Knowledge Management Systems

This subject is not offered in 2014.

200 hours

Students who are enrolled in the two year 200 point Master of Information Systems must have completed 50 points of study to enrol in this subject.

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Aims

This subject focuses on how a range of information technologies and analysis techniques are used to support knowledge management initiatives. Technologies likely to be considered are: collaborative tools for computer-supported cooperative work; corporate knowledge directories; data warehouses and other repositories of organizational memory; business intelligence, including data-mining; process automation; workflow and document management. The emphasis is on high-level design and the rationale of these technology-based initiatives and their impact on organizational knowledge and its use. This subject supports course-level objectives by allowing students to develop analytical skills to understand the complexity of real-world work in organisations. It promotes innovative thinking around the deployment of existing and emerging information technologies. The subject contributes to the development of independent critical inquiry, analysis and reflection.

Indicative Content

Techniques of analysis and design likely to be learned are: Peter Checkland's Soft System Methodology; Business Process Modelling Notation; Scenarios for design. Real world cases examined are likely to be in the following domains: software industry; retail; creative/fashion industry; manufacturing; emergency management. Technologies likely to be considered are: collaborative tools for computer-supported cooperative work; corporate knowledge directories; data warehouses and other repositories of organizational memory; business intelligence, including data-mining; process automation; workflow and, document management.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

On completion of this subject the student is expected to:

1. Understand the theoretical concepts of knowledge management and apply them to real-world situations.
2. Be able to use qualitative techniques of analysis to identify requirements for knowledge-initiatives in response to a real-world work situation.
3. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of different technological approaches to knowledge management.
4. Be able to specify new high-level designs for knowledge management initiatives using process models and qualitative techniques.
5. Be able to analyse documented cases of knowledge management initiatives and identify their strengths and weaknesses.

• A 2000 word group analysis report (20%) supported by an oral presentation (10%), both due mid semester. Students submit as part of a group (4-5 in size) and submit the report individually. Addresses Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1 & 2.
• A 2000 word group design report (30%), supported by a second oral presentation (10%), both due towards the end of semester. Students submit as part of a group (4-5 in size) and submit the report individually. (Addressing ILOs 1, 3 & 4 )
• An individual report of about 1800 words involving the analysis of published research into knowledge management (30%) due towards the end of semester. (Addressing ILOs 1 & 5 )

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This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:

• Analytical and interpretative skills, through the conceptualization of classes of technology through the analysis of a real world case
• High-level design skills, through proposing new uses of technology to support knowledge work
• Team-work, through working on a group project

• Report-writing skills
• Presentation skills

Learning and Teaching Methods

The subject is delivered in 3 hour classes, with each class containing: a lecture on theoretical concepts; a lecture on an analysis or design technique; a tutorial group work activity; an interactive debrief on the outcomes of the group activity. Outside class students will study theory and cases through reading and continuing their group activities.

Indicative Key Learning Resources

A reader of key articles will be available at The University Bookshop. Materials from real-world cases are provided in class.

Careers/Industry Links

This subject is relevant to careers as IT analyst and consultant. As a body of knowledge and skills, Knowledge Management has been championed by many prominent organisations including, The World Bank, NASA, Australian Tax Office. Students will work on real-world cases of organisations attempting knowledge management initiatives. There will normally be one or two lectures from invited practitioners from industry.