KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENTS CRN 22148, SPRING 2011 Contribution: Each assignment is 50% of the module grade Hand in Date: Ass 1: Wed 13th April 2011. Ass 2: Mon 9th May 2011. Word Limit: 2,500 words including references for each. Each assignment takes the same form: Write a critical and thoughtful report, on three views of a topic relevant to knowledge management. Choosing Topics for the Two Assignments Each assignment is to be on a different topic. The topics might be selected from: » Different approaches to knowledge management overall » Knowledge organisations » Tacit knowledge » Knowledge held by individuals » Knowledge held by organisations » Knowledge sharing » Communities of Practice » Knowledge elicitation » Knowledge held in archives, documents, websites, etc. » Knowledge representation » Data mining » Data warehousing » Knowledge visualization » Any other topic that is relevant to KM, different from the above, and which you convince me is suitable. Note that some of the above topics overlap (for example knowledge in organisations, knowledge sharing, communities of practice, for example tacit knowledge overlaps with tacit knowledge in individuals, and tacit knowledge in organisations). Material used in one assignment must not be used in the other so I advise you to choose two topics that do not overlap. However, if you choose two topics that overlap or otherwise have something in common, then you must not duplicate content from one to the other. Instead, you can reference what is said in the other assignment, but you must not duplicate the text. The other assignment may be referenced as though it were a paper by any author (Cite by your own surname and date of assignment, and place reference to your other assignment in the reference list). For example, if you choose Assignment 1 = Tacit Knowledge and Assignment 2 = Knowledge in the Individual, then in Assignment 2 you can discuss anything except tacit knowledge, but if you need to refer to some things about tacit knowledge, then make reference to what you say in assignment 1. What To Do With Your Topic Being a Master of a field involves being able to read and understand what others say about the field and critically evaluate it, and assimilate what they say. This assignment tests your ability to do this. To undertake each assignment, you must find, read and critically discuss three different views on its chosen topic. So you should: » Select three authors that hold different views on the topic, read and understand them. (Hint: Find three different authors or joint- authors that write on the topic. If you find you cannot understand one, then choose another in its place to make up the three.) » Discussion of Views. For each of the three authors you selected, write a 500-word summary and critical discussion of what the author says about the topic. Each summary should be a separate section, headed by the what the view is called. Give the complete reference for the document you are summarising. In each section, I suggest you explain and discuss what the author(s) of the view believes about: - what the topic is, - how the topic works, - what makes for success or failure in the topic, - how the topic fits into wider concerns of knowledge management. - Your critical evaluation of these. (Hint: You might find some of Dooyeweerd's aspects useful to refer to in your critical evaluation.) Approximately 20 marks for each 500- word critical summary. » Bringing Views Together (about 500 words). Write a discussion section, in which you discuss: » what you found valuable (useful or interesting) as a result of the exercise of understanding the three views about the topic, » *why* you found these things valuable, useful or interesting, » what, if anything, you found NOT valuable, and *why not* » how you intend to apply what you learned from the exercise of understanding the three views. Approximately 20 marks for Discussion. » Conclusion. Write anything else you wish to say. Approx. 10 marks. » Add a short Introduction at the start (around 100 words) that explains BRIEFLY why the topic of Communities of Practice is important, telling the reader who the three authors you study are and explaining why you have chosen these three. Approximately 5 marks. » Add a References section listing all references. Approx 3 marks. » Print double-sided. 2 marks. Expect to spend ten hours on each of the summary sections (reading and writing and rewriting), and a further ten hours on the rest of the assignment (thinking, writing, rewriting and tidying up). Assessment Criteria Approximate marks given to each section have been mentioned above, but those might be departed from if necessary. Assessment of your work will be guided by the following criteria, but in addition, extra marks will be given for PRINTING DOUBLE-SIDED. » For each of the three critical summaries: approximately 20 marks each. Marks will be given for depth and quality understanding, quality of explanation of what you have understood, the degree to which you show critical evaluation. » For the discussion section: approximately 20 marks. Marks will be given for quality of discussion of what has been learned, for good discussion of what is valuable or not valuable, and for imagination in thinking about how to apply what you have learned. » For introduction, conclusion, references: approximately 18 marks. » For printing double-sided: 2 marks. Andrew Basden, 25 February 2011.