Postgraduate

Managing knowledge

On this page

• What you will study
• Entry
• Qualifications
• If you have a disability or additional requirement
• Study materials
• Teaching and assessment
• Students also studied
• Future availability
• How to register

Managing knowledge is a refreshing refocus of managerial thought and practice. It takes a broad view of the subject that includes communication, sense-making, learning, intangible assets, human resources, organisational knowledge and knowledge technologies. Knowledge creation, situated in a local context, is related to international interconnectedness and globalisation. By the end of the course, you should be able to differentiate between simplistic knowledge management ‘solutions’ and the process of knowing how to ‘make a difference’ – the practice of power – which lies at the heart of effective management.

Course facts

Register for the course

What you will study

This course is for managers who deal with knowledge in a variety of organisational contexts, ranging from multinationals, small and medium-sized businesses to the public sector and charities. It aims to:

• introduce you to different conceptual frameworks and practical management tools
• explore the strengths and weaknesses of different knowledge-based approaches to management
• enhance your ability to ‘see what matters’.

Delivery of the course benefits from advanced student-centred distance-learning techniques that are designed to support productive tutor-student interaction and maximise your chance to learn.

Studying BZX823 will help you to:

• differentiate between managing knowledge in local and global contexts
• develop a critical perspective on communication, learning and sense-making
• make sense of intangible assets
• understand the challenge of managing ‘knowledge workers’
• appreciate the difference between tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge
• take advantage of information and communication technologies
• apply knowledge-based approaches to management
• think critically about what to change and how to change.

Entry

You can take this course on its own, or include it in a number of our postgraduate qualifications. If you are taking the course as part of our MBA (F02) (now no longer open to new entrants), we expect you to have already completed the discontinued compulsory Stage 2 course Strategy (B820). If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Qualifications

BZX823 is an optional module in our:

• MBA (F02)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Management (C49)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice (C72)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Computing for Commerce and Industry (C02)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Information Systems (E10)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Management of Software Projects (E19)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Networks and Distributed Systems (E18)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Thinking in Practice (E28)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Technology Management (E08)
• Masters degree in Education (F01)
• Master of Public Administration (F44)
• MBA (Technology Management) (F03)
• MSc in Computing for Commerce and Industry (F05)
• MSc in Human Resource Management (F40)
• MSc in Information Systems (F37)
• MSc in Management of Software Projects (F43)
• MSc in Networks and Distributed Systems (F42)
• MSc in Technology Management (F36)
• MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice (F47)
• MSc in Software Development (F26)

Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.

If you have a disability or additional requirement

The course depends heavily on reading and writing text on computer screens. Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer and the internet. After you have registered you will receive detailed information about the facilities available to help with the academic programme.

If you are a new student, or new to study using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.

You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.

Study materials

What's included

Along with eight course units, BZX823 includes podcasts and online access to a fully integrated, tutor-supported, virtual learning environment.

Computing requirements

This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.

You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. You will contact your tutor by telephone, correspondence, email and online forums. All the tutoring for this course takes place online. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.

You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• Making a difference (BZX830)
• Making a difference (B830)
• Creativity, innovation and change (BZX822)
• Creativity, innovation and change (B822)
• Financial strategy (BZX821)

Future availability

The details given here are for the final course start date in November 2011. 

How to register

We regret that we are currently unable to accept registrations for this course. Where the course is to be presented again in the future, relevant registration information will be displayed on this page as soon as it becomes available.

Study explained

Course

- a module of study that can count towards a qualification.

Credits

- show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit represents roughly 10 hours of study.

Financial support

- find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.

Study explained

- all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.

Your questions

We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.

Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35

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