Knowledge Management Analysis of Snapshot Industries †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Knowledge Management Case Analysis of Snapshot Industries. Answer: Introduction Corporations are making extensive use of knowledge management techniques and processes such that they can emerge as leaders within their environment(Bali, 2009). Knowledge Management System (KMS) define as management practice in order to enhance the knowledge by creating, distributing, implementing and coming out with best result to fulfill objective of organization. Extensive handling and management of knowledge allows steady integration and development of core competencies such that core competencies can be extended to meet market requirements. The scope of the current analysis pertains to knowledge management for Snapshot Industries and its purview of strategic knowledge(Arling, 2011). Snapshot Industries has a stronghold of traditions that it implies to various aspects in order to conduct its key processes. The leader cum owner Sam conducts various processes within the organization that enable them to operate strategically. the organization has high levels of commitment as well a s loyalty form its employees as majority have coexisted with the Company for the past 20 years. However, the case reflects that there has been disruptions that was caused due to changing leadership when the company experienced high challenges due to collaborations. The scope of the current report is focused on challenges that the Company faces from knowledge management(Torres, 2007). The scope of the report deals with all relevant challenges that are connected with the scope of knowledge management with employee handling procedures as retirement planning, leadership issues and other strategic practices that can be taken into consideration. Analysis Problem linked to Knowledge Management (KM) Snapshot Industries made extensive usage of Knowledge Management Systems and facing difficulties on applying such technological changes. Snapshot Industries functioned with continuous typical management system since years by Sam Snapshot till date, which made everything function smoothly but after his death his grandson Jim took over his place(Gruman, 2011). Jim tried and incorporated new management policies and practices that resulted in conflicts arising within the company. His modern technique of leadership laissez faire lost enthusiasm within employees and profit went considerably down. Due to sudden change in work process Snapshot industries lost many old highly talented and key staff and lost knowledge with them due to poor communication. According to Schultze and Boland (2000) KMS incorporated was almost a failed effort. Researchers were keen to deeply search for reasons behind failure. Knowledge is power and can be categorized as per content perspective; while as per relation al perspective knowledge cannot be shared develop outside the framework(Cepeda, 2007). Hayes and Walsham (2003) as well as Capozzi, Lowell et. Al. (2003) explained while researching data on The British Council which is an organization that spreads knowledge, information in the form of socializing with no objective of profit making. Thus, Knowledge Management here was a process applied in pressure not as desired. Wichramasinghe (2002) study criticizes that Knowledge Management System instead of increasing and expanding knowledge within employees, in this case only supplied information, with providing formulas for implementation(Birkinshaw, 2008). This system lowers the value of people and lean towards use of substitute which implies more of technology within Knowledge Management. Merely technology has no power to execute work, manpower is equally imperative. Employees in Snapshot Industries were in dilemma with using Knowledge Management System many times, in long term of participation in KMS might put their job on risk by chance of showing and applying their own skills and knowledge according to Damaodran and Olphert. Social issue faced in KM in terms of forcing employees to change their behavior in order to change the culture within the organization as indicated by Ernst and Young Survey. Once the employee leaves job or retires knowledge within them also carried away(Lin, 2007). This is a potential loss for the company in terms of profit and production also according to Martins and Meyer. Thus, it can be established that there was issues pertaining to application of KMS within the organization that was not managed well. Types of knowledge which can be found in Snapshot Industries especially strategic knowledge Knowledge can be of various types and those found in Snapshot Industries are, tactic knowledge which is invisible and not transferable verbally or in written form from one person to another but can be supplied in the form of understanding, intensions, motives to share such information on the basis of prejudgment, future prospects and so on(Liew, 2008). High value source of information and knowledge gathered through long years of working experience and management skills. Snapshot had a rough time handing this knowledge to continuous use and storage by new owner of the company Jim by stopping old workers to quit Jobs for further innovations and expansion. Jim was in dilemma that new staff with new policy implementation without the help and knowledge of older staff will either halt or stop the improvement in the company. This knowledge is basically experienced through culture, heredity, thought process(Du Plessis, 2007). Explicit Knowledge on the other hand, is easily transferable, understandable and stored within management storage system. Its effect is not more profitable in terms of handling competitors. Explicit Knowledge based on technology stored and then shared through notes, brochures, documents, files and so on. Embedded knowledge is a systematic formula based software and process of doing work, daily traditional ways of implementing in work, culture follow, artifacts follow by management since its inception. Once routine and practice set to operate work by practice, its difficult to change drastically(Chang, 2009). Its a Knowledge set as principles in rules, process, culture, and work ethics. The knowledge of skills, centralize, record and personnel system are known as strategic knowledge. An effort to carry on work through use of ones knowledge, capacity in an organized way by means of good communication with other employees to develop excellence in work. Employees should possess either of management skill as strategic and business skills which refers to