Knowledge Management - Essay Example

Knowledge management encompasses the creation, representation, distribution, and adoption of organizational insights and/or experiences that are highly informed by individual and/or organizational knowledge (Gloet, 2006, p.409). Essentially, knowledge management provides for individual and organizational aspects as far as knowledge is concerned. In other words, the provision to manage knowledge can be approached from an individual and/or organizational point of view. Notably, collaboration of individuals within the organizational setting constitutes the team that drives organizational performance.

Therefore, both individual and organizational factors in knowledge management are vital. All the operations undertaken by an organization influences the overall performance of that organization. In this respect, the fundamental role played by knowledge and knowledge management in the process cannot be downplayed. The application of knowledge management in the organizational setting is undoubtedly diverse and dynamic. Knowledge management is essentially employed across business administration, management, information systems, information sciences, and library among other key areas (Halawi, McCarthy, & Aronson, 2006, p.391). This means that the concept of knowledge management is intensive and extensive, subject to the specific area of use or application.

Most importantly, individual organizations approach management of knowledge differently, resulting in differentiated strategies that foster organizational success. The application of knowledge management in the business context takes narrowed and specific aspects. This is because what works for one organization may not necessarily do so for another. Therefore, knowledge management at a business enterprise level takes an enterprise-specific approach. This is to say that the different types of knowledge management are aligned differently with the operations undertaken by an enterprise.

The freedom to provide for knowledge management dynamics in the organizational setting rests with the management or leadership of the organization in question. The different types of knowledge managed by organizations or business enterprises include, but are not limited to, explicit, tacit/embodied, and embedded knowledge (Denning, 2006, p.13). All these types of knowledge are fundamental because they collaboratively enhance business performance in the organizational setting. For instance, the formalities associated with explicit knowledge allow firms to operate within streamlined procedures and business paths.

Tactic knowledge allows firms to make use of the knowledge, experience, and skills possessed by its workforce. Finally, embodied knowledge makes it possible for a firm to institute a functional organizational base of operation. This process is integral of the pillars of knowledge management, namely: discovery, use, organization, and sharing (Wellman, 2009, p.158). Specific employment of knowledge management can be considered in the context of Trinidad Cement Limited (www.tcl.co.tt/about-tcl).

The company primarily deals with the manufacture and sale of a number of cement products, namely: TCL Premium Portland Pozzolan Cement, Ordinary Portland Cement, and Class G, High Sulphate Resistant (HSR) Oilwell Cement (www.tcl.co.tt/about-tcl). Knowledge management in this company is broad and spread across all its organs of operation. The key organizational organs at the company encompass operation and equity structure, environmental policy, and raw materials