areas at the time of making planning and developing a knowledge management program such as: 8
People:The main focus is people or employees of the company. Knowledge management programs should be effective that can provide several benefits to people of the company (Shakerian, Dehnavi and Shateri, 2016). Processes: Processes which the company wants to establish at the time of developing knowledgemanagementshouldincludethebestpracticesforaccurateidentificationand dissemination of knowledge. Technology: Chosen technology and all tools should be reliable and have durability which can make an efficient knowledge management. Culture: Creating a learning environment and innovative culture makes more able to employees to develop efficient knowledge management programs. Structure:Organizational structure of ASDA should be transformed in a way which can encourage cross discipline awareness. In the context of culture, it can be said that organizational culture of the company plays an important role in knowledge management. Organizational culture refers some social elements of knowledge such as beliefs, values. It also includes a shared perception of reality that it shows the difference between the form in which things are and it should be. Organizational culture can be divided into some levels such as; Artifacts:It refers tangible as well as visible elements such asstructure goals, climate, furniture etc. All these things can be seen by viewers and people but may not understand that why things are the way things are. Espoused values:Itrefers those values that are espoused by leader of the company.They most often are grounded in shared assumptionsof how the company should be run. It shows the effectiveness of the company and if there is a difference between leadership espoused values and perceptions that it can put the company in the danger. Assumptions: It refers the actual values of the company’s culture. It also refers views of the world itself. For making an effective knowledge management and also making the company successful then there is a requirement for ASDA to correlate these assumptions to a certain 9
extent to the espoused leadership values. So, it can be said that all these values and levels of organizationalculturecanhelpthecompanyinrunningtheirfunctionsmoresmoothly (Namenwirth and Weber, 2016). Some categories of organization cultures are: Clan:Thistypeofcultureisbeingcharacterizedbyloyalty,teamworkingand commitment that are beneficial for all type of companies. Ad Hocracy:These types of cultures are being characterized by innovation as well as freedom that are required to implement for making employees more comfortable. Hierarchical:It is characterized by stability as well as formalism. Market:These types of culture have both advantages anf disadvantages as they focus on goals and results. Relationship is ignored at some levels. So, it can be said that it is goal oriented approach. Control:In this type of culturecontrol as well as certainty set the framework for knowledge. Collaboration: In this type of culture, all stakeholders are engaged in knowledge acquisition as well as their use. Cultivation:In thistype culturalenrichmentissought through the attainmentof knowledge-based goals. In addition, it can also be said that organizational culture behavior and roles of the leader of the company, ability to select the technology and outcomes. Having a Ad Hocracy type of culture in which have supportive features, collaboration, team working, trust and learning are more expected to engage in effective knowledge creation. So, it can be said that collaborative culture are more effective that makes an organization able to innovate their working environment and knowledge management. According to Cameron and Quinn al types of culture are being described in detailed manner such as: 10
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Clan:It is called friendly culture and working environmentin which people shares a lot of common views, things and goals and treat each others as like a family member. Leaders are positioned and viewed as a father’s position. There is a high level of collaboration, engagement and loyalty. By caring for the people and openness to the needs of customers’ success can be achieved (Lee, Raschke and Louis, 2016). This type of culture and organization has great value of team working and participations. Hierarchical:It is more structured and formalized type in which process of performing tasks decides that what employees do. Leaders are more organized and efficiency oriented. The main key of the success of this type of culture is formal rules and policy. There is a requirement of smooth planning, reliable delivery and smooth execution of tasks for making it successful. Market: It is being adopted and developed by those organizations that are more result oriented rather relationship oriented. Leaders play different roles and act as a competitors and drivers at the same time. The main focus on this type of culture is brand image and reputation of the company and results. Employees in this type focus on competitive activities. Market share and market penetration are the key of the success of this type of organizational culture. Adhocracy:It is a more dynamic and creative working environment. People in this type are always ready to take risks and leaders are also risks takers that make them able to help the company in accomplishing their goals. The main key which helps in making it successful is commitment to innovation as well as experiments. By developing new ad services, company can become the pioneer and make itself innovative and successful (Bercea, Lakatos and Bacali, 2017). Knowledge management system A knowledge management system refers any type of information technology system that stores knowledge in order to understand, collaborate as well as process alignment; This system makes the company more capable to manage knowledge in its workplace in a very efficient manner. By implementing this system, ASDA can provide satisfactory services to customers and can also make satisfied to employees which can improves its brand image and reputation in market (Ray and et.al., 2017). There are several other benefits of implementing and developing an effective knowledge management system such as: It can decrease support costs, increase 11
