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Knowledge Management Paper Analysis

Knowledge Management Paper Analysis. By: Sven Thoms KM Perspectives on Resources and Organizational Memory. Papers Analyzed. Wernerfelt,Birger. “A Resource-Based View of the Firm”. Strategic Management Journal, 1984

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Knowledge Management Paper Analysis

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  1. Knowledge Management Paper Analysis By: Sven Thoms KM Perspectives on Resources and Organizational Memory MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  2. Papers Analyzed • Wernerfelt,Birger. “A Resource-Based View of the Firm”. Strategic Management Journal, 1984 • Von Hippel, Eric. “Sticky Information and the Locus of Problem Solving: Implications for Innovation. Management Science, 1994 • Walsh, James; Ungson, Gerardo. “Organizational Memory”. The Academy of Management Review, 1991 MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  3. A Resource-Based View of the Firm Wernerfelt, Birger, Professor of Management Science, M.I.T. MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  4. Resource-Based View • Wernerfelt coined term in 1984 • 1994 Strategic Management Journal Best Paper Prize • Key Elements: • Scarce Resources can create competitive advantage • Resource Identification, Profitability Assessment, and Development using Porter’s 5 Forces Model MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  5. Resource-Based View • Resources are assets tied to firm, e.g. • Machinery • Processes • Brand Names • Skilled Workers • Technology Know-How • Trade Contacts • Current and Future Resources provide strategic insights into the firm’s competitiveness MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  6. Resource-Based View • Recall: Porter’s 5 Forces  Product-Based MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  7. Resource-Based View • Buyers, Suppliers, Substitutes • Resources in few hands limit user’s return • Bad if product from resource only sold to few buyers • Substitute resources always a threat to suppliers • Example: • Diamonds, DeBeers • Oil vs. Hydrogen • Gallium Arsenide chips for military and NASA MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  8. Resource-Based View • New Entrance Barriers • Resource Position Barriers • Temporary advantage from holding a key resource • Barriers within same market ! • Resource-Entry Barrier Duality • Create barrier to entry from exclusive access to resource AND from product-based entry barriers • Example: Pharma patents and skill sets MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  9. Resource-Based View • Attractive: • Machine Capacity • Customer Loyalty • Production Experience • Do Portfolio Analysis of Resources • Generate Technical Lead and keep it by employing knowledgeable staff • Look for supplementary and complementary resources in mergers MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  10. Resource-Product Matrix • An aid to resource identification • Links resources and profitability potential • Primary and secondary resources • Balancing Existing and New Resources MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  11. Related Paper • Gold, Malhotra, Segars. “Knowledge Management: An organizational capabilities perspective”. University of North Carolina, 2001 • Related Theme: • knowledge infrastructure (techn, structure, culture) and knowledge process capability (acquision, conversion, application, protection) combine to form organizational effectiveness MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  12. Sticky Information and the Locus of Problem-Solving Von Hippel, Eric Professor of Management Innovation and Entrepreneuship, M.I.T. MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  13. Sticky Information • Sticky: • Tacit • Bound to one place • Depending on: • Nature of Information • Transfer Problems • Mismatch of Buyer-Seller needs and capabilities • Key Elements: • Makes problem-solving more complex MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  14. Mitigating Sticky Information in Innovation • 4 Approaches: • Solve problem where information is • Iterate between sites to solve problem • Subdivide tasks to fit resource availability • Decrease stickiness by technological means MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  15. Cross-Cutting Theme • Once resource (information) is identified as in Wernerfelt’s model, then strategic use of the sticky information can be discussed • Cost of transfer can be seen as a barrier to intra-company effective use, similar to barriers for other firms to use information resources • Relevancy: • Allen Curve, BMW Research and Innovation Center • Expert Systems • Consulting environment, on-site presence • Videoconferencing, Content Mgt Systems MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  16. Related Paper • Audretsch, Feldman. “Knowledge Spillovers and the Geography of Innovation”. University of Toronto, 2003 • Key concept: • Innovation clusters, R&D center of expertise development • Innovation happens best where resources are concentrated, facilitating tacit knowledge interchange MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  17. Organizational Memory Walsh & Ungson Business Administration, U. Mich., International Business, San Francisco State MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  18. Analogies • Human Brain processes and stores past information • Flawed concepts of organizations’ memory • Key Questions: • How is organizational memory different • How do individuals retrieve from organizational memory • Can knowing an organization’s past experience really help with current decision-making? MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  19. Assumptions • Organizations process information • Organizations interpret environmental facts and changes with help of memory • Semantics given to information by shared meanings and interaction in organization • Systems perspective to organizational memory MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  20. Definition • Staff Members develop knowledge, share it, becomes part of organization • Decision Factors and Lessons Learned, Outcomes • Framework of information acquision, retention, and Processing needed • 3 roles • Informational • Control • Political MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  21. Memory Processes • Information • Acquisition • Retention • Retrieval MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  22. The Framework • Individuals • Culture • Transformations • Structures • Ecology • External Archives  Acquire, Process, Retrieve MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  23. Walsh’s Suggestions • Make current decisions in past’s context • Less Resistance to decisions if backed up by past experience • Unlearn old information to adapt to present • Past can confuse, need also to be able to retrieve it • Automated retrieval = routine responses • Analysis Paralysis • Rewriting History to suit organizational power plays is a danger • Design Organization with memory in mind • Retain knowledge workers MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  24. Related Themes • Kleiner, Roth: How to make experience your company’s best teacher (2000) • Learning histories, narratives • Argvris, Chris: Teaching Smart People How to Learn (1991) • Defensive Reasoning • Ginsburg, Mark: Annotate A Web-based Knowledge Management Support System for Document Collections (1998) • Enable document annotations and usage history tracking of DMSs Link to Article MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

  25. Conclusion • Von Hippel’s Sticky Information Concept very intuitive • Wernerfelt’s Resource-Based model universally applicable • Mathematics hard to grasp • Walsh’s observations on organizational memory akin to 11 Deadly Sins of Knowledge Management by Prusak and Fahey MIS 580 - KM Most Cited 13-15

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