Managing Knowledge Report for Asda

Learning Outcomes

As part of the formal assessment for the programme you are required to submit a Managing Knowledge report. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting assignments.

1) Evaluate the key concepts and frameworks of knowledge and knowledge management.

2) Demonstrate the importance of knowledge management to business and society.

3) Contribute to the development of knowledge management programmes in businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

4) Evaluate knowledge management systems.

5) Show a clear understanding of ethical and professional issues raised by knowledge management.

You have been engaged as a consultant for the following organization. Asda is the second largest retailer in the UK, and it has been the largest subsidiary of the WalMart family. Asda’s scale can be appreciated by the number of stores it runs as well as how many people work for it. More specifically, Asda has 321 stores across the UK and Northern Ireland, 29 depots and more than 140,000 employees (Corporate.asda.com, 2019).

For the specified company, you have been assigned to provide a report to the board of directors which will answer the following: 

Question 1

Nonaka (1994) introduced two different concepts of knowledge, tacit and explicit knowledge. Define these terms and describe the SECI Model of Knowledge Creation by providing appropriate examples. In this question you are also expected to discuss (under the SECI model) the four different knowledge creation processes and the knowledge conversion types.

Question 2

Consider which category of culture introduced by Cameron and Quinn (2006) is most appropriate to the company and give reasons for your choice. In order to fully answer the question, you will need to discuss on all 4 types of cultures introduced by Cameron and Quinn (2006) and then decide on the most appropriate one. 

Question 3

Critically discuss how communities of practice can generate organisational benefits to the company. Furthermore, critically discuss the benefits that a community of practice can have to individuals and teams. Do not forget to consider in your response the downsides of a community of practice.