| Summary: | Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the past decade or two companies started to realise that competitive advantage is not
only achieved by optimising their business value chain, but also in managing the
knowledge in the company. This led to the development of different knowledge
management models and to millions of dollars being spent on knowledge management
implementations across the world. Although there were huge successes, a large
number of initiatives were spectacular failures - believed to be mainly caused by the
linear method of capturing and presenting knowledge.
Computer-based mapping tools is a new generation of personal computer (PC) based
tools that allow people to present knowledge graphically. Since the focus of most
research into computer-based mapping tools has been on the educational use of
mapping tools, the focus of this study will be on the business use of these tools. Thus a
number of common, off-the-shelf computer-based mapping tools were evaluated to
determine whether they can add business value. From the evaluation a decision matrix
was developed to assist knowledge workers in selecting the best tool for a specific
application.
The primary activities of the knowledge value chain model were investigated to select a
series of business activities where the use of computer-based mapping tools could
possibly generate more business value in the execution of the business activity. These
activities were then measured against a set of criteria that was developed in order to
evaluate the different computer-based mapping tools.
It was found that the selected software applications could be clearly separated based
upon their theoretical and philosophical backgrounds into concept mapping tools and
mind mapping tools. It was further found that the possible business value that could be
derived through the use of these tools is more dependent on the selection of the correct
type of tool, than on the selection of a specific software package. Lastly it was found
that concept mapping tools could be used across a broader spectrum of business
activities. The research also reached the conclusion that the use of concept mapping
tools will possibly add more value to a business than the use of mind mapping software. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gedurende die afgelope dekade of wat het maatskappye al meer begin besef dat hulle
mededingingsvoordeel nie net geleë is in hoe goed hulle die besigheid se waardeketting
kan optimiseer nie, maar dat die kennis in die maatskappy ook beter bestuur moet
word. Dit het tot gevolg gehad dat 'n aansienlike hoeveelheid kennis bestuursmodelle
ontwikkel is en dat miljoene dollar gespandeer is op die implementering van kennis
bestuurstelsels. Ten spyte van groot suksesse wat behaal is, was daar ook totale
mislukkings. Die vermoede bestaan dat een van die redes vir die mislukkings die liniêre
manier is waarop kennis vasgevang en aangebied is.
Rekenaar-gebaseerde karteringspakkette is 'n nuwe generasie van persoonlike
rekenaar programmatuur wat gebruikers in staat stel om kennis grafies voor te stel. Die
meeste navorsing oor die gebruik van rekenaar-gebaseerde karteringspakkette het
egter op die opvoedkundige aspek daarvan gefokus. In hierdie navorsing val die fokus
eerder op die besigheidsgebruik van sodanige gereedskap. 'n Aantal algemeen
beskikbare, van-die-rak pakkette is ge-evalueër om vas te stel of hulle waarde tot 'n
besigheid kan toevoeg. Vanuit hierdie evaluering is In keuse-matriks saamgestel om
kenniswerkers in staat te stel om die beste pakket vir 'n spesifieke besigheidsaktiwiteit
te kies.
Die primêre aktiwiteite van die kennis waardeketting model is ondersoek ten einde 'n
aantal besigheidsaktiwiteite te kan selekteer wat moontlik meer waarde tot die
besigheid kan toevoeg deur die gebruik van rekenaar-gebaseerde karteringspakkette.
Die geselekteerde aktiwiteite is gemeet teen 'n reeks kriteria wat ontwikkel is om die
verskillende rekenaar-gebaseerde karteringspakette teen mekaar op te weeg.
Die navorsing het bevind dat die geselekteerde programmatuur pakkette hoofsaaklik in
twee groepe val op grond van hulle teoretiese en filosofiese funderings, naamlik
konsepkaarte en gedagtekaarte. Verder is vasgestel dat meer besigheidswaarde
ontsluit word deur die keuse van die regte tipe programmatuur vir 'n spesifieke
aanwending as deur die keuse van In spesifieke programmatuur pakket. Laastens is
bevind dat konsepkaarte oor 'n wyer verspreiding van besigheidsaktiwiteite gebruik kan
word. Eventueel kan afgelei word dat die gebruik van konsepkaarte meer waarde tot 'n
besigheid sal toevoeg as die gebruik van gedagtekaarte.
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