knowledge about managerial skills, efficient planning for execution, and profitability, as well as organizational skill(Zack, 2009). Management Skills where employee handling technique, method plotting, hiring and preparing teams are taken into considerations. Information management skill is similar to explicit knowledge of codding, information storage in software, accounting, taxing and so on. IT skills is totally related to technology study and knowledge like, software applications, programming so on. Problems in regards to resignations and retirements Learning skills refers to intelligence of people to tackle any situation through experience and knowledge and ability to overcome it(Ratcliffe, 2008). Knowledge management Team leaders should possess quality of Knowledge networking changing and sharing knowledge and ideas of one employee to other as per requirement for maximizing growth and expansion. Employees with certain characteristics and specialization whose experience and managerial skills and ability is essential for organizational expansion is effected badly when such staff give resignation and retires on their particular time of retirement. In Snapshot employees were leaving the organization as there was no communication from the management regarding implementation of knowledge management systems or a demonstration provided regarding the same(Liao, 2009). Certain policies can be built, implied and followed such as problem solving techniques, in order to save loss to the company as employees who resign due to few conflicts in the organization either with other leaders or co-workers. Use of Knowledge Management can be entailed to prevent employees from resignation and retirement Organization should create some fair policies as extension of years of retirement of few employees with set criteria as for those who are working more than 20 years, loyal employee, with no default records and so on to retain them in company with their best skills and also by increasing pay package to utilize their positive characteristics for more years in the organization for constant innovations and growth(Hislop, 2013). Approaching other employees to learn the method of expertise during their work tenure to carry forward with their work skill is another procedure that the company can utilize. Organizing a committee meeting to resolve the issue and conflicts faced by resigning employee who are highly educated and knowledgeable and whose role in the company is indispensible. In case employees are resigning due to communication and coordination with other staff it should be resolved immediately with possible requirement and solutions. In case salary package is issue, then it should be increased accordingly such that they stay with the organization. Storage and enhancement of knowledge through such people is more vital than few issue faced by them acceptable. Employees due to exploitation feel to leave company with their tactic knowledge which is harmful for company(Renzl, 2008). Due to need of instant job shares their secret knowledge with other rival companies using this opportunity and which results in loss of the company present and future growth prospect. Keeping old leaders to serve company is most beneficial aspect of company. Consultants concern over leadership. Jims leadership influence and ways to improve them Leadership is pertinent for handling any sort of challenges and issues within an organization. Hence, consultants will be concerned over leadership as the organization extended too fast. Todays globalized business has intensity to expand in a faster way. Technology use has lowered the thinking process of people. Due to high competition within and outside organization people tends to follow few rules and strategies to apply in work, managers force workers to carry out work procedures as per their policies which do not allow others to prove their strength and results in poor growth. Office environment changed too much with incorporation of Knowledge Management. Change of culture in organization changes the working style, communication and coordination and repo with managers to work, this change impacts progress of the company. Snapshot Industries forced employees to follow failed system by leaders to follow old typical styles with poor result with no improvement and growth process. This killed staff motivation to work efficiently. Jims taking over of Snapshot after his grandfathers death Sam Snapshot totally ruined the business within a short span of time. His new leadership style Laissez faire caused conflicts between old and new employees. Employees who were working under Sam in a traditional systematic policy failed and opposed usage as well as application of new strategy. This communication gap forced old staff to resign. Competition started within the company between employees, which was a big loss for companys working operation to overall growth. Company lost all skilled and knowledgeable employees who contributed for years in company to attain success level. Jims non managerial thoughts and views took the company to almost closing down. Jim failed to carry forward his grandfathers business to a higher level due to his lack of knowledge and skills. He lost big opportunity provided to run family business in an efficient way. Business created by Sam Snapshot with 25 years of hard work and concentration was spoiled due to wrong policy adopted in organization. KM helps to store previous success policy and its factors to imply on future expansion by spreading knowledge to new staff. There are few aspects through which Jim could have improve and saved company from collapse by changing his thought process in taking over company to carry on further as per his grandfathers rules and regulations. Leadership ways of his grandfather as, to maintain good relationship with old employees to allow them to participate in business plans and execution by taking their opinions of years experience(Review, 2011). He could have created sound environment to maintain friendly relations with old and new employees. He should have given chance to coordinate with each other for companys benefits. Jim could have organized few programs by experts in business management to spread more knowledge and information for people to use it in work process system for more coordination and implementation. Jim instead of randomly changing every policies and culture business strategy could have applied by proper planning step by step to avoid all the conflicts raised for the betterment of company and its survival. His non professionalism