Knowledge Management and the Learning Organization
Information Management, Knowledge Management, and Organizations – a Case Study
TUI UNIVERSITY
Michael P. Magee
ITM501
Information Technology Management
Paul R. Watkins, PhD
Dean of the Colleges of Business Administration and Information Systems
Touro University International (TUI).
21 July 2008
Submitted: 14 SEP 2008
The relationship between organizational learning and organizational knowledge and the affect knowledge management has on both is at once undeveloped and immature-in its basis and orientation to organizations-as it is in another instance burgeoning and unknown. Carl Sagan the great physicist and astronomer was accustomed to saying about the universe as comprising “Billions and billions, and billions of stars”; well as much may be said of the field of knowledge management with respect to its breadth and depth. Studies and the assembled base of research captured in and by the sampling of articles this paper will use to support this discussion of these three daunting, yet weighty entry points give the assembled body of academe and student reason for pause as well as concern. Pause because just as the era of Sagan’s Astronomy exposed the viewing public of the vastness of the universe so too is today’s corporate executive, government leader, and IT/IS/IM subject matter expert (SME) in awe of the rapid pace of change-and unknown horizons-of the future of knowledge and learning, and, the complex management required by both: knowledge and learning. Equally interesting (as well as daunting and disturbing) is the obvious concern-and confusion-from the reviewed authors and experts as to what is really known and understood about organizational learning, knowledge, and the management of either or both. What one common thread-or issue-that all seem to be in agreement of is this: that those who get it (“it” being knowledge management) will not only be pioneers and mavericks in their field/industry/global market, but they will set the benchmark
TUI UNIVERSITY
Michael P. Magee
ITM501
Information Technology Management
Paul R. Watkins, PhD
Dean of the Colleges of Business Administration and Information Systems
Touro University International (TUI).
21 July 2008
Submitted: 14 SEP 2008
The relationship between organizational learning and organizational knowledge and the affect knowledge management has on both is at once undeveloped and immature-in its basis and orientation to organizations-as it is in another instance burgeoning and unknown. Carl Sagan the great physicist and astronomer was accustomed to saying about the universe as comprising “Billions and billions, and billions of stars”; well as much may be said of the field of knowledge management with respect to its breadth and depth. Studies and the assembled base of research captured in and by the sampling of articles this paper will use to support this discussion of these three daunting, yet weighty entry points give the assembled body of academe and student reason for pause as well as concern. Pause because just as the era of Sagan’s Astronomy exposed the viewing public of the vastness of the universe so too is today’s corporate executive, government leader, and IT/IS/IM subject matter expert (SME) in awe of the rapid pace of change-and unknown horizons-of the future of knowledge and learning, and, the complex management required by both: knowledge and learning. Equally interesting (as well as daunting and disturbing) is the obvious concern-and confusion-from the reviewed authors and experts as to what is really known and understood about organizational learning, knowledge, and the management of either or both. What one common thread-or issue-that all seem to be in agreement of is this: that those who get it (“it” being knowledge management) will not only be pioneers and mavericks in their field/industry/global market, but they will set the benchmark
Cited: KM Forum Archives, “The Early Days: What is Knowledge Management”, Brian (Bo) Newman Founder, Executive Director, http://www.km-forum.org/what_is.htm, August 18, 2007 Levinson, M. “ABC: An Introduction to Knowledge Management (KM): The basic guide to Knowledge Management (KM)”, http://www.cio.com/article/40343/ABC_An_Introduction_to_Knowledge_Management_KM, August 18, 2007 Lewis, J.J Wilson, T.D. “The nonsense of 'knowledge management '”, http://informationr.net/ir/8-1/paper144.html, August 18, 2007