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MGT B838
Managing Knowledge
| 1. WELCOME TO THE COURSE |  |
The Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration wishes you a very warm welcome to MGT B838 Managing Knowledge.
You will no doubt have your own ideas about what it means to 'manage knowledge' and how they might be addressed in a course with 'knowledge' and 'managing' in the title. During our journey together, we will encounter a range of significant and challenging concepts that are intended to help you to make sense of how different perspectives on knowledge relate to management and business. Clearly there is no 'one best way' to approach such a complex subject: different people 'see' the same issues in different ways. Nevertheless, the MGT B838 course team is committed to helping you navigate a coherent path through the material.
As our cover illustration on the course units suggests, the capacity to organize human knowledge is by no means new. The pyramids and the Easter Island statues suggest that previous generations knew how to master technology on a spectacular scale. However, the interest in making knowledge the focal point of management and business studies is comparatively recent. In common with national flags or global brand images, knowledge has become a potent symbol that integrates many complex emotions. When we see our national flag or an iconic product, it acts as a focal point for diffuse and seemingly boundless associations. At one level, the fashion for knowledge management does something similar. However, knowledge is also a subject that has fascinated some of history's greatest minds. Knowing how to do things better lies at the heart of human development. Knowledge offers an invaluable tool for better understanding and managing the everyday processes of organizing, working, learning and innovation.
When you look at the 'Course Components' section of this Guide and the Course Calendar presented there, you will begin to build a picture of the course and its contents. MGT B838's eight course units introduce a variety of perspectives on the management and business aspects of knowledge and knowing. Unit 1 offers a 'road map' of the ground to be covered. The unit also differentiates between the production of scientifically determined objective knowledge (which is presumed to be independent of the observer) and the idea that knowledge (no matter how it is defined) is in the heads of knowers, the people who know things, and is derived from their experience. This second mode of knowledge production underpins the main body of material presented in the subsequent seven units. People who know how to 'read' events and anticipate what might happen next are typically better placed to manage effectively. This core theme is complemented by a consideration of relevant aspects of communication, learning, sensemaking, meeting the challenge of managing intangible assets, human resource management, organizing, exploiting appropriate technologies, and case studies of managing knowledge in practice. The capacity to 'make a difference' - the practice of power - is shaped by the people who know how to 'get things done' in practice.
We hope that you will find this course among the most interesting and worthwhile of those you study. Although there will be no shortage of hard work, we hope you will also have as much enjoyment in studying Managing Knowledge as the course team has had in producing it. New thoughts and concepts free us from the prison of unchallenged assumptions. Fresh thinking can generate new and exciting opportunities. It embodies a potential to be rewarding, frustrating and fun.
| 2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE | |
AIMS
The aims of the course are to:
introduce knowledge and knowing as tools for making sense of the various challenges that confront manages (Unit 1)
relate know-how, associated with managing local practices, to global contexts (Unit 2)
consider different perspectives on communication, learning and sensemaking (Unit 3)
develop a knowledge-based perspective on the challenge of managing intangible assets (Unit 4)
assess the processes by which managing people and organizational practices relate to knowledge and knowing (Units 5 and 6)
evaluate the planning and implementation of strategies for managing knowledge in practice (Unit 7)
situate the course themes within the wider context of management and business studies and to reflect on their potential contribution to the field (Unit 8)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying the course you should be able to reflect on and critically appraise:
different conceptual approaches to knowledge, possessed by individuals and groups, and the active process of knowing in practice
key dimensions of globalization and their implications for managing local activities in formal organizations, while taking appropriate account of informal networks and communities of practice
the difference between sender, message, channel, receiver (SMCR) and constructivist approaches to communication, together with their respective implications for learning and sensemaking
the implications of talking about intangible assets, how they are measured and what they mean in practice
the human and technological dimensions of developing and implementing strategies for managing knowledge in practice
how a better understanding of the nature of knowledge and knowing might contribute towards more effective management
| 3. COURSE COMPONENTS | |
MGT B838 Managing Knowledge consists of a number of components in different media. All the components mentioned at the beginning of this section are described in detail below under separate headings. The main materials you will be studying are the eight printed main texts and their associated readings to be found in the Course Reader. Another important printed item is the Assignment Booklet, which provides the information you will need to work on and complete your TMAs. You will also receive a Specimen Examination Paper in due course. These two items may not be included in first mailing but sent separately.
