e-Business: The Role And Impact Of Knowledge Management (Km) Technologies

Overview of the Company

H & M is a well known multinational clothing company (retail), best known for its wide range of clothing products targeting men, women as well as children. It is notable that the company holds significant presence in online shopping that is accessible in more than 32 countries. As per the data of 2017, it has a median target of 275.00 including high estimate of 335.0 and low amounting to 160.00 respectively. As per overall scenario share-price forecast depicts 12.57% increase. The company also expects dividends increased by 0.97%. As per the goal set, the company underperformed comparing to the expectations however; annual revenue of 101.70 bn (2016) is ensured that is greater than the previous year (markets.ft.com, 2017). While taking a glance at the company, it could be averred that development of the employees is one of the focused are where knowledge plays greater role using information and communication technologies. Skill development, training programs are implemented to fulfill this purpose in collaboration with knowledge.

Knowledge Management (KM)

In order to hold competitive position in the market, companies need to share knowledge among the responsible persons to be effective. It is also significant to make the knowledge explicit and understandable to all bases of personnel. In the last decade, it is notably observed that companies are showing tremendous interest to implement knowledge management architecture within the organization to make the procedure easier. It is also been adopted as one of the crucial parts of organizational strategy (Hislop, 2013).

Holsapple (2013) noted that knowledge management is not managing knowledge fulfilling individual's purpose but the prime aim is to set value by refining firm's knowledge in order to meet organizational goal. Modern organizations use technologies (ICT) and tools in knowledge management considering various aspects such as strategy, culture, management and technology. It is all about human interaction where technology is an inseparable part (Alegre et al. 2013). It accelerates opportunities for the firm to circulate knowledge among teams from any place and any time. Communication and collaboration technologies are seen to be used widely for this purpose. It should be mentioned that both the mentioned technologies are web based and designed to serve purpose such as intranet and internet. In addition to that video conferencing, mobile technology, telephone comes under this. As new technology is emerging, therefore these work as intelligent agents contributing towards better search, summarization and spread of information from one source to another.

Figure 1: Knowledge Management Mechanism

Communication Technology

Information and communication technology plays greater role while designing knowledge management mechanism that allows flow of information from one sphere to another with ease. It accelerates the speed and makes the process faster providing chances of implementing advanced applications (e.g. knowledge portal). Through communication technology it is aimed to spread information (data and facts) regarding problems, truths, believes and know-how. It is also comprised of practice, strategy, methods and approach (Becerra-Fernandez and Sabherwal, 2015).

Figure 2: Knowledge Pyramid

Integration of communication technology in this manner includes expert system, database decision-support system, management information system and lesson-learned system. However, due to the emergence of knowledge management the traditional concept of organization learning has been altered. Debates are there regarding the role of IT in KM but no one argues on the need of IT in KM. H & M gives focus on the knowledge management (technologies) for better communication and shared approach, assuring goal of the company. Communication technologies are listed below in the table to develop a lucid understanding.

It is already been mentioned that H & M is actively involved in online marketing providing ease to the customers to shop more frequently visiting their well-designed website. In order to avoid any conflicts, there should be a proper communication network (two-way) where end audience gets the chance to give their feedbacks. Through establishing intranet and data warehousing, the company ensures shared information among the staffs that lead towards fulfilling organizational goal.

Collaboration Technology

Collaborative technology as being one of the in integral parts of knowledge management fosters collaborative use of technologies and tools. As sharing knowledge is critical component of successful knowledge management, hence collaborative technologies are catalyst to strengthen the architecture of KM (Holsapple, 2013). The introduction of technology in the field of knowledge management is ensured to make the tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. As per the needs and requirements of the organization, tools of KM are selected. Utilization of collaborative technology frames the mechanism and ensures the explicitly of knowledge through the following diagram.

Figure 3: Mechanism of Collaborative Technology in KM

In this context, intranet could be averred to establish socialization by including multimedia technologies such as visual, audio, animation and graphics respectively. Visual technology might be helpful at the time of the possibility of language barriers. Hyperlinking is another technique that enhances the use of metaphors. Content of conference can be converted into web of knowledge for the users in future (Yee-Loong Chong et al. 2014). For instance, the recorded materials can be accessed by individual whenever they need to access. Besides, hypermedia is another useful technology in KM to record informal knowledge. These provide shared information that significantly promotes collaboration enhancing organizational learning. Graphical representation, business information, financial information, business case studies are restored by implementing collaborative technologies. The following table illustrates the collaboration technologies used in knowledge m

UPTO55%

Avail The Benefit Today!

To View this & another 50000+ free

Enter Email

Submit