Social Analysis of the Business Intelligence and Knowledge Management - Assignment Example

Title: Social analysis of the Business Intelligence and Knowledge Management Dated: May 1, 2010 Part a: Knowledge Management has facilitated in the solution of the complex problems through the application of collective knowledge and information relating to the issue as in favor of the organization. The organizations are implementing their programs for the achievement of the objectives as to fulfill mission of the organization through the utilization of the resources as on optimum basis. The resources include financial, human, knowledge and information as input for making plausible solutions to the problems as to understand the issue. Social Analysis with the assistance social theories has the capacity to evolve solution to the complex organizational problems through the utilization of managerial tools in coordinated and organized mechanism. The undertaking of part 1 of the assignment has facilitated the team members to understand the complex organizational structure with all its details including job description for all the members of the organization starting from the top management to the lower levels with all necessary details. The social analysis of the problem with the application of knowledge based solutions provides frameworks to all the members of organization to work with the utilization of collective knowledge in the shape of explicit knowledge for making the solutions of the problems(1). The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) provides services to a population of 1,250,000 in the seventeen municipalities in Netherlands. The organization has identified the gaps in the service provision and has designed a strategy for their redresses with the utilization of resources in the form of human resources, knowledge and information as free information for the delivery of the services as per satisfaction of the customers. The social analysis has focused on the application of the social analysis through the utilization of both explicit as well as tacit knowledge as has been indicated in the concept of ba as introduced by Japanese philosopher, Kitaro Nishida for the creation of knowledge among the organizations has helped in the solutions of the problems and in the information politics by James March in the decisions and organizations. The ba concept has discussed the knowledge creation process within the organizations with the interaction of two types of knowledge as the explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge(2). The creation of the collective knowledge provides assistance in the sustainability of the organizations and the flow of free information is the tool which promotes transparency for the implementation of programs of the organizations including that of EMS. The social analysis of the operations as are completed by the organization with the utilization of all the resources to the heart patients with the utilization of the resources to improve health services to the calling patients and the services will improve health conditions(3). The improved health conditions will help in lowering the morbidity rate and similarly the mortality rates relating to the heart diseases will also decrease in the study area. The study has focused on the integration of the explicit knowledge of the emergency service provider organization that is EMS , better coordination among all the members of the organization for the delivery of the services ,utilization of professional and technical knowledge and free flow of information within the organization. All these factors work in a coordinated mechanism for synergetic results. The social analysis of the issue indicates that utilization of the optimum resources will help in the implementation of the strategy of the organization. The study has provided an opportunity to all the members of the working team to make social analysis of the problem. The study has a set of problems as have been identified by the team members. These problems relates to the administrative issues, technical knowledge for the execution of the project, availability of information among all the members of the organization and the delivery of services as in the shape of delayed services(4). These problems are listed as under: 1. The organization that is EMS is highly centralized with bureaucratic organizational arrangement with central authority lies in the top leadership of the organization. The complex organizational structure is a major hindrance in the delivery of services as on timely basis. The organization has device a strategy for the removal of the problem as through the delegation of powers to the line departments and with the utilization of information as an in put for execution of services to heart patients within the area of the study. 2. Technical knowledge serve as explicit knowledge and lack of sufficient professional knowledge is the major issue in the organization. The acquisition of the knowledge will facilitate the members of the organization to deliver emergency services to the heart patients in the area. 3. The organization lacks information as in the shape of free information and the flow of information will help in the solution of the problem that is provision of emergency services to the heart patients as on quick basis and for lowering the heart related mortality rate in the study area. 4. The services are delivered as in the shape of delayed services and the process needs better coordination among all the members of the EMS with the delivery of the assigned jobs as in accordance with the job description for each member of the organization. The knowledge management techniques as included in the concept of ba will help in the creation of knowledge among the organization with the utilization of both explicit knowledge as well as tacit knowledge for the achievement of the objectives of the organization. The two types of knowledge interact with each other for the creation and utilization of new knowledge for the execution of the business