The other, equally important, course components focus on key interactions with your tutor as well as other students. You will attend a number of face-to-face sessions, which consists of five supplementary lectures, ten tutorials and two surgery classes. You will meet people in the face-to-face sessions or electronically from home via the MGT B838 course website.
Note that this course has NO video, television or audio programmes.
The Course Calendar shows the programme of study through to the examination in May 2017. You should use the calendar to schedule into your diary the key dates and study periods leading up to the tutor marked assignments (TMAs) and the examination. The course has fixed cut-off dates for submission for each of the TMAs. Note that you will need to work on the TMAs several weeks in advance of the cut-off dates, since all TMAs involve preparatory work. You will be advised later of the date for the final examination. For dates for the supplementary lectures, tutorials and surgery classes please refer to the Course Calendar.
COURSE CALENDAR
Study
WeekStart date Main text title Supplementary Lectures (SL)/
Tutorials (T)/Surgeries(S)*Assignments** 1 Sep. 05 2016 Unit 1 Introduction to Managing Knowledge SL1 2 Sep. 12 2016 T1 3 Sep. 19 2016 4 Sep. 26 2016 T2 5 Oct. 03 2016 Unit 2 Managing Local Practices in Global Contexts 6 Oct. 10 2016 7 Oct. 17 2016 SL2 8 Oct. 24 2016 T3 9 Oct. 31 2016 Unit 3 Communication, Learning and Sensemaking TMA 1 10 Nov. 07 2016 11 Nov. 14 2016 T4 12 Nov. 21 2016 13 Nov. 28 2016 Unit 4 Managing Intangible Assets SL3 14 Dec. 05 2016 T5 15 Dec. 12 2016 16 Dec. 19 2016 S1 17 Dec. 26 2016 (Exam Break) 18 Jan. 02 2017 19 Jan. 09 2017 20 Jan. 16 2017 21 Jan. 23 2017 Unit 5 The Human Resource Dimensions of Managing Knowledge TMA 2 22 Jan. 30 2017 SL4 23 Feb. 06 2017 T6
24 Feb. 13 2017 25 Feb. 20 2017 Unit 6 Managing Knowledge in an Organizational Context 26 Feb. 27 2017 T7 27 Mar. 06 2017 28 Mar. 13 2017 SL5 29 Mar. 20 2017 T8 30 Mar. 27 2017 Unit 7 Managing Knowledge in Practice 31 Apr. 03 2017 32 Apr. 10 2017
33 Apr. 17 2017 T9 34 Apr. 24 2017 Unit 8 Looking Ahead TMA 3 35 May 01 2017 T10 36 May 08 2017 S2 37 May 15 2017 Examination Period 38 May 22 2017 39 May 29 2017 40 Jun. 05 2017 * Please refer to the tutorial schedule for exact dates, times and venues for your group.
** All assignments are REQUIRED. Please refer to the assignment booklet for exact due dates.
MAIN TEXTS
The MGT B838 main texts consist of eight specially written course units. Consult the Course Calendar to see when you should be studying each unit. At the front of each main text unit you will find listed the associated readings required to study that part of the course.
Note that you will find a degree of variation in style and presentation between the units. We think this is appropriate given the scope of the course and the real differences in the subject matter covered, and we have aimed to achieve the most appropriate form for each unit, within a coherent and cumulative structure (explained in Unit 1). As mentioned earlier, Unit 1 also offers a 'road map' of the course as a whole, and the following table outlines the content of the main course texts.
Outline of main texts
Unit Outline Unit 1 An Introduction of Managing Knowledge Introduces some of the core course concepts and outlines key issues that arise in the subsequent units Unit 2 Managing Local Practices in Global Contexts Considers how local activities interact with wider contexts Unit 3 Communication, Learning & Sensemaking Explores sensemaking with regard to the sender, message, channel, receiver (SMCR) model and constructivist model of communication Unit 4 Managing Intangible Assets Considers the nature of intangible assets. What are they? Can they be measured? What do they mean in practice? Unit 5 The Human Resource Dimensions of Managing Knowledge Tackles what is now increasingly recognized as one of the most central issues - if not the most central issue - in the area of managing knowledge Unit 6 Managing Knowledge in an Organizational Context Considers conceptual approaches that link individual knowledge to organizations and other collectives Unit 7 Managing Knowledge in Practice A practice-oriented unit that builds on themain themes of the course Unit 8 Looking Ahead Offer a summary of MGT B838's principal themes and explains why the concept of knowledge provides a robust and potentially insightful tool for better understanding the different dimensions of management and business practice
READINGS
The readings are articles and extracts selected by unit authors as key texts to be read as part of a particular unit. They provide stimulating and authoritative or controversial material that the unit authors believe should be included in full rather than in summary form. The point in your studies at which you should read the articles is flagged in the main text, usually in association with an activity. You should approach the readings analytically and critically, addressing the activities and questions raised in the main text.
