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Monash University

FIT5086 Information and knowledge management principles - Semester 1, 2011

This unit aims to present a coherent view on the role of knowledge and knowledge management in organisations from a multidisciplinary perspective. Students gain an appreciation of the sources of unstructured and semi-structured knowledge and learn current techniques which permit this knowledge to be applied to perform organisational activities. The unit presents a comprehensive model of the knowledge management process from organisational and technological perspectives. Students will have an opportunity to explore current approaches to knowledge management in the context of a variety of case studies.

Mode of Delivery

  • Caulfield (Day)
  • Caulfield (Off-campus)

Contact Hours

2 hrs seminar/wk, 1 hr tutorial/wk

Workload

The workload commitments are 12 hours of study per week during the semester, comprising:

  • 3 hours lecture/seminar/tutorial or OCL equivalent
  • 5 hours of reading and individual study time
  • 4 hours of assignments

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

IMS5027

Prerequisites

FIT9006 or IMS9001 or completion of 24 points of graduate level study

Chief Examiner

Henry Linger

Campus Lecturer

Caulfield

Henry Linger

Contact hours: By appointment

Tutors

Caulfield

Michael Niemann

Contact hours: By appointment

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this unit students will have a knowledge and understanding of:

  • the terms knowledge and knowledge management as used in an organisational context;
  • a range of socio-technical approaches that support knowledge management;
  • the structure and functions of knowledge management practice;
  • the range of theoretical and disciplinary influences on knowledge management practices;
  • the extent to which modern technology can support knowledge management practices.

Graduate Attributes

Monash prepares its graduates to be:
  1. responsible and effective global citizens who:
    1. engage in an internationalised world
    2. exhibit cross-cultural competence
    3. demonstrate ethical values
  2. critical and creative scholars who:
    1. produce innovative solutions to problems
    2. apply research skills to a range of challenges
    3. communicate perceptively and effectively

    Assessment Summary

    In-semester assessment: 100%

    Assessment Task Value Due Date
    Evaluation Essay 20% Week 12, submitted in tutorial
    Case Study Assignment 50% Case study report due in Week 11, submitted in tutorial
    Critical Essay 30% Week 9, to be submitted in tutorial

    Teaching Approach

    Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
    Teaching of the unit will comprise of lecture or seminar presentations, tutorial discussions and practical
    assignments. These sessions will raise significant issues related to weekly topics and provide students with the knowledge of fundamental theories and concepts. The issues will be critically examined through presentations and discussions based on reading materials and published case studies. Reading materials will be posted on the Unit website in advance of the scheduled discussion. It is expected that students will have prepared for the session by reading the set material.

    Students are also  encouraged to contribute material that they consider relevant to the topics/issues as well as presenting their personal experiences. Practitioners will be invited to lead specific seminars.

    Feedback

    Our feedback to You

    Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
    • Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
    • Graded assignments with comments

    Your feedback to Us

    Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.

    For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
    http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
    http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html

    Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

    If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
    https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp

    Unit Schedule

    Week Date* Activities Assessment
    0 21/02/11   No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
    1 28/02/11 Introduction  
    2 07/03/11 IKM Models and Frameworks  
    3 14/03/11 The context of IKM  
    4 21/03/11 IKM Structure: Information Resources  
    5 28/03/11 IKM Structure: Technology infrastructure  
    6 04/04/11 IKM Structure: Information Resources  
    7 11/04/11 IKM Functions: Remembering  
    8 18/04/11 IKM Functions: Sense-making Assignment 2 Design Specs due
    Mid semester break
    9 02/05/11 Supporting knowledge work- the Task-based KM Approach Assignment 3 Critical Essay due
    10 09/05/11 Implementing IKM: models and frameworks  
    11 16/05/11 Theoretical Grounding: Structuration and Continuum Assignment 2 Case Study Report due
    12 23/05/11 Review: The IKM story revisited Assignment 1 Evaluation Essay due
      30/05/11 SWOT VAC No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC

    *Please note that these dates may only apply to Australian campuses of Monash University. Off-shore students need to check the dates with their unit leader.

    Assessment Policy

    To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:

    • 40% or more in the unit's examination, and
    • 40% or more in the unit's total non-examination assessment, and
    • an overall unit mark of 50% or more.

    If a student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or the unit non-examination total assessment, and the total mark for the unit is greater than 50% then a mark of no greater than 49-N will be recorded for the unit

    Assessment Tasks

    Participation

    • Assessment task 1
      Title:
      Evaluation Essay
      Description:
      The essay will be based on your experience of this unit. You will be asked to comment on specific aspects and to support your comments with reference to IKM principles and theories, and where appropriate current literature.
      Weighting:
      20%
      Criteria for assessment:

      Will be specified on Assignment sheet.

      A Marking Guide for this assignment will be made availble on the unit MUSO website.

      Due date:
      Week 12, submitted in tutorial
    • Assessment task 2
      Title:
      Case Study Assignment
      Description:
      This assignment will involve the design of an IKM system and the justification of that design, drawing on IKM principles and theories as well as current literature. The system will be based on an actual case study.

      This is a group assignment
      Weighting:
      50%
      Criteria for assessment:

      Will be specified on Assignment sheet.

      A Marking Guide for this assignment will be made availble on the unit MUSO website.

      Assessment will include a peer evaluation component.

      Due date:
      Case study report due in Week 11, submitted in tutorial
    • Assessment task 3
      Title:
      Critical Essay
      Description:
      An academic essay of 3000 words on a topic that will be specified in class.
      Weighting:
      30%
      Criteria for assessment:

      Will be specified on Assignment sheet.

      A Marking Guide for this assignment will be made availble on the unit MUSO website.

      Due date:
      Week 9, to be submitted in tutorial

    Examinations

    Assignment submission

    Assignment coversheets are available via "Student Forms" on the Faculty website: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/

    You MUST submit a completed coversheet with all assignments, ensuring that the plagiarism declaration section is signed.

    Extensions and penalties

    Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.

    You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.

    Returning assignments

    Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later

    Policies

    Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them. You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
    http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html

    Key educational policies include:

    Student services

    The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis

    Seminars will be supported with relevant articles, papers and other materials that will be detailed on the unit website.

    The following books provide a good overview of the current thinking on the topic:

    • Davenport, T. H. (2005). Thinking for a living: How to get better performance and results from knowledge workers. Boston, MA. Harvard Business School Press.
    • Davenport, T.H. & Prusak, L. (1998). Working knowledge: How organizations manage what they know. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
    • Nonaka, I. & Takeuchi, H. (1995). The knowledge-creating company: How Japanese companies create the dynamics of innovation. New York : Oxford University Press.
    • Becerra-Fernandez, I., Gonzalez, A., & Sabherwal, R. (2004). Knowledge management: Challenges, solutions and technologies. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
    • Bali, R. K., Wickramasinghe, N. and Lehaney, B. (2009). Knowledge Management Primer. New York, Routledge.
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