INSTRUCTIONS
Use an essay format to write the mini essays
Mini essays must be one and half pages long
All reference sources must be listed alphabetically at the end of Assessment 2
Use Harvard style of referencing
Use Arial font, 1,5 spacing when writing your assessments
Do not copy and paste, write in your own words and acknowledge your sources
Do not plagiarise!
Convert your file to PDF before uploading it
Hypothetical scenario
Timberland is a large timber manufacturing firm located in Gauteng province with
branches all over the world and with all its functions coordinated Gauteng. Like many
firms located in Gauteng, information overload has, amongst other factors, driven
Timberland to adopt knowledge management. The Gauteng province has evolved over
time to a society that makes use of new information and communication technologies
people are getting the benefits of new technologies in all aspects of their life, work,
home and play. Mr. Albertyn has been appointed as the knowledge manager of
Timberland. He seeks to integrate the different types of organisational knowledge in the
firm. The cornerstone of knowledge management in this firm is limited to implementing
the knowledge audit using several selected hand-on methods. He also must focus on
creating organisational knowledge by a process in which new contents of knowledge
are developed or replaced within collective stock of knowledge. Timberland is currently
encountering several obstacles to knowledge management and Mr. Albertyn is not quite
sure of the enablers to knowledge management.
In the light of the above scenario answer the following questions. You must provide
references to support your answers.
Question 1
Define the type of society that best describes Gauteng province using at least three
sources. Also, discuss the characteristics of this society. (10)
Question 2
Discus other possible factors besides information overload, that may have driven
Timberland to adopt knowledge management. (10)
Question 3
Elaborate on the different types of organisational knowledge that Mr. Albertyn seeks to
integrate in Timberland. (10)
Question 4
Assess the cornerstone of knowledge management at Timberland. In your answer,
identify the cornerstone currently adopted at Timberland and discuss the other
cornerstones that could have been adopted. (10)
Question 5
In a mini essay, discuss with relevant examples, ten possible barriers to knowledge
management at Timberland. (10)
Question 6
In a mini essay, discuss with relevant examples, ten possible enablers of knowledge
management to Mr. Albertyn. (10)
Question 7
In a mini essay, discuss five selected hands-on methods for conducting a knowledge
audit that may be adopted at Timberland.
(10)
Question 8
Assess the current knowledge management process at Timberland. In a mini essay,
discuss the other knowledge management processes that should have been included in
this firm. (10)
TOTAL= 100 (80 content + 10 Presentation style+ 10 Referencing and citation)
