Business Knowledge Management: Comparative Analysis of HP and ADB

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of knowledge management (KM) strategies, focusing on case studies of Hewlett Packard (HP) and the African Development Bank (ADB). Task 1 delves into HP's KM practices, exploring the various KM tools employed, the differences between knowledge management and information systems, business focus areas, and the importance of identifying areas for improvement. It also examines the elements of KM, barriers to knowledge capture, KM tools, guidelines for structuring KM efforts, and organizational resources. Analysis techniques for KM strategy implementation are also discussed. Task 2 analyzes the ADB's KM practices, including its existing arrangements for capturing business knowledge through internal and external sources, existing KM systems and processes, and their effectiveness. The report evaluates the barriers faced by the organization, KM techniques and tools used, and concludes with an analysis of ineffective KM systems. Overall, the report provides a detailed comparative study of KM approaches, offering valuable insights into effective KM strategies and challenges.

4 Assessments
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Table of Contents
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................7
ANALYSIS......................................................................................................................................7
EVALUATION...............................................................................................................................8
DEVELOPMENT..........................................................................................................................10
4. External and internal sources of information.........................................................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20
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TASK 1
1. Different KM used at Hewlett Packard
There are various KM used which are as follows :-
IT application for co ordinating activities- in Hewlett Packard there is a market research
database that is available for staff. In that all reports are stored. Besides that, an external database
is used to help in lobbying (Abubakar, Elrehail and Elçi, 2019 ). For managing research and
portfolio, there is one more database.
Organisation tools for activities- the company is having an active rotation programme. Also, it
is having a virtual laboratory where employees co ordinate via remotely way.
IT application for problem solving – For this Hewlett Packard is having a competence
database. Apart from it, there ae several communication application as well like intranet and
video conferencing.
Organisation tools for problem solving – the company is having a process to share info in their
laboratories. Moreover, staff can share info through informal network as well.
2. Difference between knowledge management and information system
Knowledge management Information system
It is used for storing knowledge in structured
way.
In this the data and information is stored in
structured and unstructured way.
It focuses on knowledge, understanding It focusses only on data and info.
It emphasis on understanding environment,
culture, processes, etc. in which knowledge is
shared and communicated.
It emphasis on organising, retrieving, etc. data
and info
Usually, it is about know-how, know-why and
many more
The IS is about what- how facts and figures.
The KM is difficult to copy due to its complex
and tactical components.
The system can be easily copied as it is
transferable in nature
The process and people can be improved with
help of technology (Al Ahbabi, Singh and
Gaur, 2019)
It is useful in improving technology.
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3. What are business focus area of KM
There are 4 focus area of KM that is :
Operational excellence – it emphasis on improving business internal process through
knowledge. Generally, process is modified or innovated.
Customer knowledge – here, it focuses on identifying customer needs in effective way and
fulfilling it. Moreover, it includes gaining knowledge about market, customer and product.
Innovation- in this new products are developed with help of knowledge. Besides that,
production time is reduced in new product development.
Growth and change – it refer to expanding in new markets with improved process and products.
4. Why it is important to identify need for improvement in organisation
It is important for business to compete in market and sustain for long term. this is
possible when process is changed and business efficiency is improved. Besides that, with change
in external environment it becomes difficult for them to operate. Sometime, because of pressure
of market and workplace culture it is necessary to make improvement. So, for this KM tool is
one of effective way to bring changes (Gunjal, 2019). Along with it, to solve several issues
related to organisation it is important to identify needs.
5. Three elements of KM
Basically, a KM works on knowledge and understanding. Its elements are as follows :-
Improving informal flow of knowledge between individual- in this element the knowledge is
shared between individual. This is done by improving or motivating employees to share
knowledge with one another. The management interact with staff and allow them to share skills,
experience, etc.
Building system for sharing knowledge within business- here, systems and processes are built
through which knowledge is shared. The organisation defines way that help in sharing ideas and
knowledge. Besides that, IT systems are installed to communicate and for storing knowledge.
