BUSINESS COURSE GUIDES
SOM 210 Lab 8: Review Articles on Knowledge Management

Lab 8 asks lab teams to search for journal articles on the topic of knowledge management (KM). KM refers to the process of acquiring, storing, distributing and using information within a company--especially electronic information. KM concepts are having an important effect on the emerging electronic workpace. Using the Business & Company Resource Center database, your team will apply effective subject search techniques to locate and review recent KM articles.

1. Search for journal articles using effective subject search techniques.
2. Review and select articles that describe the application of KM in the workplace.
3. Place links to selected articles in team work space.
4. Compose a brief summary of one article using Microsoft Word.

Subject Indexes and Subject Searching

Subject search strategies are more precise and accurate than keyword searches. Subject searches look for search words in the subject index only, yielding fewer, but highly relevant articles. Keyword searches look for search words anywhere in the citation or full-text. Keyword searches often generate large irrelevant article listings. Keep these points in mind while conducting subject searches:

• Subject headings are standard vocabulary terms that describe business concepts covered in the BCRC database (often called descriptors or controlled vocabulary).
• When each article is indexed, a person called an indexer assigns subject headings for the most specific concepts covered in the article.
• Subject headings are then added to the subject field of the article record (the BCRC database uses the Library of Congress Subject Headings).
• Subject Subdivisions: BCRC add value to search results by sorting articles into narrower subdivisions. BCRC divides knowledge management into 55 subdivisions, e.g., analysis, innovation, models, planning.
• Related Subjects: Next to each subject heading in BCRC is a Related Subjects button which leads you to additional broader and narrower subject search options.

1. Go to team work space and link to the Business and Company Resource Center database.
2. Click the Articles icon. In the Search Term box type the subject heading: knowledge managment, then click the green Search button. (Do not change any of the other setting on the search screen).
3. On the Results screen, find the subject heading for knowledge management that lists more than 1,000 articles. Click the View button to display all articles, or click the Narrow by Subdivision button to display articles by subject subdivisions (this option is recommended).
4. Review and select at least two full-text articles to save in team work space. Select articles that describe the application of knowledge management in the workplace. Review a number of articles before making your final selection. Tip: These subject subdivisions contain articles about KM in the workplace: analysis, case studies, evaluation, management, planning, technique.
5. Once your team has selected two or more articles, copy article URLs (Infomarks) to team work space as follows:
   
   
   • While viewing an article, move the pointer to the Address box and highlight the URL, then press CTRL C to copy the URL (or click right and copy).
   • Return to team work space (ALT-TAB). Under Add/Update Team Research URLs, select the New button. Press CTRL V to paste the URL into the Address Box (or click right and paste).
   • Go to the Display Name box and carefully compose a citation to the article using this citation format as a model:
     
     Lloyd, J. (2001, April 27). Beware e-mail beast; it devours productivity. Orlando Business Journal, 17(49), 31-33. Retrieved September 30, 2001 from the Business and Company Resource Center database on the World Wide Web. (Note: 17(49) refers to Volume 17, Issue 49. 31-33 refers to the article page numbers. Date retrieved should be today's date).
     
     
6. Click the Save button to save the URL and citation to team work space. Make sure to check the citation for errors and to test the URL address.
7. After posting the URLs for the 2 articles, open a Word document and write a one-page description of knowledge management and why your Team believes it is important. This report should be double-spaced, using left and right margains of 1.25 inches, and top and bottom margins of 1 inch. The font for your report should be Times New Roman (12 point). At the very top of your file, list your title on the first line, and team mebers on the second line. These 2 lines should be placed against the right margin. The rest of your file should be placed against the left margin. When you finish this one-page description, save it to your diskette in the A: drive. Then, using the Add Document option in your Team Work Space, Add the Word file with your description to your team work space.