Knowledge Management System Design - Essay Example

TOPIC: KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DESIGN By student’s Name: Code+ Course: Instructor’s Name: University Name: City, State: Date of submission: Table of Contents Introduction 3 2. Key Issues from Knowledge Needs Analysis 3 3. Knowledge System Design-Components 6 4. Conclusion 11 5. Quality Assurance 11 References 13 Introduction As the level of innovation continue to change day in day out the Australia’s automotive industry is constantly in need of substantial design to meet the sophisticated customers’ needs, tastes and preferences. Regulations on safety and matters pertaining to environment, new methods of selling and over increasing consumer demands excerts pressure for technological innovations in the entire automotive industry. This calls for effective application of knowledge management techniques for the industry to remain competitive. This analysis seeks to design a knowledge management system applicable to Holden motor vehicle manufacturing industry as it’s one of the most vibrant automobile industries in Australia. The design seeks to address several challenges that face local assemblers and the supplier firms and how the suppliers respond to these challenges (Berggren, 1992). The design puts emphasis on the significance of the national policy that aim at subsidizing automotive industries and technology used in motor vehicle manufacturing. In order for an organization to be in a position to design effective knowledge management systems it needs to recognize the opportunities for upcoming technologies so as to remain competitive and maintain the pace with other firms in the same industry. 2. Key Issues from Knowledge Needs Analysis Combination of explicit, tacit and embedded knowledge as earlier outlined at Holden is not sufficient enough without necessary innovations into the organization the perfectly match the knowledge in question. Innovation has been recognized internationally as the driving force for a States’ economic growth – whether it pertains to coming up with new technological advancements or modifying the already existing ones. However, for the industry to understand the innovation process it should appreciate the factors that lead to development as well as being aware of the factors that inhibit advancements in technological innovations for it to remain competitive (Bradmore, 1990). The design approach applicable to Holden motor vehicle manufacturing industry can be described and presented inform of template. This design can be used in the analysis and illustration of the current increasingly approach described and illustrated in this paper represents a template which can be used to analyze and illustrate current increasingly similar linkages between service and manufacturing sectors as the industry climb the knowledge- concentration ladder. The design seeks to identify the areas of strengths and weaknesses in a more comprehensive way that pertains to the industry under scrutiny. The design allows the policy makers to ascertain whether the firm requires taking action on public- private arrangements. This is to ascertain whether there is need for intervention of private or public sector in cases where the industry lag behind in order to uplift it. The design focuses on significant areas of connection between the users, research organizations, producers and the policy makers. Different boxes as seen in the diagram below represent key players that need to be incorporated in the design for the already identified knowledge management system. The design captures the innovative techniques that the industry need to consider for its development and its capacity to remain competitive. However, there is flow of information in varying degree regarding to production as well as improvement opportunities. Duo- directional, thicker, thinner or single arrows are used to illustrate the flow of information in the industry to illustrate the weakness or strength of knowledge. The design attaches equal among the identified set of players. USERS/CUSTOMERS PRODUCERS TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTURE REGULATING AUTHORITIES In particular, the design entails interactions between the industries, government as well as public sector research in Australia although the flow of information is based on external factors. The industry is segmented into users and no producers since neither definite ‘users’ or ‘producers’ can be traced as driving the system within the so called the ‘industry’. For instance, fleet owners can be categorized as the considerable consumers or ‘users’ and can be directly associated with innovation as one of the major drivers. The division between the users and the producers enables us to have a better understanding on what the innovation theorists outlines in a decisive set of relationships and interactions. It’s worth noting that each diagram represents just but a summary snapshot regarding flows of knowledge concerned. The design diagram shows how various segments of motor industry are connected. There is coordination of inputs that include cost, materials and components required for the assembly of distinct complex products in the industry. The inputs ought to be knowledge-intensive in order to incorporate knowledge and the components into the design as well as the specification of materials used. Highly professionally trained workforce is used in the design in order to be in line with regulating framework, for instance relating to control of emissions and safety. 3. Knowledge System Design-Components The paper suggests a system of knowledge management in automobile industry which will be based on already existing CAD application in order to for the firm to able to remain competitive and lower its costs. The design takes into consideration collaboration as well a Web-Based Computer Supported Collaborative Work scenario (Bradmore, 1990). 3.1: System Architecture The system as illustrated below is comprised of various application components that include: CAD tool, common KR and the CSCW web-based system. The KR is a digitalized kind of information repository consisting of domain ontology, optimization modules and a retrieval engine facility. However, the information provided is related to drawing, ergonomics and normative rules, optimization modules which relates to Evolutionary Algorithms and job templates relating to automatic retrieval information (Berggren,1992). CAD tool is an application of desktop containing applications on CAD containing proper interfaces relating to knowledge repository, a middleware application having surface analysis which enables stamping manufacturing process, normative and ergonomics rule checks as well modules of optimization to ergonomics and process. Project manager Domain Ontology ‘Application’ CSCW OEM project owner External User supplier Knowledge Repository ‘Application’ CAD Designers/ Engineers Existing CAD application Web- based Content Management System is used to provide controlled accessibility to knowledge repository as well as project management features. The CSCW system is responsible for provision of knowledge together with collaboration work environment relating to job description profile. 