Tapping into new knowledge from external sources – this is third element where business
search for new knowledge that exist outside firm. It is collected from sources like investors,
customers, competitors, etc. (Nisar, Prabhakar and Strakova, 2019)
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6. Barriers in capturing info and failure of knowledge
There are usually three barriers in it which is describe as :-
Individual barriers
Lack of time for sharing knowledge
Lack of awareness about different tools to share knowledge
Difference in hierarchy, education and experience level.
Lack of social network
Lack of trust among others
Poor communication skills
Organisational barriers
Ineffective leadership and management to direct employees
Lack of resources to implement KM strategies
Large size of organisation structure (Liebowitz, 2019)
Ineffective flow of communication practices
The corporate culture may not be effective enough to share knowledge
Lack of rewards and incentives for experienced staff.
Technology barriers
Ineffective IT infrastructure or resources to maintain IT systems
Lack of training given to employees on how to use IT systems
Disparity between individual requirement and integrated IT systems
Resistance to use IT system
7. What are the different options of KM tools
For a business it is difficult to manage and reuse knowledge. So, the option of KM is core
competency. It refers firm expertise that enable in sustaining and gaining competitive advantage.
With help of core competency, knowledge can be easily managed. However, IT is also an option
of KM. through use of IT systems innovation can be done and knowledge is shared.
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8. Guidelines to structure KM efforts
It is essential to built a KM culture so that knowledge is shared easily. For that there are
certain guidelines which needs to be considered.
Step 1- recognise KM is a strategic practice (Gunjal, 2019)
Step 2- to follow the lifecycle approach for implementing it
Step 3 – analyse that challenges are to be overcome
Step 4- focusing on strategy and process rather than KM tool
Step 5- to capture knowledge through product of work.
Step 6- to build in such a way that people work.
9. Various organizational resources
Organizational resources are those assets that are available to use in production process.
Some of the most basic types of organizational resources available are as follows:
 Human resources: All the employees who works for an organization are one of the main
resources that an organization has (Abubakar and et al, 2019).
 Capital resources: All kinds of machinery that are used for production or products or
knowledge are another important resource required by an organization.
 Monetary resources: Money invested by management in buying goods and resources for the
company.
 Raw materials: Materials that are used for producing products. These are also known as
tangible resources.
 Information resources: It includes all kinds of useful data and information that are required
by an organization for effective decision making, enhancing knowledge and that works as
key competence for all the employees of an organization.
10. Analysis techniques that can be used for effective implementation and development of KM
strategy
 Facilitated discussion: It is a kind of need analysis technique that can be used to explore all
kinds of issues related to staff groups. This technique is mostly used with consultants,
management and other staff members who are comfortable with such kinds of meetings
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(Cepeda- Carrion, Cegarra- Navarro and Cillo, 2019). In many cases this technique is used
for development and implementation of KM strategy.
 Focus groups: this kind of need analysis technique is mostly used to facilitate discussion that
focuses on exploring topic within a group setting. It is a kind of technique which is used as a
way of input gathering from all stakeholders, I order to generate meaningful discussion. With
the help of technique problems and issues can be explored for discussion of knowledge
management approaches, so that effective development and implementation of knowledge
management strategy can be done.
TASK 2
INTRODUCTION
A). Summarised the overview of events.
The African development bank is based on the financial multilateral development
institution. It was formed in 1964 and also operates various entities: Nigeria trust fund, African
development bank and development fund (Sarpong, 2019). The primary objective is to
identifying knowledge management system that can be used in African bank for maintaining and
collecting information in proper manner. In this report, it has summarised about knowledge
management strategy that implement within African development bank.
B) Description of different methods where report will follow.
The report is based on the African development bank case study that provide brief idea
about the business goals and objectives. Initially, section one- I will identify the different
arrangement if capturing while using enterprise knowledge through external as well as internal
resources (Kararach and et.al., 2018). In section two, I will understand the existing knowledge
management system that mainly used within organization for maintaining enterprise procedures
or policies. Afterwards, In Section three, I will perform the significant role of knowledge system
for identifying customer demands and primary goal of organization.
