MGMT311 Knowledge Management

Individual Assignment: Analysis and Report

STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES, INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL

AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
Working from public sources only, you will choose a New Zealand organization to examine
(without interviewing any of its members). That organization does not need to have a
knowledge management strategy already in place. Using the concepts covered in Weeks 1-4:
-

analyze and assess the organizations strategic capabilities with specific emphasis on
intellectual capital and knowledge-based resources and competencies
design a knowledge management strategy that would support the organizations
strategic direction

Some of the steps you need to take include:

1. Research public sources for information on the organization of your choice. (You can
refer to Tips on Sourcing Information on Blackboard.)
2. Analyze that information so you can:
-

Develop a brief overview of the organizations strategy the organizations purpose,

its main products or services and, importantly, its competitive strategy.

Identify and assess the organizations key strategic resources and capabilities with
specific emphasis on knowledge-based resources and intellectual capital. Use
concepts covered in Weeks 1 -3. In this analysis:
(i) Identify the forms of capital in the organization that contribute to its knowledge
base and intellectual capital. As part of this, identify whether the knowledge on which
the organization relies most is codified (explicit), tacit (embodied and personalized) or
a blend of both (mention to what extent). (Note: you do not need to measure the
intellectual capital, just to identify and discuss its sources for this organization.)
(ii) Assess the intellectual capital (e.g. using the VRIN criteria) to identity strengths,
weaknesses and sustainability of organizational knowledge and capability

3. Using this analysis, design a knowledge management strategy that would support the
organizations strategy Use concepts covered in Weeks 3-4, including the discussion of
Codification and Personalization knowledge management strategies.

Write up your report to cover the following (percentage of overall coverage indicated):
-

Introduction that offers a brief overview of the organizations strategy (see 2 above)
(10%)

A section that covers your analysis and assessment of the organizations knowledgebased strategic capabilities (resources and competencies), with specific emphasis on
intellectual capital (see 2 above) (40%)

A section in which you discuss the knowledge management strategy that you propose is
most suited to this organization (including the extent to which it is based on codification
or personalization see 3 above) (40%). This section needs to discuss:
-

What the proposed knowledge management strategy focuses on and what it includes
The relevance of the various aspects of the proposed knowledge management strategy
to this particular organization

Conclude with a succinct prioritization of the main areas that you would focus on as well
as any systems or processes that you would introduce if you were charged with managing
that strategy (10%).

Presentation: your report needs to be well-written and presented. Include an executive

summary upfront and a references section for the sources on the organization and the
literature. (See Blackboard for information on presentation and referencing.)

Overall, your knowledge management strategy has to be related to the organization you
examine, not just written in an abstract form. It has to be relevant to the organizations
activities and markets, and compatible with the cultures in which the organization operates.

Assessment Criteria
Content the extent to which your report:
- Develops a relevant overview of the organizations strategic direction
- Draws on knowledge management concepts to identify relevant aspects of intellectual
capital and knowledge-focused strategic capabilities
- Thoroughly applies relevant frameworks to assess the organizations knowledge-based
resources and intellectual capital
- Effectively integrates a range of concepts to develop a knowledge management strategy
- Thoroughly discusses the relevance of the designed knowledge management strategy for
that particular organization
- Effectively concludes with prioritized areas for focus and approaches to management
Writing and presentation the extent to which your:
- Report is clearly and logically structured
- Writing is succinct and well-developed
- Key findings clearly articulated
- Sources are appropriately cited and acknowledged
General
Worth:
40%
Length guide: 3000 words excluding references
Due date:
10am Friday 21 August