Information Systems and Knowledge Management - Essay Example

?Running Head: Information Systems and Information Systems and Knowledge Management Submission Information Systems and Knowledge Management Introduction This paper is a reflective essay aimed to analyse the learning outcomes of the Carbon Management Plan (CMP) simulation program. It involves Information Systems/Knowledge Management (IS/KM). First, I would focus on the CMP of the Manchester University in a comprehensive way. The main stress will be put on knowledge management and information systems. Then I would analyse the learning outcomes. This topic will span over the subtopics like decision making, role of information and information systems and knowledge management. Then I would explain how the simulation helped me in terms of my real life experience at work. The paper will culminate at a suitable conclusion. The Carbon Management Plan The Carbon Management Plan or CMP can be divided into two major parts. The first part will deal with knowledge management and the second part will deal with information systems. Knowledge Management Presently, all universities in UK are being urged to provide an array of university data and information including energy consumption, air pollution, cost overhead, etc. to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). These data are accumulated from different areas of the university and range of data like waste management, electricity generation and consumption, etc. The documentation and maintenance of this sort of statistical data can help in inferential analysis and proper knowledge management can assist in this part of the sustainable energy utilisation plan. This will further involve mitigation (geo-engineering), reduction (fuel switching, efficiency improvement, etc.) and removal (biological sequestration and ocean fertilisation) (Tester, 2005). Synchronisation of so many aspects of the management procedure through the simulation provides an excellent platform to develop a practical understanding of knowledge management. Information Systems In carbon management, emission dynamics determine the variable of carbon generation, particularly CO2 gas generation is most important. Analysis of this variable helps in ascertaining organisational goals and developing information base. In relation to CMP, the behaviour of this variable can be controlled by using more efficient power sources, low energy information and communication technology, smart metering, etc. By the means of generation of options, criteria assembling, option evaluation and proper option selection, information based facilities management can be developed and implemented (Atkin and Brooks, 2009). Hence, the simulation helps us to learn that how the communication systems between different stakeholders in the organisation can be bettered. The Learning Outcomes With regards to my understanding of the run time environment, the simulation program has helped me a lot. As I participated in the CMP, I felt I was dealing with such a subject that was affecting the whole organisation and I got maximum exposure to the behaviouristic aspects of the programme. Decision Making The simulation provided me with a better understanding of decision making. As far as the less important issues related to a plan or the functioning of an organisation are concerned decision making does not play a very important role. Especially, at the entry level, decision making does not appear to be very important except for career objectives. However, if one wants to stay in the organisation for a longer time and make a difference with a winning turn to his or her career, decision making becomes very important. Only good decision makers finally get to hold the key management positions in the industry. In today’s complex organisation, decision making should be multiple criteria based. If one wants to make it to the higher or middle level management positions, he or she has to learn good decision making. Decision making in a large and diversified organisation (which was simulated well in the CMP design and implementation) must involve large scale coordination between different departments and disciplines which would give rise to a well organised facilities framework (Atkin and Brooks, 2009). The simulation was very helpful in developing a knack for proper decision making. Role of Information and Information Management Systems Today, networking is a key business in coordinating the information flow inside and outside the organisation. Proper information system management can help in better interaction between colleagues. Instructions are passed on to the subordinates in a speedier way and results and activities can be analysed with a lot of ease. Both the management and the entry level workers are benefited by better information flow. Internet and virtual private network of the organisation help in this synchronisation. Robust security system can facilitate reliable communication and enhance the confidence among the stakeholders (Hellriegel and Slocum, 2007). Development and implementation of proper computer systems thus remain crucial in the functioning of the modern organisation. Knowledge Management In the CMP simulation game, the technical aspects of the programme were given high importance and the reduction of the University’s carbon footprint involved synchronised technical measures all around. But in achieving good results, the stakeholders who are handling these technical and other sorts of issues should have better communication among themselves. This better communication can be facilitated by robust information systems, but the process is incomplete without effective knowledge management. The best way to formulate this knowledge management is co-management, which would help in synchronising data and information to provide a knowledge base to the stakeholders. Knowledge generation can be achieved by database maintenance and updating, documentation, information exchange, and good soft skills. Social learning becomes an imperative in improving communication so that knowledge management can be quality assured and more people can be benefited from the process (Berkes, 2009). The simulation program under discussion exclusively depended on knowledge management so that the University’s performance can be evaluated and bettered. Business Intelligence The simulator programme also helped to understand the necessity and implementation of business intelligence. Business intelligence is a unique combination of both knowledge management and information system. It involves implementation of IT to exploit most productive human activities, the most important of which is information flow through human agency. The best ways of this information flow are data mining, marketing campaign, market research, surveying and sampling of data, etc. (Baba, Jain and Howlett, 2001) The simulator helped us through work outs on carbon data and related management activities. In real life too, we have to handle lots of data and mediate in several sorts of information flows. Scenarios Faced in the Day to Day Life at Work At work, I had the problem of ego. In following the instructions of the superiors and also in interacting with the senior colleagues, ego can become a serious obstacle. If all the stakeholders are made to understand the importance of communication from the perspective of organisational behaviour, the problem of ego can be avoided. Also, when certain goals are set and deadlines are given, tension begins building around the work. This tension can be eradicated if the efficiency of the staff is well increased. Skill development is a key issue and skilled workers always have an upper hand in the business. However, skill development can be ensured by means of simulation programs like that of the CMP. The simulation program can create scenarios like the real life; hence practice with it enabled me to develop better skills and handle things like workplace stress, responsiveness, better reflex, etc. Conclusion The simulation programme helped me immensely to develop workplace proficiency, especially in the terms of soft skills. I managed to learn a lot form the program. The CMP dealt with a large organisation like The University of Manchester which helped me to horn key management concepts. The development process centred around IS/KM which is critical for any modern organisation. The entire programme helped me to enhance soft skills and improve my organisational behaviour patterns. List of References Atkin, B. and Brookes, A. 2009. Total Facilities Management. West Sussex: Wiley Blackwell. Baba, N., Jain, C. and Howlett, R.J. 2001. Knowledge Based Information Engineering Systems and Allied Technologies. Amsterdam: IOS Press. Berkes, F. 2009. Evolution of co-management: Role of knowledge generation, bridging organizations and social learning. Journal of Environmental Management, 90 (5), pp. 1692-1702. Hellriegel, D. and Slocum, J.W. 2007. Organizational Behavior. Mason: Cengage Learning. Tester, J.W. 2005. Sustainable Energy: Choosing among Options. Cambridge MA: MIT Press. Read More