attitude and fast implementation to plan to change company overnight has spoiled everything in aggression. Jim could have stopped fast resignation and capacity of staff to operate business with same principles initially. Jim could have saved company collision by sharing his ideas with old people before forceful implementation. Experienced employees could have given him idea and support for positive and negative effect of applying new strategy(Huemann, 2007). This could have helped to make changes as per knowledge for companys growth faster Areas to reflect knowledge management principles Maintaining knowledge of employees is most needed to reflect knowledge management principle because staffs who are working since years have relevant ideas(Denizhan Kalkan, 2008). Staff knowledge that is there since time of inception regarding operations, planning, policies, internal strategies of success, their personal strength and knowledge contribution for growth and expansion even after they resign and join other competitive company such that success will be shared and distributed can be harmful for the organization for further growth. It is critical that resignations and retirement of such people is stopped for the purpose of gaining necessary inputs. Organizational management should use latest electronic technology to save and store confidential information, strategies, ideas and knowledge from employees for further use in business in the form of software, data and applications(King, 2008). Management should follow principles to identify business problems and prepare employees for change by creating KM team. Features should be identify and follow the solutions obtained from KM team. Organizing few programs by experts to spread and enhance knowledge to workers will enhance KM understanding. Knowledge of individual should be shared through process to link with other strategies for attaining best results. ROI (return on investment) should be immediately being implement for long term goals along with profit maximization. Effective Knowledge management always tries to build friendly environment in the form of support within employees, good culture and by trying to adopt latest innovated policies for success(Jones, 2013). Thus, the company needs to aim integration of employees knowledge with that of KMS such as to get appropriate results. KM is a strategy in this case Yes, finally we can say from above discussions that KM (Knowledge Management) is a strategy in Snapshot industries case because of various reasons. Foremost is KM can solve problems of employees knowledge as discussed above by sharing and implementation of tactic knowledge of people which are nontransferable to explicit knowledge in the form of data, notes files by communications and coordination and education(Dalkir, 2011). This knowledge should be stored through technology for future use for expansion and innovations. Management should save people from resigning and retirement by solving conflicts and issues in every possible form. On the contrary, it can also be said that KM is not a strategy in this case with a view that because Tactic knowledge is which is inherited and nontransferable or written so as per its nature cannot be implement to explicit knowledge. KM strategy to support existing structures, policies, work culture and by spreading knowledge. KM helps to accept changes by old employees, culture work process for expansion with use of latest technology(Chen, 2009). Demolishing old worthless knowledge from people and organization for improvement and development. KM solving problems of Snapshot Knowledge Management System has no capability to solve every problems faced by Snapshot because companys problem was not limited to knowledge sharing. Information, skills and policies that should be stored with the help of electronic system and technology was done by traditional process saving in a system. Organizational process has been changed after Jims took over which has shaken the companys pillar in every part of organization resulting in conflict between old and new staff, change of culture, and process of production, planning, coordination, policies, maximum resignation and retirement all this together cannot be solved by KM. KMS even cannot force people to stay in company for sharing their knowledge because few knowledge is nontransferable(Von Krogh, 2012). Problems which can be solved through Knowledge Management are storing knowledge of expertise in the form of data, application and secretion system for use in further future expansion during downfall. Knowledge system can also help to enhance knowledge of other unskilled or low skill employees by sharing information, strategy and success intonation from expertise or managers. Leadership skills from managers can be gained through training and programs. This overall sharing of knowledge can helps other people growth in job and appraisal. KMS is introduced to accumulate information in a system to use same strategy or basic principles of such knowledge in future. KMS target is to increase the ability and skills to perform task more intensively by not repeating mistakes and using better ideas(Ruggles, 2009). Problems within organization can be identify through KM and helped to solve through expandable knowledge. Evolution of social and information technology is through KMS. Practices of strategy application through knowledge gain helps to work more efficiently. KMS helps to use enhanced knowledge and information in business process environment which results in success and best of results. Recommendation and Conclusion Analysis of above facts and figures reflect that the major issues faced by Snapshot is in regards to KMS. the Company can only overcome the challenges by means of integrating proper techniques and skilled ways to integrate KMS systems into its traditional structures. While implementing KMS it becomes important to evaluate and understand its fit to existing system and analyse such gaps. Thus, integrating in such features will allow easy integration, application of KMS and expansion of the Company. References Arling, P. A. 2011. Facilitating new knowledge creation and obtaining KM maturity. Journal of knowledge management, 231-250. Bali, R. W. 2009. Knowledge management primer. Routledge. Birkinshaw, J. H. 2008. Management innovation. . Academy of management Review, 825-845. Cepeda, G. . 2007. Dynamic capabilities and operational capabilities: A knowledge management perspective. Journal of Business Research, 426-437. Chang, T. H. 2009. 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