3.2: Stakeholders’ challenges and knowledge needs Holden motor vehicle industry is a complex and large enterprise which not only deals with manufacturing and selling of passenger vehicles, but manufactures and sells commercial vehicles as well, trucks, buses, spare parts, manufacturing of vehicle bodies, engines and manufacturing of instruments. This extensive industry sells, manufacture, exports as well as importing motor vehicle spare parts. However, its exports range from passenger vehicles, luxury cars, sports cars and vans. The industry also provides services to its distinct customers who include repair and insurance, safety tests, research and development which forms a crucial element of the design identified above. This is as a result of well-established industry’s knowledge management systems which enable the enterprise to relate well with its various stakeholders and thereby enabling it to meet diverse customer needs as well as increasing its sales in order for it to remain competitive. The design is developed to suit different market segmentation that comprises buyers of heavy industrial vehicles, government fleet buyers, private buyers and business fleet buyer. Coupled with relevant knowledge management systems the design works so well to meets the changing needs, tastes and preferences of its customers. As identified in the previous assignment the industry however, is affected by factors which are outside its control and thus the need of designing this knowledge management system. This industry, however, is affected and influenced by many factors outside the control of the industry. These factors can be categorized as micro and macro environments (Charles, 1997). The micro environment basically entails the forces that directly affect the firm’s function, production, direction as well as growth, which have direct impact on the organization’s day to day running. However, given a proper design and better utilized knowledge management systems as in the case of Holden the industry may not be so much affected. These forces may include; marketing firm channels, customers, suppliers and competition. A well laid out design (as in our case) integrated with relevant knowledge management system may help the industry to remain competitive. On the other hand, macro environment refers to the forces that go beyond the industry’s direct interactions. The industry however cannot be able to control these forces although they greatly determine the long term survival of the industry. These factors includes; technological, political, social, international, demographic, education and legal factors. As captured above customers are part and parcel of the design. Without the customers the industry may not succeed. They demand the services and the products manufactured by the industry and basically provide the market for the organization’s products. However, in the recent past the introduction of goods and services tax has led tyo decrease in demand of motor vehicles in Australia. This has called for the need of various automobile industries to rethink on how they can increase their sales using various techniques such as application of knowledge management systems. However, within the renowned automobile industry such as Holden the design will work so well with the already established knowledge management systems. This has enhanced the industry growth and minimized the reasonable amount of impact on overall sales. 4. Conclusion To sum the already designed knowledge management system will enable Holden motor vehicle link well with its various stakeholders. As observed in the automotive industry there is more than producing as well as purchasing motor vehicles as more forces come into play. These forces for instance, micro and macro environments may create a ripple effect which not only affect one industry per see but the whole sector at large. However, the situation is expected to come back to normal. Although there are several competitors, the completion in the industry is speculated to be healthy (Berggren, 1992). This will result in fall of vehicle prices and there would be increase in imports. Therefore leading companies such as Holden need to develop proper designs that will be in line with their knowledge management systems for the industry to remain competitive. They should focus on providing quality standards and improving their relationships with the customers. If the firm applies this design there will be introduction of various vehicle designs to suit the current generation, environmental friendly, advanced in technology, cost efficient and comfort. 5. Quality Assurance The design was meant to gain insight into the linkage between various stakeholders at Holden and integrate its knowledge management systems. Technological innovations have also integrated into the design at Holden which is one of the dominant industries in the automotive complex. The term ‘complex’ is chosen to represent the industry since there more activities in the chain of supply than expected. Technological innovation is an outside factor and its players affect the growth of the industry from outside. The design could thereby be used to focus the industry as a set of linkages which later form industrial complexes. However these complexes in this design bring together four different types of actors. They include; regulators, users, technological infrastructure and producers. Therefore, it’s argued that the circumstance under which innovation occurs is determined by the quality of relationships between various stakeholders and the flow of knowledge in the system (Kotler, 1998). The strengths and weaknesses as presented in the design shows how various stakeholders link to ensure industrial growth. Incorporating innovation into the design, it provides understanding on how innovation patterns at Holden motor vehicle manufacturing industry will help its management (policy makers) in coming up with more complex policies to increase the industrial growth. References Berggren Christian, 1992. Changing Buyer-Supplier Relations in the Australian Automotive Industry– Innovative Partnerships or Intensified Control. Sydney: The University of New South Wales. Bradmore, D. 1990. Australian marketing dictionary. Melbourne: Macstyle Publishing Company. Bradmore, D., Joy, S., Kimberly, C. & Walker, I. 1998. Marketing visions: Readings in marketing . Sydney: Prentice Hall Brags, D. 2010. The market Planning Guide 6th Edition. Nearborn USA: Dearborn Publishers. Charles, 1997. Systems of Innovation. London: Pinter Publishers. Kotler, P., Armstrong, G., Brown, L. & Adam, S. 1998. Marketing. Sydney: Prentice Hall. Read More