organization like EMS in Netherlands. The utilization of information politics and information by the top management in EMS will show improvement in the quality of services as are delivered by the organization(5). Businesses strategies are devised by the organizations are designed with the social, economical and business analysis of the issues through the participation of all the social elements as are linked with the problem. Explicit knowledge works as a collective wisdom within in the organization and has a central role for the solution of the problems with the assistance of necessary information as in the form input for quick solutions and to ensure sustainability of the organization as a viable organization for the heart patients through the provision of emergency services. Creation of knowledge, sharing of knowledge, structuring of knowledge for its utilization as in directional pattern, use of knowledge for the delivery of services and auditing of knowledge are key steps for the utilization of knowledge as in favor of the organization. The social analysis of the problems has facilitated the organization to understand their respective social position for the delivery of the services as per program of the organization. The social analysis of the EMS will help in the reduction of morbidity and low mortality rates within the area of the study. The flow of information as on regular basis, better coordination among the team members and the adoption of knowledge creation techniques as identified in ba will facilitate in the creation of EMS as a dynamic service providing organization in the area of emergency services to the heart patients in the area of study in Netherlands. Part b: The concept of ba: Knowledge creation process has been explained in ba as introduced by Japanese philosopher Kitaro Nishada and further highlighted by Shimizu. The concept has listed two types of knowledge as explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge and these two interact with each other for the creation of collective knowledge. The creation of knowledge is essential for the solutions of the complex problems like that of the problem encountered by EMS for reducing delays in the provision of emergency services to the heart patients. The creation of knowledge needs space for the completion of the task. Ba has identified three spaces as virtual space, physical space and mental space or in combination for the expansion of knowledge. Knowledge is a tangible thing and without information, an intangible thing emerges for showing its presence in the system. Ba includes two types of knowledge as explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge and both of these types interact with each other for the benefit of the individuals as well as for the organizations. These are as under: a. Explicit knowledge: Explicit knowledge can be expressed in the form of scientific formulae, words, data, manuals and other similar stipulation for their utilization by the organizations for the benefit of the organization for the solutions of the complex problems, b. Tacit knowledge: The knowledge is of personal nature with two dimensions as technical dimension and the crafts and cognitive dimensions with the beliefs which help in formulating specific dimensions the world as through knowledge as an input in the organizational issues. Four models of interaction are involved in the process of knowledge creation; these models are Socialization, Externalization, Combination and Internalization. Information politics: The Information politics is written as a chapter by James March in the decisions and organizations which has discussed the significance of information in the knowledge management tools and to solve the complex organizational problems. The flow of information works as an input and outputs in the organization. There are four basic models for governing information within the organization as 1. Federalism model, 2. Feudalism model, 3. Monarchy model, and 4. Anarchy model. Monarchy and Anarchy models are at the opposite continuum poles with the characters of central control and less central control, for their application. The Models of Federalism and Feudalism are in the middle stage of the continuum and had influenced the flow of information within the organization. The utilization of two concepts that is ba and information politics has the capacity to solve the organizational problems like faced by EMS in the service delivery area like emergency service providers. Implications of internal and external information sources: Implications of internal and external information sources exist in the utilization of knowledge management techniques and could be resolved with the help of the creation of knowledge and free flow of information within the organization. Conclusion: Knowledge management is a tool for the solution of the complex problems like that of the emergency services to the heart patients. The explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge will help the organizations to create organizational knowledge for its further utilization in the system. The same has been expressed in ba as a concept for the creation of knowledge. Free flow of information will help to utilize information as input in the production process as has been elaborated by James March and the same is in a position for its replication in other organizations for the solutions of the problems. References: 1. The concept of "ba": Building a foundation for knowledge creation Ikujiro Nonaka; Noboru Konno California Management Review; Spring 1998; 40, 3; ABI/INFORM Global pg. 40 2. Harrington, Austin (2005). Modern Social Theory: An Introduction. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199255702. 3. Andre L. Delbecq and Peter K. Mills, “Managerial Practices That Enhance Innovation,” Organizational Dynamics 14 (Summer 1985) 24-34. 4. Schein H. E, 2004, Organizational culture and leadership. John Wiley and Sons. 5. Boxall P, & Purcell J. 2008, 2nd Edition, Strategy and Human Resource Management. Palgrave, Macmillan. Read More