MNGT3002: Knowledge Management S1, 2020 - Assessment 2 – Strategic Knowledge Management
Purpose and Description The purpose of this assignment is for you to
analyse and assess the KM situation in one
core/predominant* area of knowledge
management for an organisation. In doing so
you will provide a response informed by
research to an individual organisations existing
KM situation.
Assessment Length 4000 words
Assessment Weighting 40%
Assessment Criteria Overarching criteria (full marking rubric
supplied on BB)
Organisational analysis (current)
KM systems/response analysis
(positives/negatives)
Mastery of KM terminology/processes
Presentation/Referencing
Referencing – MUST BE USED Only APA or Harvard referencing will be
accepted for this assignment
Getting started
1. Select an area of specialisation from the following:
IT systems for KM
Social systems for KM
Knowledge Storage – IT and Social
Knowledge Transfer – IT and Social
Organisation – Strategy and HR
2. Read the relevant provided literature so you have a starting/reference point. You will not
understand the assignment if you don’t have a bit of a handle on the topic, so you must read
first in order to understand the assignment.
Ask yourself: Have you read enough literature from the list provided before trying to start?
3. Select an organisation from the list below. All of these organisations have ample publicly
available data and information on their operations as well as being widely known, where
practical LOGICAL assumptions can be made if information is hard to come by. Other
organisations may be used but must be discussed and approved by Ros.
Organisations
Intercontinental hotels group (Hospitality)
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) (Banking)
Australian Government - Taxation Department (Public)
Origin Energy (Utilities)
Woolworths Group (Consumer Discretionary)
Overview
You are a consultant engaged to analyse and assess the organisations current KM capacity. You may
project the future KM needs, and offer recommendations if you wish to round your analysis off.
Fortunately, you went to University before becoming a consultant so you understand the advantage
of conducting deep academic research and using academic convention to write your report including
referencing within your document. You must thoroughly research your chosen area and then use
your considerable knowledge to analyse your organisations current KM situation. After ‘drilling
down’ you may focus your strategy on one KEY area of operations (i.e. a strategy/HR focus may drill
down to predominately recruitment) but remember, you still need a comprehensive assessment and
evaluation of the larger area.
As your focus is strategic, an existing KM system in your organisation will create no disadvantage to
your project. You should include it in your analysis and assessment.
*Please note that specialisation in one area does not mean that you should ignore all other areas.
Excellent reports will recognise how their area, recommendations and options fit within the bigger
KM picture. For example, you may be focussing on ICT systems but recognition of the right skill mixes
through HR, culture needs/development, reward systems etc must also be considered. Similarly,
social or HR systems are supported/impacted by IT and should be identified.
CAUTION: Please do not report that the organisation should contract someone to analyse their
current strengths and weaknesses - this is your job – they have contacted you - you will not get paid
(nor will you get good grades) if your predominate advice is to tell them to do it themselves.
To do well you should demonstrate
ability to analyse an organisations KM requirements (according to your area of choice)
considering elements of core knowledge, operational knowledge and strategic knowledge.
a willingness to consider and break down the pros and cons of each element of your analysis
according to the particular characteristics of the organisations needs.
good to superior understanding of KM practices and principles through correct use of key
terminology and correct application.
You may use a model from your text book to help structure and inform your analysis.
Use the following structure for your report
Executive summary – Sets the framework and the direction to be taken. The purpose is to
focus the reader to the topic considering the reports scope, purpose methods findings and
conclusions (Dwyer 2005). It should be no longer than 10% of your report and does not
contribute to your word count.
Introduction
Organisation background
Current situation – description and analysis/evaluation
Key concepts/theories - This section is your opportunity to demonstrate thoroughness of
skills in researching and articulating KM concepts/theories in your chosen space that will
lead to you drawing appropriate conclusions.
Discussion
Reference List (does not contribute to word count)
Appendices (if needed) (does not contribute to word count)
NB Students who recommend that the organisation goes to a consultant/undertake their own
analysis according to their needs will get ZERO for the relevant section/s.