customer’ssatisfactionsandalsoimprovetheoverallcustomerexperienceorreturnon investment. All these benefits can directly help to the company in improving its brand image and attract wider range of customers towards buying their products and services. Becoming the market leader and taking competitive advantages can also be happened only by implementing the best knowledge management system. In addition, it can also be said that Community of practice is one of the main and important building of knowledge management framework. Community of practice refers a group of people who share a passion for doing something new and innovative as well as learn the way of making it better for satisfying customers and the company as well. The main purpose of this type of group and community is to inspire members to motivate them and participate in their learning and performance activities for making a better society and community. In the context of knowledge management, it can be said that community of practice help each other’s by sharing their skills and knowledge for an effective knowledge management. For instance, if a community of practices a group of people is being set up for electrical engineers with the main aim of raising issues and see if anyone in the community provides them suggestions and solutions for overcomingallthatproblems.Implicationofknowledgemanagementwiththehelpof community of practices is the best way of knowing some factors such as: Learning is a social phenomenon, knowledge can be integrated into the values and culture of the community, employees and people can learn only by practicing and so practice are inspirable (Santoro and et.al., 2018). In addition, it can also be said that management of ASDA need to understand advantages as well as disadvantages of community of practice before making them in consideration in knowledge management process. For that they need to make an effective use of tools which can help them out in analyzing all those factors that can impacts on their operations and decision making process. There are several advantages of community of practices which are being discussed as follows: Create a support network:For accomplishing goals, there is a requirement for the company to have skilled workforce and people by which they can take support. A single individual cannot do all things. Communities of practices are the best way of getting support of other. Employees and those people who do not feel supported quickly they become de motivated at workplace and 12
there are more chances to commit mistakes. They do not live with the company for the long run and if they live and stay even after they do not give their full efforts and hundred percent to the company. They become frustrated and lose their position many of the time. It also decrease working environment. For removing all these types of problems, company makes an effective use of community of practice. Building better practices:When a community of practice starts to meet with members, then employees and staff members start to tell their stories and share their views. It makes them able to trust them and also make them feel comfortable at workplace. By sharing views and becoming more confirmable, they share common issues and try to resolve them. It is beneficial for both the company and employees. But it can only be happened when community is interested and empowered to make changes (Azan, Bootz and Rolland, 2017). So, from the above discussed benefits, it can be said that community of practice plays an important role in managing knowledge at workplace. Ethical and professional issues raised by knowledge management It is stated that knowledge management give several benefits to the company but along with benefits and opportunities there are some issues that can occur at the time of developing knowledge management programs. It can be said that business environment that includes internal and external factors are not predictable as there are several external factors whose control in not in the hand of people (Huda and et.al., 2017). So, all those factors like environmental changes, changes in laws, taxation policies etc can create several problems in the policy of knowledge management. It can also be said that the success and failure of the business is mainly dependent on its capabilities of adjustments and flexibility to adapt changes according to the environmental changes. Advanced technology and changes in information technology has almost changed the wayofdoingbusiness.Someethicalandprofessionalissuesrelatedtotheknowledge management are being discussed as below: Privacy:Maintaining organizational and personal information’s of employees safe and secure is an important task while transferring and managing knowledge.For that it is important for the company and ASDA to maintain a safeguard and some tools that can protect and keep all 13
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information’s safe. If the company does not implement such tools then there is a chance to get leaked of important information’s of the company like its strategies, future plan. By getting this information’s, competitors can take undue advantages and company may suffer because of this (Naim and Lenkla, 2016.). Accuracy: It is also important for the company and ASDA to check accuracy and authentication of information’s. If they do not check all information’s then it can create some errors which can hamper the quality of process and products. If there is any error then it must to be checked. So, it can be said that accuracy is an issue which can decrease the quality of data. For maintaining accuracy, company needs to identify reasons and the process by which errors has occurred along with appropriate ways of minimizing them. Property:This term resembles the assets of an organization.It is important for the information owner to reveal the fair and affordable prices of property in the exchange of data. While making fair prices of property, employer and employees have to answers of a lot of answers regarding ethical behavior of property issue. Accessibility:It is mainly concern about the knowledge employees and managers. This type cod issue includes access privileges (Zhang and et.al., 2017). It is important for the company to see that who is going to access and which type of access is being allowed. From the above discussed issues it can be suggested to the company that it needs to implement some tools and resources which can help it out in taking competitive advantages and increased sales. For getting all advantages of knowledge management, it is also important to employ diverse and skilled workforce who can share their knowledge and skills with other and make working environment innovative. 14
CONCLUSION From the above study it has been summarized that organizational culture played a vital role in managing knowledge in an efficient manner, Different types of cultures like hierarchical, clan and others have different purposes and orientation which made an organization able to accomplish their goals and managing skills and information’s of the company at all different levels. It has also shown the main concept and framework of knowledge management along with different types. Mainly 2 types of knowledge and their interrelationship made the company and employees more able to collaborate and show their skills and knowledge. This interrelationship oftacitandexplicitknowledgemadesocialization,Externalization,Combinationand Internalization. Knowledge management has several advantages for the society and organization as it has made able to employees to commit fewer mistakes and develop qualitative products for customerssatisfaction.Further,thisreportof knowledge managementhasalsodiscussed community of practice or a group of people that have more passion to complete and perform something new. It is beneficial for social nature and human learning; lastly, it has shown some ethical as well as professional issues like freedom of information’s, privacy of sensitive data that occur at the time if developing knowledge management programs. 15
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