Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Engagement Systems (G) Department Development of a Plan to Maintain, Expand, and Create Corporate Knowledge
This dissertation presents the implementation of an organizational study in a technical organization that provides basic information for proper decision making to establish, continue, nurture, modify, transfer or terminate a Knowledge Management (KM) practice. Different aspects of an organization influence the capability to create and retain knowledge. Understanding the factors and the environment of the KM problem in an organization is essential for a successful plan and execution of knowledge creation, transfer and retention. The study purpose was to describe the contextual situation of the organization in terms of Human, Structural and Relational Capital; identify critical knowledge for the organization and knowledge at risk; and identify barriers for knowledge transfer and knowledge retention. The method presented in this project can partially fulfill the development of solutions per the objectives of this project. The actions recommended as a result of this study will help modify the organizational culture to support an environment of knowledge sharing. The study results also provide a baseline for KM metrics in areas that were not previously tracked by the organization. Limitations to the methodology were identified. Not enough participants answered the survey to identify knowledge at risk. The execution of this project and the study results support that KM can provide a structured approach for the development of solutions to the selected goals. Furthermore, it helps changing strategic objectives into specific actions supported by empirical data that can be executed at the working level of the organization. The study identifies what KM efforts are needed to continue to be used, modified, disregarded or implemented to meet the organization's KM objectives.
Complex environments, Intellectual capital, KM, KMS, Knowledge management, Knowledge management systems, Systems Engineering
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