Knowledge Management & Organizational Learning – Lecture Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering major key terms and concepts from the lecture on knowledge management, organizational learning, data analytics, motivation, and intellectual capital.

Resource

Anything useful or valuable that can benefit someone else (e.g., a book).

Asset

A resource that can provide future benefits to its owner.

Scientific Method

A five-step inquiry process: define question, make predictions, gather data, analyze data, draw conclusions.

Organizational Knowledge

Collective/individual experiences shared and applied to support an organization’s functioning.

Tacit Knowledge

Intuitive, experience-based know-how that is hard to articulate or transfer.

Explicit Knowledge

Codified knowledge easily stored and shared in documents, databases, IT systems.

Knowledge Work

Cognitive activity whose value lies in information processing, creativity and knowledge creation.

Knowledge Worker

Person engaged in knowledge work, relying on autonomy, innovation and information sharing.

Employee Value Proposition (EVP)

What a company offers employees in exchange for their skills, time and commitment.

Hygiene Factors (Herzberg)

Workplace basics that prevent dissatisfaction but don’t create motivation (e.g., salary, security).

Motivator Factors (Herzberg)

Elements that actively generate satisfaction (e.g., recognition, growth opportunities).

Great Place to Work List

Ranking of firms with high employee satisfaction, culture, inclusion and tenure.

Taylor’s Time & Motion Study

1911 efficiency method aiming to eliminate waste by analyzing tasks scientifically.

Hawthorne Effect

Productivity improvement resulting from employees feeling observed or attended to.

Knowledge 1.0 – Age of Reason

16-17th century focus on observation, reasoning and experimentation.

Knowledge 2.0 – Industrial Society

18-19th century application of knowledge to production; separation of planning and execution.

Knowledge 3.0 – Information Society

20th century era where knowledge becomes dominant production factor, aided by IT.

Knowledge 4.0 – Digitized Society

21st century pervasive digitalization with AI and everyday tech integration.

VUCA

Environment that is Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous.

BANI

Next-generation context: Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible.

Knowledge Management (KM)

Strategic approach to create, share, store, apply and update knowledge to meet goals.

KM as Operational Stabilizer

KM role in maintaining order, consistency and accessible knowledge flows.

KM as Strategic Catalyst

KM role in fostering innovation, sense-making and agile learning.

Data

Isolated facts or figures without context (e.g., 100).

Information

Organized data with added context, but not full understanding.

Knowledge (definition)

Contextualized, justified true belief enabling decisions and action.

Symbols (Knowledge Ladder)

Basic elements with no meaning until context is added.

Action (Knowledge Ladder)

Stage where knowledge is applied to real situations.

Competitiveness (Knowledge Ladder)

Unique combination of knowledge that yields competitive advantage.

Descriptive Analytics

Data analysis answering “What happened?” without seeking causes.

Diagnostic Analytics

Analysis that explains “Why did it happen?” by finding causes.

Predictive Analytics

Model-based analysis forecasting “What will happen?”

Prescriptive Analytics

Analytics that suggest actions: “How can we make it happen?”

Maturity Level 1 – Intranet

Firm stores data but lacks ability to use it effectively.

Maturity Level 2 – CRM

Information organized; limited action taken on customer insights.

Maturity Level 3 – Sharing & Training

Knowledge shared through training; used to improve work.

Maturity Level 4 – Innovation

Organization learns externally, innovates and creates competitive edge.

Patent

20-year legal right to exclude others from making or selling an invention.

Utility Patent

Protects new processes, machines or improvements.

Design Patent

Protects original ornamental design of a product.

Plant Patent

Protects new varieties of asexually reproduced plants.

Trademark

Word, phrase, logo or design that identifies and legally protects a brand indefinitely.

Knowledge Society

Economy where wealth creation relies on producing, disseminating and using knowledge.

Information Asymmetry

Situation where one party has more information than another, causing inefficiencies.

Knowledge as Object

Viewing knowledge as tangible content (documents, formulas, specs).

Knowledge as Process

Viewing knowledge as dynamic activities and workflows that create value.

KM Framework

Step-by-step guide: identify needs, resources, acquire/create, apply/share, store knowledge.

Content (KM Component)

The information and knowledge managed within an organization (docs, reports, lessons).

Teleworking / Telecommuting

Working remotely while communicating with the office via digital means.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Technology that performs tasks requiring human-like intelligence without explicit programming.

Machine Learning

AI subset where systems learn from data to improve performance autonomously.

Business Intelligence (BI)

Software that ingests business data and delivers dashboards, reports and visual insights.

Big Data

Data sets so large/complex that traditional tools can’t process them efficiently.

5 Vs of Big Data

Volume, Velocity, Variety, Veracity, Value.

Data Analytics

Processes and tools converting raw data into actionable insights.

Learning (general)

Obtaining knowledge through study or experience.

Visual Learning Style

Preference for graphics, diagrams and videos to absorb information.

Kinaesthetic Learning Style

Learning best through hands-on physical activity.

Formal Learning

Structured, instructor-led education with objectives and deadlines.

Informal Learning

Unstructured, self-directed knowledge acquisition occurring naturally.

Individual Learning

Skill gain by one employee that should be shared to retain knowledge.

Group Learning

Teams acquiring knowledge together, formally or informally.

Organizational Learning

Firm-wide process of creating, acquiring and transferring knowledge to adapt and improve.

Interorganizational Learning

Knowledge exchange between separate organizations or locations (e.g., franchises).

Knowledge Discovery (AI)

AI-driven pattern finding that creates new knowledge from data.

Knowledge Capture (AI)

AI collecting knowledge from diverse sources for storage and access.

Knowledge Sharing (AI)

AI delivering personalized answers, e.g., chatbots for FAQs.

Knowledge Preservation (AI)

AI storing critical know-how to prevent loss from turnover or retirement.

Knowledge Utilization (AI)

AI applying stored knowledge to improve decisions and outcomes.

Intellectual Capital Statement Model

Framework linking human, structural and relationship capital to business success.

Human Capital

Employees’ skills, knowledge and experiences.

Structural Capital

Internal processes, databases, IT and organizational routines.

Relationship Capital

Value in relationships with customers, suppliers and partners.

Fixed Assets

Tangible resources (e.g., equipment) that create value when properly used.

Intangible Assets

Non-physical resources such as employee and customer knowledge.

KM Success – Intellectual Capital

Turning collective knowledge into tangible results and competitive advantage.