BSDS: 206 ASSING 2

Discuss the implications of the statement, “Although technology is important as an enabling

factor for both information and knowledge management, it is essential to realise that of
technology is only one of the components.

Discuss the implications of the statement, is to give the advantages and disadvantages of the
implications of the statement.

Technology can be defined as the knowledge of the manipulation of nature for human
purpose. This implies that all practical or technical sills ultimately derive from alteration or
manipulation of nature.

According to Chester F. Carlson (1937) defined technology as the application of science to

solve problems. Also technology is the making usage and knowledge of tools, machine, to
solve problems.

In ancient times was defined by Holmer and Hesoid as the spoken word of manual craft or
cunning skill Luna (1994).

Introduction:

Information and communication technology is a general term that describes any technology
that helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate and disseminate information. It is an
enabling tool that facilitates storage, handling and sharing of data and information.
Information and technology management have profoundly transformed business,
organisations and society’s management promises concepts and tools that can help business
to provide an environment supportive of knowledge creation.

Although technology is important as an enabling factor for both information and knowledge
management, it is essential to realise that technology is only one of component. technology
are resources for development, in order for knowledge management to be efficient, smart,
effectively contribute to the success of organisations business and societies, there’s need to
develop appropriate and suitable information and management system.

Modern ICT is largely about the capability to electronically input process, store output,
transmit and receive data and information this capability has been increasing at faster pace in
the 3rd and 4th industrial revolution with phenomenal advances in technological determinism
(ANT). The fallacy thinking wrong perception that technology is everything and human
behaviour action, priorities and needs should and are driven by technology.

Musingafi (2011) makes the emphasis that although technology is important as enabling
factor for both information and knowledge management. It is essential to realise that
technology is only one of the components of information and knowledge management within
societies and organisations. Information and knowledge management system cannot much
more than media.

The human factor is the centre piece of every successful information and knowledge
management system. People (as individuals and collectives), their information and
knowledge requirements at organizational and societal levels and priorities are at the centre
of any information and knowledge management system: the latter is a means to an end
services the social, cultural, economic, and political technology needs of individuals and
societies rather than an end itself.

Information and technology have profoundly transformed business, organisation and the
society. Knowledge management promises concepts and instruments that help organizations
to provide an environment supportive of knowledge creation, sharing and application.
Technology is applied in organizations, businesses and society for decision-making, problem
solving and task execution and therefore contributes to the success or otherwise of businesses
and development of society. Information and knowledge are integral components and
resources for development. Information and technology management systems facilitate the
smart, fast and effective management of these resources in pursuit of human and economic
development. Only when culture of information and knowledge sharing exists, is it possible
to truly benefit from the growing technology possibilities. Technology (software and
hardware) becomes an enabling factor in the management of information and knowledge.

The components of knowledge management, strategy it is a well-documented source of

direction for the company. Essentially it is a blueprint of the goals of the organisation in
terms of identification, storage and sharing existing also new technology which include the
business challenge that need to be solved across departments.

The knowledge department should focus on identifying and addressing a knowledge gap in
the organisations. For instance, an insurance firm identifies the general insurance division as
growth area.
Process, a clear and well defined process for identifying storing and sharing knowledge is a
vital component of every successful knowledge management initiative .the process of
knowledge management includes various steps such as creating knowledge structuring it,
reviewing and sharing it before used and applied by both teams. The process should design to
ensure accuracy in identifying managing sharing information especially in secure way.

Technology is a crucial element behind the success of any knowledge management project.
The systems and software should also enable easy and secure access for authorized
employees to relevant information as required. The solution of technology is bringing
together all the components process, people and information required to build any
organisation knowledge system.

People; include top management team leaders who motivate their members, core knowledge
management team who guide the implementation, and finally employees who contribute and
use system. The top management needs to lead by example and encourage incentivize the
sharing of information. Rewarding motivating people to use the system and share the insights
knowledge management program.

Information and communication technologies are often regarded as the enabler for the
effective and especially efficient implementation of knowledge management. It is important
to note, however, that many other important facets and components influence knowledge
management: ICTs and these other factors are therefore integrated into a framework
consisting of strategy, organization, systems and economics guiding the design of successful
knowledge management initiatives. This framework is referred to as a knowledge
management system. The success or otherwise of knowledge management initiatives are
therefore not solely dependent on technology i.e. technology alone is not a silver bullet
solution to knowledge management in an organization or society.

The advantages of ICTs

Information and technology has given power to people, information is a critical resource of
the future. It is increasingly play a critical role in advertisement of the societies once played
by the physical labour stones bronze, mineral and metals plus energy to effectively manage
information and knowledge. ICTs are beneficial tools. The higher the technology the less
energy and raw materials are needed. Information can increasingly does replace capital, land
and labour. Information is readily transportable, it helps to change our ways of thinking about
work, and possibly alter the thinking between working and making a living.

ICTs can be harnessed for development and poverty reduction. Indeed the growing important
of information in creating wealth has turned out to be very good news for countries less
endowed with geological riches and arable land. For example Japan with virtually no
convectional fuels or outcropping of useful minerals with a short growing season and much
farmland we would call marginal, was forced by physical poverty to bet on the only sure
resource it had the minds of its own people.

The one of example of beneficial ICTs in rural development, high quality internet access is
one of the tools which can unlock more of the potential of rural areas and make them more
viable places for people to live. ICT helps in existing rural business to perform tasks more
effectively and efficiently. It is responded to their demand for rapid access to diverse kinds of
information. It creates greater scope for new business to start up and makes it easier to deliver
vital resources, thereby promoting entrepreneurship and economic purposes in rural areas.

On the other hand, The disadvantages of ICTs

The information revolution creates ever greater gaps within and between natotins.it is bad for
the environment technologies disturb the environment and compromises sustainable
development. It is bad on health by having much more information that is bad for our heads
because it produces information overload that causes stress.

According to the speaker Star FM news bulletin says, the government minister of science
communication and technology Comrade Digwall Ziputi (Harare) said, the accemilaration of
information and technology in the country should be exclusive and catering for consumer
needs. He says technology should not be faster than consumers, if we do it without the
consumer, or people meaning that we are living a vacuum. He highlights again that “it is
integral that we live the menthol that no one shall be left behind.”

The roles of entrepreneurship in technology and information management, it stress that

entrepreneurs in innovation do not act in vacuum or isolation but combine and intertwine
efforts with the other players to ensure successful innovation in industry, economy or
country. Entrepreneurship start unique business, when business grows it will inevitably
consume more people into the operations. Such responsible may come with a number of
attached economic benefits which includes employment creation, wealth generation for the
entrepreneur and the nation through taxes and provision of goods and services to the masses.

Entrepreneurs are drivers of the economy in many basic ways includes employment
opportunities, innovations provisions, stimulating completion within market and accelerating
structural changes within firms and economies. This will result in greater variety and
availability for consumers in the market.

Existing firms in the market is then find it difficult to adjust to the changing operational
trends, patterns and systems until there are new entrants in the market which forces them to
adjust and align to the one which is current innovation alters organisation and governmental
structures.

In conclusion, although technology is important as an enabling factor for both information

and knowledge management it is imperative to realise that technology is only one of the
component that increase economy, knowledge to people and better standard of living.
References:

Chester.F Carlson (1957) defined technology as the application of science to solve problems.

Holma and Hesold (1994), posts technology as a spoken word of annual.