Readings can be found either in the MGT B838 Course Reader: Managing Knowledge: An Essential Reader, 2nd edition (published by Sage) or via OUHK's electronic library.
SUPPLEMENTARY LECTURES AND TUTORIALS
There are five supplementary lectures and ten tutorials scheduled for the MGT B838 presentation programme. Please check the exact date and time before the term starts. We strongly recommend that you attend all the supplementary lectures which the instructor will provide guidance to the course units. Tutorials will provide you with opportunity to meet and discuss with your tutor and fellow students face-to-face. Apart from facilitating the tutorial, your tutor will be responsible for marking your TMAs as well as giving you personal support. There will also be two surgery classes schedule at the middle and towards the end of the presentation. These surgery classes provide you with sufficient time to consult the instructor anything that you have missed or not yet understood after studying.
ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT (OLE)
OUHK will provide you with an email account. You are also encouraged to make use of the OLE platform for MGT B838 for communication between course coordinator, tutor and fellow students.
Computer conferencing (via email or discussion board in OLE) is encouraged.
The OLE web page for MGT B838 provides the main platform for asynchronous electronic communication among members of MGT B838. It supports email and the facility to post messages under various headings or conferences which others can read and reply to. It also allows students and tutors to exchange files of all types (text, pictures, sound, etc.).
The OLE is used in two ways in MGT B838:
Formally within activities, providing the communication platform for group work, if any. The course coordinator can also use the MGT B838 OLE to post messages and news items to all students.
Less formally, the OLE enables all students, tutors and course team members to interact, e.g. posting questions, answers and comments, and developing debates and discussion threads. It also provides a communication platform for more social interactions.
Either types of usage provides an enriched experience for participants. You should log on to the MGT B838 OLE regularly to check for news and to take part in the discussions. The informal participation is not compulsory, but it can be addictive!
| 4. ASSESSMENT | |
The assessment process has two components:
continuous assessment consisting of three tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
one three-hour examination consisting of an unseen paper.
In order to pass this course you must obtain at least 40 per cent in both the continuous assessment and the examination.
TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENTS
There are three TMAs in this course. They have both a summative and formative purpose:
they are an essential component of the assessment of your progress, and are used as a measure for awarding your course results
they are also a part of the learning process, facilitated through feedback from your tutor, and are integral to the course design.
For details of each assignment, please refer to the Assignment Booklet.
Each TMA should be submitted to your tutor electronically by the cut-off date shown on each TMA. The Assignment Booklet provides precise details of the TMAs and the requirements you need to fulfil. You are encouraged to read the booklet early in your studies and return to it for each TMA.
Important: the need to prepare in advance
Note that it is very important for you to begin work on each TMA well before the submission date. This means you will need to be aware in advance of each TMA's requirements, particularly the preparatory work involved.
TMA weightings
Weightings for each TMA in terms of marks towards your continuous assessment will be stated in the Assignment Booklet, please refer to it for details.
You should note that ALL TMAs are required. This means that if you fail to submit a TMA, a zero score will be registered for that TMA.
Further details of the TMAs can be found in the Assignment Booklet.
EXAMINATION
There is a single three-hour examination consisting of an unseen paper. The examination period is shown on the Course Calendar, and the Examination Office of Registry will inform about the precise arrangements when time comes. The Specimen Examination Paper will be sent to you in due course, provides guidance on what to expect in the examination. However, it serves solely as an illustration of the types of questions which may be contained in the examination. Students should not construe these questions as the actual examination questions nor part of the actual examination paper. In addition, this specimen examination paper does not purport to represent the complete scope or coverage of the course and the distribution of the topics to be examined.
You should allow time to revise the WHOLE course since the examination questions may draw on any part of it.
