ENQ510 Engineering Knowledge Management

Unit Outline: Session 4 2024, QUT Online, Online

Overview

This unit introduces Knowledge management (KM) as an innovative process that needs to be closely aligned to organization goals. The unit introduces critical building blocks of a KM system such as; knowledge identification, knowledge development, knowledge preservation and protection, knowledge representation, and knowledge distribution and sharing. All engineering managers must have the fundamental skills and knowledge to understand, design and develop and manage KM systems in an organization. This unit provides the basic knowledge and skills to understand the complex issues of knowledge management that are essential to the career advancement of engineering managers. In addition, the unit also introduces: 

1. Organizational culture and organizational behavioral changes that are needed to transform a traditional organization to a knowledge-oriented enterprise.
2. Digital technologies to delivery efficient access to and utilisation of knowledge.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Identify the concepts of engineering knowledge management applicable to an organisation
2. Design and develop a knowledge management system for an organisation
3. Apply methodologies related to engineering knowledge management, such as knowledge identification, knowledge development, knowledge representation and knowledge distribution
4. Analyse information provided through case studies and knowledge management systems such as ShareSYS
5. Apply the principles of the life cycle of knowledge management systems

Content

Learning Approaches

Teaching Mode: Hours per week
Lectures: 2
Tutorials: 1

Learning Approaches:
Your learning in this unit will take place through a series of lectures, tutorials and peer interactions through teamwork and presentations. You will be provided with a number of case studies, detailing information relevant to knowledge management in different organisations. The group projects and presentation will progressively draw on knowledge obtained from these case studies. Group and self-learning skills will be developed through the proposed knowledge management project.

Professional knowledge engineers and knowledge managers drawn from local organisations will give guest lectures as part of this unit. Lectures will provide the knowledge base required for this unit and will be supported by student-centred tutorials and case studies. The knowledge gained in lectures will be reinforced by application in projects on the development of knowledge management systems. You will be required to work together effectively in order to accomplish the given tasks related to both project and presentation.

This unit makes use of a range of inter-related teaching and learning strategies. The assessment instruments used in this unit are designed to measure the extent to which you have achieved the objectives of this unit. Importantly, the assessment has not been included for the sake of it - careful consideration has been given to the fact that students have different learning styles and different demands on their time.

The time and effort that you put into the learning activities will determine how much you learn during this semester, as well as improving your capacity for lifelong learning as you continue your study program and your professional development. Staff and student interaction will allow you to gain the educational benefit of theoretical discussion related to contemporary practice and implementation of engineering knowledge management in a professional context.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Will be provided during class discussions, by comments on the seminar, and by the lecturers' responses to your queries during the semester, both within and outside of classes. Class time will be allocated to the discussion of assessment work in progress.

Assessment

Overview

QUT's Assessment Policy is located at MOPP c/9.1

Overview of Assessment:
Assessment will be formative involving an emphasis on constructive and progressive feedback using a criterion referencing approach. Your performance in the unit will be assessed through three items of assessment due at specified times in the semester.

Formative Assessment:
Assessment Type: Ongoing
Weighting: Nil

Participation in class discussion forms part of the formative assessment in the unit. Formative assessment will also be provided during class discussions, by comments on the seminar, and by the lecturers' responses to your queries during the semester, both within and outside of classes. Class time will be allocated to the discussion of assessment work in progress.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Knowledge Management Project

Summative Assessment:
Assessment type: Assessment 1 - Knowledge Management Project
You will be required to submit the problem case study which specifically targets the development of knowledge management system for a particular application.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Mid semester on line quiz (multiple choice questions randomly generated from question pool)

Assessment Type: Assessment 2 -Mid semester online quiz (online timed assessment)

Assessment: Timed Online Assessment (Regular paper based exam is changed to Timed Online Assessment consists of both short answer questions and extended answer questions

Assessment Type: Assessment 3 - Timed Online Assessment
Formal documentation of the team-based system design with application of appropriate systems standards and contractual requirements.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

1. G. Probst, S. Raub and K. Romhardt, (2001) Managing Knowledge – Building Blocks for Success, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., NY.
2. S. Kermally, (2002) Effective Knowledge Management – A Best Practice Blueprint, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
3. P. Sydanmaanlakka, (2002) An Intelligent Organisation – Integrating Performance, Competence and Knowledge Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Brisbane.
4. T.H. Davenport, and G.J.B. Probst (2002) Knowledge Management Case Book: Siemens Best Practices, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., NY.
5. G Guida and C Tassp, (1995) Design and Development of Knowledge-Based Systems, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., NY
6. Shelda Debowski, (2006) Knowledge Management, John Willey & Sons Ltd. Brisbane, Australia

Risk Assessment Statement

In general, there will be no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. However, if you are spending part of your time for this project in the work place participating in a range of activities associated with professional practice you should make yourself familiar with the organisation's workplace health and safety plan/s. In addition, you should ensure that any relevant safety courses and safety permits/cards (such as site safety cards) have been attended or attained prior to participating in regulated activities such as site visits.

Additional Costs
There are no out of the ordinary costs associated with this unit.