Reading List

Description:

The nature, acquisition and use of knowledge. The strategic role of knowledge in organizations and institutions. The information and knowledge ecology. The structure and functions of knowledge management systems and the role of intranets and the Internet. Knowledge as intellectual capital. The roles of librarians and information professionals in the knowledge economy. Strategic issues and future trends.

Goals:

Upon satisfactory completion of this course, the student will:

1. Understand the fundamental concepts in the study of knowledge and its creation, acquisition, use and management.
2. Appreciate the role and use of knowledge in organizations and institutions.
3. Understand the components and functions of knowledge management systems and internetworking.
4. Be prepared for further study in knowledge generation and transfer and in the architecture and representation of knowledge.
5. Understand the role of librarians and information professionals in the knowledge process and their interactions with other professionals also involved in knowledge management.

Syllabus:

1. The data, information, knowledge, wisdom pyramid.
   • What are they; how do they relate to one another?
   • A historical perspective.
     • the multi disciplinary view of knowledge.
   • A sociology of knowledge.
2. The transition from industrial to information societies.
   • the knowledge worker
3. What is knowledge management?
   • fad or reality
4. The distinction between the process and the product
   • who is involved?
   • user types
   • individuals and organizations
5. Sense making and decision making.

Part II. The Strategic Role of Information and Knowledge.

1. The promise and challenge of knowledge markets.
2. Organization types:
   1. The learning organization
      • adaptive systems
      • single and double-loop learning
   2. The knowing organization
3. The knowledge process
   1. Knowledge generation
   2. Knowledge codification and coordination
   3. Knowledge transfer.

Part III. Information and Knowledge Ecology.

1. Policy, strategy and politics.
2. The knowledge life cycle.
3. Information and knowledge management processes.
   • Internally generated versus externally generated information
   • Identifying what information and knowledge is currently available
   • the audit
   • Knowledge capture
4. Introducing knowledge management concepts into the organization.

Part IV. Knowledge Management Systems.

1. Overview of knowledge management systems
   • Purpose and architectural structure
2. Use of the Internet and intranets
3. Information architecture
   • Knowledge representation and labeling systems
   • Organizing information and knowledge in Web sites
   • Designing the search interface
   • Architectural blueprints.
4. Groupware
   • Lotus Notes
5. Data warehouses
   • Data mining
   • On-line analytical processing (9OLAP)
   • Data visualization.
6. Case Based Reasoning
7. Strategies for implementation
   • Case studies of selected organizational approaches.

Part V. Intellectual Capital.

1. Concepts and assessment
2. How to leverage knowledge
3. Evaluating and protecting knowledge assets.

Part VI. Strategic Issues and Future Trends.

1. Roles of professional staff and chief knowledge officers.
2. Technology impact.