ANALYSIS
A). Discuss about the existing arrangement of captured business knowledge through external and
internal sources.
In context of Internal source, African development bank is mainly engaged with
gathering all experience and must have generated from past 50 years. It always helps for
maintaining paper-based strategy that belongs to past. So as analysed the African development
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bank which make sure that several of channel who always contained unique data or information.
The African bank is coordinated and engaged with the key research for increasing gap of
knowledge. In this way, it is an essential for organization in decision making (Vendrell-Herrero,
Darko and Ghauri, 2019).
In context of external source, African development bank is mainly including various type
of publication event or program. They have directly published the report of bank and share
information related development. The bank was funded by African virtual universities that
providing e-learning facilities.
B). Existing knowledge management system and processes.
In African development bank, the existing knowledge management system is mainly
providing the facilities of exchanging knowledge in terms of innovative and creative ways. In
this way, it become easier to transformation of particular Africa within global nation. Knowledge
management system is considered as important pillar that easily identify requirement of
development and also improving overall business service quality.
C) Effectiveness of existing system and processes.
The effectiveness of existing procedures of knowledge management system has improved
overall quality of services in order to focus on the organizational goals, objective, aim, standards
and needs of client. KMS is useful for enhancing the enterprise operational procedure and make
sure that knowledge culture within bank has increased or maintained (Lwoga, Ngulube and
Stilwell, 2020). The effectiveness of African bank will be achieved by reducing level of poverty
and increase employment rate in Africa.
D) Describe about the reason of ineffective knowledge management system.
Main reason of ineffective knowledge management system within African development
back due to lack of engagement, poor internal or external network connectivity. In this way, it
can be analysed that there is not good culture environment where they were unable to invest for
knowledge building.
EVALUATION
A) Identifying possible barriers faced by organization as per capture knowledge.
The African development bank has faced many challenges and barriers because African
citizen who are not aware about the knowledge culture and management system. Most of
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employee do not have a proper knowledge about environment so that they are not properly
associated with web-based knowledge system (Kararach and et.al., 2018). in this way, it has
increased coordination and communication between employee or client. It directly affects on the
overall business process of African development bank.
B) Discuss about knowledge management techniques and tool within organization.
There are different type of knowledge management techniques and tools used by African
development bank. It mainly including telephones, e-mail, chat box and other type of unified
communication. These are common tool which help for capturing knowledge and sharing
information from one employee to another. Apart from that it also used the Database analytical
tool that stored a large number of details about client where bank easily enhanced quality of
services.
C) Evaluation of listed option
An effective communication is important for African development bank that help for
exchanging information from one place to another. in this way, it can easily maintain knowledge
of African bank. In most of cases, the bank must use both external as well as internal
communication through social media while engaging policy and procedures. It will support for
increasing collaboration and communication with bank partners (Puplampu, Hanson and Shaw,
2017). E-mail is the most common option for purpose of communication. It is usefulness of
African bank to maintain coordination with clients. Sometimes, it become fail due lack of
knowledge about knowledge management tool.
D) Develop a plan and justified that validity of options.
From above selecting the knowledge management tool such as E-mail for
communication, which will support for African bank to establish coordination with other
members. they are developing an effective policies and procedures after discussion with
employees. It will help for generating positive result or outcome. Knowledge management can
be managed and improved effectively with the help of digital platform. It become necessary part
for African development bank is to improve communication among staff members.
It has been justified that this type of communication option like e-mail develop a high
strong knowledge culture within organization. The viability of communication tool is to increase
performance and efficiency.
E) Determine the extrinsic and intrinsic awards.
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The intrinsic and extrinsic rewards are based source for acquiring knowledge and
improve individual performance. It may include incentive so that large number of people
participants in team and always motivated towards knowledge sharing. In order to achieve the
organizational goals and objectives. Sometimes, knowledge can relate to policy making which
provide better direction of African development bank (Lwoga, Ngulube and Stilwell, 2020).
The Intrinsic reward is based on the intangible nature where it satisfied the feeling of
employee and being appreciated. In this way, employee share their innovative idea for business
development. on the other hand, the extrinsic rewards related to the incentive where it can be
tangible nature. It provides medal, trophy to the entire team within African development bank.
F) Discuss knowledge management process used within organization.
The process of knowledge management is a type of step that useful for identifying the
overall need and requirement of African development bank. Through process, it examined
different steps for maintaining and managing requirement of bank (Kararach and et.al., 2018).
 Gathering: It is initial step for mainly storing large number of data or information related
to knowledge management. African development must be collected data in document
format.
 Conducting: it is collecting information by African development bank that need to be
maintained in proper manner. For Example- It will make policies related knowledge
management.
 Summarising: It has been summarised data that should be collected through knowledge
management system. it also represents in the form of graph.
 Analysing: Information can be collected by African development bank and also analysed
in proper manner.
 Decision-Making: By using knowledge management, it can be taken important decision
related business development for long term.
DEVELOPMENT
A) Approach uses in the knowledge management strategy.
As per developed knowledge management strategy, it must be used consultation approach
by African bank for managing knowledge. In this way, it being successfully managed by
strategies and also emphasizes that proper knowledge sharing environment or culture. By using
consultation approach, African development bank can be analysed that employee members share
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their knowledge and personal experience (Martins and et.al., 2019). This type of approach is
mainly concerned about the employee improvement so as provide the better training to enhance
their skill and knowledge. Afterwards, they must support for African development bank in terms
of goals achievement.
B) Explain effective knowledge management strategies.
There are common effective knowledge management strategies implement within African
development bank.
 Periodic review process: This type of strategy is useful for managing and controlling
knowledge within African development bank where they are conducting meeting for
engaging within staff members. Each member has shared their own opinion regarding
business improvement, strategic planning and so on. In this review process, it can be
identified the issues or problem occurs during knowledge management (Fombad and
Onyancha, 2017). In this way, it become easier to review about the effectiveness of
knowledge management tool that being used in African development bank. It must ensure
that easily achieve significant result or outcome.
 Knowledge management Matrix: This type of matrix always assists for African
development bank for analysing knowledge management strategy. it can be used by
African bank to share knowledge with employees (Kararach and et.al., 2018). By using
Matrix, it will take feedback from staff members, individuals to address current running
business activities. It is helping for African bank to make better knowledge culture.
 Procedures to maintain continuous improvement: In order to maintain continuous
improvement that will require for managing business activities and also identified that
knowledge culture should be utilised for long term growth. In most of cases, it can be
improved capabilities of African bank because it assists for enhancing ultimate objective
and goals. At final stage. An effective strategy will support to determine opportunities
where how it will generate accurate result or outcome.
C) Justified the successful implementation of planned knowledge management strategy.
It has been justified that successful implementation of planned knowledge strategy
supports for African development Bank in terms of growth and development.
Aligned with Business requirements, implement overall enterprises plan and strategy
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It is one of most common approach in term of knowledge management strategy that will
make long terms objectives. Afterwards, it also evaluating the business plan for reducing level of
poverty in Africa. In this way, African development bank has been achieved the mission, vision
and goal of business in global marketplace. In this way, it always changing procedures and
policies to maintain continuous improvement activities.
Consider Budget cycle
African Development bank should be included the Continuous improvement strategy to
maintain overall budget of business development. It always tries to set up short term goals for
preparing documentation. In case, if it required to access data or information in proper manner.
On the other hand, African bank has developed the strong bond with external centres and
partners. It will support for increasing business operational efficiency and performance.
Consider Technological Needs along with budget require
African development bank is trying to formulate budget by using information technology
that support to collect details about resources, equipment’s. In order to maintain the overall
operational capabilities of Bank (Kararach and et.al., 2018). In some situation, African bank has
adopted the proper rules and regulation that will help for earning a lot of money by using
information technology. These are expenses included within overall budget of African
development bank. An efficient way to maintain budget that will increase profitability.
1. Explain various dimensions of knowledge management with diagram
Knowledge management have several dimensions that helps in implementing knowledge
management.
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