Thursday, April 21, 2011

Assignment #9

According to Brown the three main ideas in the process of making a design are inspiration, ideation, and implementation. Brown also states that a "design thinker" must be collaborative, and empathic in order to create things in this world. Collaboration is a key factor when it comes to knowledge management.

The collaborative efforts taken in order to design or create something often helps the complexity and uniqueness of the object at hand. Without collaboration, designs are left to the individual thinker which also leads to the clash of multiple opinions. But not all collaborative efforts are merely in the design or creation of an object.

Collaborative efforts can span from many sources such as process. Although an idea can be created, it is nothing until it actually takes a life of its on. For example; USB's have become a convient way for moving data from computer to computer, the idea is simple yet genius, but it would be nothing without the efforts of those individuals who took that idea and made it into a design, those who decided how to manufacture it, or even those who decided to market it.

Should an individual even be capable of collaborative efforts then they are capable of knowledge management. So when it comes to design-driven innovation, it can be understood how knowledge management may influence or even support it.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Assignment #7

     NeuroSolutions is a neural network development software offered by NeuroDimension Incorporated. The software is capable of advance learning procedures and problem solving with the combined icon-based network design, C++ source code generation, DLL components, neuro-fuzzy architectures, and programmatic control from Visual Basic.

     The software is now offered across several platforms which are commonly used to solve problems. Platforms such as excel. With the use of the software it is able to constantly collect data and make more efficient decisions when it comes across a problem.

Assignment #6

   Friedman's "The World is Flat" deals with the idea that the the world is slowly become flat. Flat in the sense that on a global scale the world is all becoming similar; particularly in the aspect of business. What Friedman uses as an example is the fact that US jobs are being outsourced to countries such as China. The resistance met by such decisions made by corporations has become problematic. Friedman's response to such resistance is that Americans need to understand that the world is evolving and becoming more competitive. In order for individuals to stay ahead of the competition they must offer something that others can't; and that is knowledge.

     Simply seeking a career with a high school diploma is not enough in today's society. We must expand our minds to higher education and even beyond that in order to compete with the rest of the world.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Assignment #5

    The video is regarding the "Cisco structure" as described by John Chambers. Several key points focus on ideas such as; focusing on markets not competition, or industry, that there are multiple ways to conduct productivity and collaboration are not merely limited to management, but the entire company. If employees feel that their ideas are taken into consideration then they will continue to come up with ideas that may or may not improve the company.

     Back up statements that the company makes and follow up with improvements.

     Culture is the hardest aspect to change in industry. If the company manages to innovate industry and shift culture into their favor, then success will follow.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Assignment #4

     The four modes of knowledge conversion is socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization.
Nucor Steel managed to create knowledge activities through all forms of knowledge conversion.

     Socialization was achieved through locating plants in rural areas, away from the busy bustling cities. They branched out and received workers of a different caliber, with far more potential.

     Externalization was achieved through their investment in continuous, on-the-job, multi-functional training. Creating the urge for more knowledge about not only a single job, but multiple jobs.

     Combination was achieved when they decided to adopt the minimill technology. Although it was a risky move, the break-through success of the technology allowed Nucor to achieve an advantage over many of their competitors.

     Internalization was achieved when recession hit the company. Through a recession they implemented a reduced workweek and reduced pay system instead of laying off workers. To counteract the tension between the company and employees, and preserve employee loyalty, they implemented a "share the pain" program. The program made sure that if the workers compensation were to be reduced, then the managers compensation would be reduced even more, and greater reduction would be placed on executive compensation. Although it was a risky move, it resulted in the lowest turnover rate in the industry during that recession.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Assignment #3

     The TriStar Health System uses information technologies to better their services in the form of Meditech, PACS, Muse, and Powerscribe. Those are merely some among the many information systems used in the TriStart Health network.

     Meditech allows for physicians to have up-to-date information on their patients as soon as the data is inserted into the system. Abnormal results are alerted to the physician, and the physicians themselves can electronically sign forms instead of having to go to a records office.

     PACS is used to capture, transerm display, and store digital information in a medical imaging environment.

     Muse is a critical care monitoring system.

     Powerscribe is used to reduce transcription for radiologists via voice recognition system.

     TriStar is the regions largest healthcare provider, and because of information systems such as these, they are allowed to share information with their network of hospitals resulting in reduced costs for not only the company, but the patients as well.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Blog Assignment #2

When one thinks of business, one thinks of rational decisions. Rarely does one ever believe that irrational decisions would make for a wise business choice, but they sometimes do. An example of such a feat would be regarding decisions that affect the business in the long term. Although a decision to expand may cost a company at the beginning, it would save them even more in the long run. Would such a decision be irrational?

Ariely uses an example of the various countries of whom the citizens have opted to become organ donors. They do so not all entirely out of the kindness of their hearts, but too often is it because they failed to read the instructions clearly; thus resulting in them opting to become an organ donor. Now this is a mere misunderstanding on the drivers part, but from a business standpoint, this one tiny misunderstanding could cost the company money. Too often are we preoccupied and unable to fully think out our decisions and make them rational. Such irrationality can be costly for any business.

The busy life of a average human can often tend to result in such irrational decisions. Such as the case of the doctor which suggested hip replacement to a patient, and then realized that he had forgotten to try ibuprofen as a cure to the patients ailments.

Business is a fast pace industry, and yes decisions often have to be made on the spot. It is truly amazing how a second thought about a decision could be what makes or breaks a company.