Description
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE INSTRUCTIONS .
Read The NASA Knowledge Map on pages 302 - 304 of the textbook, Reynolds, G.W. (2016). Information technology for managers (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. After reading the case, write a 2-page single spaced analysis in essay style while answering the following questions:
- Discuss the statement that knowledge management is a business process, not a technology.
- Discuss the benefits and challenges of implementing knowledge management systems.
- What measures can be used to encourage employees to surrender their knowledge and experience to help build a knowledge management system?
- You have been tasked to justify the investment in a knowledge management system. What is the productivity paradox when it comes to investments in information technology? How will you justify the investment, keeping in mind the productivity paradox?
Please be sure to follow the APA style format in your writing, making sure that your answer is well supported using material from the book or any additional sources. Use at least five references in your paper and cite them properly. If material from any source (including the assigned case or book) is used, these references should be specified using the APA format. The font should be 12-point Times New Roman. The margins should be 1 inch all around. The line spacing should be single spaced with no spacing between paragraphs. Your work should be original as it would be checked for plagiarism.
Explanation & Answer
Here's the answer. Kindly let me know if any edits will be required.
Running Head: NASA Knowledge Map: Knowledge Management
NASA Knowledge Map Case Study Analysis
Name
Institution Affiliation
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Case Study Analysis
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Question One
Knowledge Management is a set of basic business procedures deployed in creation, storage,
transfer, and application of the particular knowledge in execution of the related successful
mission. It is facilitated by strict follow-ups to the set formalities to avoid catastrophic events
that were encountered in the past could have been experienced in the future if no interventions
were made. In other words, Knowledge management encompasses various approaches that are
considered business operations since they implemented purposely for the achievement of
business-related motives such as prevention or minimization of material and life losses that could
be encountered in various critical missions (Hislop, 2013). For instance, in this case, NASA
underwent a series of losses both materially and lived in the course of catastrophic launches of
space exploration missions without adequate preparedness which created weak points that
eventually led to deaths of astronauts and at the same compromised the heavy expenditures made
with the aim of realizing new business related opportunities. Therefore, knowledge management
is a powerful business tool that is very crucial in decision making in relations to key aspects such
as safety through enhancement of extensive researches to enhance the realization of the more
business oriented goals and objectives (Reynolds, 2016).
Hence, knowledge management cannot be considered as a technology, but a business process
due to the reasons stated above. However, technology is one of the major resourceful factors in
the field of knowledge management due to the following reasons (Becerra-Fernandez, 2015).
Firstly, technology is one the key sources of answers to various unexplainable situations that
could face any given organization. For instance, NASA majorly depends on technology to
acquire and determine the possible causes of failures in assigned missions as while as identify
the necessary measures to be undertaken to prevent the predicted adversity concerning the
catastrophic failures. Moreover, technology enhances the achievement of critical business
procedures such as creation, capturing, codification, and distribution of companies’ knowledge to
its relevant stakeholders to help realize an informed staff. Hence, such organizations can deploy
technology in minimization of procedural errors and enhancement of the standard operating
procedures developed to capture every aspect that can lead to unanticipated catastrophic failures.
Question Two
Knowledge Management (KM) has the following benefits. Firstly, it is a vital tool in the early
identification of problems. KM offers a centralized data resource that assists organizations to
acquire a guaranteed access to relevant information necessary for the implementation of various
organization procedures both in management and in the execution of production or service
delivery procedures. The centralized data resource attained under KM is essentially easy to
access, concise and systematic hence facilitates faster identification of the likely problem(s) that
could have led to catastrophic failures which could have led to the loss of property or even lives.
Hence, identification of such challenges early enough is crucial in ensuring that various projects
are successfully launched, and the intended objectives are met.
Secondly, KM enhances organizational data mining processes and encourages aspects of
knowledge engineeri...