Assignment 3 – KMS for Explicit Knowledge

KMS for Explicit KnowledgeIn assignment 1 you looked at concepts in KMS with an emphasis on interpreting a situation you are involved with. In assignment 2 you looked at KMS in an organisational context. In this assignment you look at knowledge at the level of the society. As the Unit Outline says, there are several options for this assignment. A general assignment topic is specified first, followed by some possible alternatives.General Assignment Topic:Textbooks, like ours (Dalkir (2011)), summarise and condense a field of knowledge. They are part of an overall societal KMS, preceded by research and other knowledge-creating activity and followed by education and knowledge application. At the ‘cutting edge’ of any field lie the journals and conferences where new ideas are presented and critiqued. UC promotes research-led education, in line with the new Australian Qualifications Framework that governs the Education sector, so this assignment invites you to select a research paper and consider its contribution to the KMS field. The value of this is assignment is that it brings an appreciation of KMS at the societal level complementing a the personal and organisational levels of assignment 1 and 2. It also enhances your academic capacity by engaging with the research literature. To complete this assignment you need to 3 tasksSelect a research paper for review and post a reference to it on moodleWrite an analysis of the paperPost the abstract of your assignment to a forum so your colleagues can get the benefit of your analysis.  Select a paperGo to the library website > research gateway > journalsLook for one of these publications:Knowledge Management Research and PracticeJournal of Knowledge ManagementElectronic journal of knowledge management: EJKMScan the Table of Contents of  a number of issues (preferable from the last 2 years) to find a paper you have some interest in (Many may be pretty unintelligible! Don’t be phased, just pass over them and find one you are OK with)Post your selection on the ‘Assignment 3 – Topics’ Moodle site forum. Each paper may only be reviewed by one student – ‘first in, best dressed’ (that is, the first student to select a particular paper blocks others from selecting it).  Write an Analysis of the PaperRead and think about the paper, check the papers it cites.Analyse the paper’s key ideas in terms of the KMS concepts you have come to understand in this unit.Write a review of the paper, starting with your summary of its contents. You are not assessing the quality of the paper – you are looking at how it fits into your understanding of KMS. Some questions your review might address follow (this is not an assignment contents page!):– what are the main KM concepts that underlies the paper ?– how do the ideas in the paper vary from what you’ve been studying in this unit?– how the Dalkir text might be updated in light of this paper?– does the paper make a contribution to the field as Dalkir sees it?– who would use the conclusions of the paper and for what purposes?– what more would you like to know as a result of analysing this paper? Include the abstract of the paper as an appendix to your review.  Post a précis of your Analysis to MoodleDistil your analysis from step 2 into a one paragraph précis.Post your paragraph to the  ‘Assignment 3 – Précis’ Moodle site forum.  Due:                  23:55 Friday of Week 7, 25 July 2014 Submission:       Moodle dropbox. Format: Structure-Identifying information as specified in the unit outlineHeading and citation of paper analysed.Introduction:An explanation of why you are doing this assignment.A brief summary of the paper.Body of assignment:Your analysis with appropriate sub-headings.ReferencesAppendices:Abstract of the paperPrécis (as published to the Moodle forum). Length – about 1200 words (excluding references and appendicies).  Assessment Criteria:      We are looking for you to demonstrate your ability to:Meet the purpose of the assignmentEffectively use library facilities to search relevant research papersCritically analyse a paper in KMS termsExplain what you are doing and whyDistil your analysis into a cogent and presentable précis.  Alternative Topics: There are different cohorts of students doing KMS.  If you wish to take an alternative topic that meets the learning outcomes, you must contact Craig with a proposal and a good reason! Alternatives suggested in the unit outline include: Information Studies Students:– review the knowledge used (misused or hidden) in public debate– consider the issues in e-researchBusiness Students only:– write a report on the claims of KMS vendors with particular attention being given to the means of evaluation of their productsTechnology Student only:– build a prototype computer artefact that embodies knowledge representationBusiness Informatics Students:– use the general assignment topic.