206-685-6344
akoop@extn.washington.edu
April 2, 2007
Enhancing effective knowledge sharing throughout the organization
University of Washington graduate students offer business solutions
The scenario at iDesign Telecom
The effective flow of information through an organization is not a given—take the situation at iDesign Telecom*. iDesign Telecom serves government agencies and firms in industries under close scrutiny by well-established regulatory systems. As a requirement of doing business, they must meet the same strict standards for cyber security practiced by their customers. Yet this strategic need had dropped in a chasm between IT and the executive suite. Because security audits at iDesign were done independently by each division, there had been no company-wide assessment of strengths and weaknesses. Because the executive office had not worked with IT to set a company policy and communicate it, employees outside the technical departments did not understand their role in data security. Neither side recognized this misalignment between current practices and corporate business goals.
What iDesign Telecom had was an information problem. It wasn't a problem of too little information—not today, amid the digital information explosion. The problem was one of information management, say Min Lu and John Tang. Lu and Tang (along with Zerrin Hejazi) made iDesign the subject of their "capstone project," while earning a Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM)—a program of the University of Washington Information School, administered by University of Washington Educational Outreach.
The science of information management
Information management is a new concept that combines IT, information science, and business strategy. An information management professional analyzes the information-sharing needs of a company in relation to its strategic planning goals. Based on that analysis, he or she organizes data in a knowledge sharing system customized for the individual company. The goal is to facilitate the flow of information through the organization in a way that is useful and easily searchable by people of varying backgrounds and needs. "Closing gaps in knowledge—making access to data and information easier and more effective—helps increase collaboration toward achieving central business goals. A company is also likely to see an increase in efficiency and innovation," says Michael D. Crandall, Chair and Senior Lecturer for the University of Washington MSIM program. Adds Lu: "You need knowledge management to capture all the tribal information and tech knowledge within an organization; no one single source or system can capture all this."
Although iDesign Telecom is a fictional composite, information management challenges are endemic throughout corporate America, says Crandall. Lu, a systems engineer with seven years of experience in the field, says iDesign Telecom represents real-life scenarios at a number of organizations he and fellow classmates have encountered in their careers. "There's a disconnect between business management and IT departments in many industries. I've seen a lot of that ... IT isn't just those guys working in the basement. If executives and IT aren't communicating, opportunities are missed. If IT goals are not strategically aligned with business goals, it's a nightmare."
Delivering a business solution
Having defined the business problem, Lu, Tang, and Hejazi set out to provide concrete business solutions. To protect the company as a whole against security breach, they recommended specific IT strategies, including requiring strong cryptography and reducing Internet access gateways. To provide the best ROI, they recommended adoption of an ISO standard. Meeting the ISO standard would provide the company a competitive advantage, widening its pool of potential customers. "Many traditional companies don't want to spend much time and money on IT," says Lu. "But we were using the time and money to attract new clients. We leveraged security implementation to create new business opportunities." "This is the kind of forward-thinking vision we help students to achieve in the MSIM program," says Crandall, "a vision that harnesses IT to drive business goals." Addressing the executive office, MSIM candidate team recommended implementation of a company-wide security policy. Top management would hold ultimate responsibility for security; they were charged with communicating security guidelines and putting an employee education program in place.
The role of the information management professional
Information management professionals function in the middle ground between IT and the executive suite, with one foot planted firmly in each. The emphasis on information and how it is used in an organization to drive business goals, combined with a human-centered approach, differentiate the Master of Science in Information Management from both the traditional MBA and other advanced technology degrees. The MSIM program at the UW "allowed me to compliment my undergrad background in business with practical knowledge of how technology can help drive business," said Chung-hao Yang. "Participating on different projects within the MSIM program was a particularly enriching experience, because it provided hands-on exposure to a mixture of technological and managerial challenges." Karen Semyan said, "I'm passionate about organizing information for everyday people to make it easier to find and use, and the MSIM's unique blend of IT, information science, and business leadership was appealing." The MSIM program attracts software engineers and IT support analysts, but also lawyers, teachers, librarians, and more.
MSIM program generates a professional network beyond graduation
One of the benefits of the UW MSIM program is a classroom community that extends into the students' professional lives. Graduates have formed the I-Society, which meets monthly on campus. Said Agueda Sanchez, "One of the highlights of the program was collaborating on projects with outstanding classmates and faculty, a partnership that continues after graduation." Geoff Froh has found this true, as well. "A core part of my experience came from the unique insights and diverse professional backgrounds of my fellow students. Our cohort has evolved into a community of learning within the larger community of the iSchool. I expect the relationships we have built amongst ourselves and with the program will continue to be an important part of our careers and our lives," said Froh.
About the University of Washington Information School and MSIM program
The UW Information School is the only one in the Pacific Northwest and one of the leading information schools in the nation. The MSIM program has tracks for traditional students, as well as experienced professionals who study while they work. The full-time MSIM program (often referred to as the "Day MSIM") complements a bachelor's degree in science, business, or liberal arts by opening new doors for career possibilities in many information fields. No prior professional experience in IT is required. For professionals who have been working in IT and management positions for three or more years, the Information School also offers a part-time Executive MSIM program. Classes are held Friday evenings and during the day on Saturdays, allowing students to bring their new-found knowledge immediately into the workplace. Students come from a variety of organizations including Boeing, Microsoft, The Seattle Times, AOL, Washington State Department of Transportation, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Starbucks, among many others. For more information, see ischool.washington.edu/msim, or call (206) 685-9937.
About University of Washington Educational Outreach (UWEO)
UWEO is the continuing and professional education division of the University of Washington, the nationally recognized public research institution based in Seattle. Helping the schools, colleges, and departments to administer evening master’s degrees, certificate programs, distance and online learning, international outreach and English language programs, and more, UWEO is one of the largest and most highly regarded continuing and professional education programs in the U.S.
* iDesign Telecom is a fictional composite