DIMENSIONS OF THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY
MAJOR ASSIGNMENT – Trimester 1 2017 - Due Weeks 8, 9 and 11
MAJOR GROUP ASSIGNMENT – Weight (10%)
Your first task is to form groups of three and elect a team leader. You will need to inform your lecturer in class of your group details in Week 4.
Once groups are formed, ensure you all exchange contact information. This mean both email addresses and phone numbers. Excuses that you do not know how to contact your group members will not be accepted as reasons for not being able to progress this assignment.
Required
You are required to select an organisation and prepare a report, together with recommendations based on the following scenario.
1. You have been hired by your company to consult on its knowledge management practices.
2. Critically discuss the current knowledge management processes of your chosen organisation, considering both the relative strengths and weaknesses.
If there is no systematic process, identify elements that resemble appropriate KM concepts and provide appropriate comment
3. Assume that your organisation has decided to make knowledge management a strategic issue; that is, the organisation aims to make knowledge management a long term competitive advantage for itself.
4. Provide appropriate relevant recommendations based on your findings.
In your report, you should include discussion on the following:-
a. The use of knowledge in society – to what degree is the organisation able to leverage of this for competitive advantage (this may be at the industry or sector level and/or a National level)
b. Dissemination of knowledge and relative ‘shelf life’ (this will vary from industry to industry). Discuss how the organisation should mitigate against ‘obsoledge’. You should also consider the distinction between tacit and explicit knowledge.
c. What is the risk of change? Discuss labour market segmentation including various labour markets which may be exploited for competitive advantage. What are the long term consequences of an increasingly knowledge based society?
d. Human and social capital within the organisation. You may also discuss CSR concepts and the benefits to society as a whole. The relevance of this will depend on the organisation and context.
e. Consider aspects of macro policy development in economics and employment and how the organisation can ensure it is has capability to adapt.
5. Alternatively, you may choose to research a topic or area of interest to you. You must discuss you proposal with your lecturer and seek approval first.
6. Your report should be based on the following principles
a. Base your judgements on specific findings discussed in various readings and lectures, supported by your own research.
b. Your recommendation for change must be supported by further readings relevant to the company or industry.
c. You are required to appropriately reference your paper using the Harvard style of referencing.
Prepare a 1,500 word report (for groups of 3) outlining your findings and appropriate recommendations based on the evidence you provide and the conclusions you draw.
• Ensure your report is appropriately reference using the Harvard style of referencing and uploaded on the Turnitin link provided in the Week 11 area.
You will be assessed in Weeks 5, 9 and 11.
Week 5 (Individual) – Evidence of research and information gathering, including having accessed the e-resources site. Each individual team member must demonstrate their own research. You will be given time in Week 4 tutorial to progress this. There are no other tutorial submissions for that week. Penalty for not conducting initial research – 10% of the available mark.
Week 9 (Group) - Detailed information and progress to be demonstrated. You will need to provide an outline of progress including the individual contribution of team members. All team members must acknowledge this to be true.
Please note that individuals who do not contribute to the team’s efforts will be penalised. You will be presenting your preliminary findings in class. You should aim to present in around 10 minutes (all team members to participate) This part the assessment is worth 5%.
Week 11 (Group) (Submission of the final report – 15%). Ensure your final report is appropriately reference using the Harvard standard of referencing and uploaded on the Turnitin link provided in the Assessment area. Clearly indicate the group members of the team. Each team member must submit the same report.
• The final report is due at 18:00 of Week 11 on the day after your scheduled lecture (upload on moodle - turnitin). Team leader only to submit, including details of all team members.
The turnitin link will be provided to help you ensure you avoid plagiarism issues. You should use this to check your work and upload your work as many times as you wish up to the due date after which your submission will be locked in.
*Standard Formatting
2.5cm margins, left, right, top and bottom
12pt Arial font
1.5 line spacing
YOU MUST INCLUDE A COVERSHEET WITH YOUR SUBMISSION.
ASSIGNMENTS NOT SUBMITTED WITH A COVERSHEET WILL BE DEEMED INCOMPLETE AND PENALTIES FOR LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL APPLY.
ONLY TEAM LEADER TO SUBMIT ASSIGNMENT ENSURING THAT DETAILS
OF ALL TEAM MEMEBERS ARE INCLUDED ON THE COVER SHEET ASSIGNMENTS WHICH ARE SUBMITTED LATE WILL BE SUBJECT TO A LATE PENALTY OF 10% OF THE AVAILABLE MARK FOR EACH DAY THE ASSIGNMENT IS LATE UNLESS PRIOR APPROVAL IS OBTAINED.
ASSIGNMENTS MORE THAN ONE WEEK LATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL.