Rafi Almhana

Professor Atanu Bhattacharya

OB 354
June 19, 2014
Assignment 2
Given these generational issues and the type of work life that IBM employees tend to have.
Can you think of another possible way to encourage knowledge sharing within the
organization?
Each employee needs a mentor. Someone who can teach them the ropes, answer any
questions they may have, and help them succeed within the organization. The mentor
should be someone who is willing to truly guide a mentee in the right direction.
Departments vs. individuals: Seek out specific departments, not just individuals, when
looking for a specific piece of information. They do say two heads are better than one, so
utilize that in your knowledge-sharing efforts.
Trust is the foundation for any type of functional relationship. If you do not trust your co-
workers, you will not be willing to share you very valuable knowledge, which just makes
for an unhealthy environment.
Reward your employees for contributing valuable information. Recognition is the number
one way to satisfy an employee, so give them a shout out in front of the entire company.
Establish a Knowledge management system, which is responsible for culture of
knowledge learning, sharing and development.
Develop shared vision and team-working culture so that there is no competition among
workers
People normally have a habit of knowledge-hiding with peers; so there is a need to build
incentives for knowledge-sharing.
Employees should be encouraged to participate in workshops, conferences, presentation,
publication of papers in reputed journals, and present their acquisition in the departmental
meetings to make one knows what the other person is doing and simultaneously knowing
something more in their areas and in new areas.
Use a dedicated company web page to publish new events, products, good practice and
procedures, etc.
Send regular email shots and weekly newsletters to employees.
How might IBM attempt to break down the perceptions and stereotypes that exist between
generations in order to help the knowledge-sharing process?
IBM management must help the older workers understand that advancements in technologies
have benefitted the workplace and is not a hindrance. The older generation sees the younger
workers as video game junkies and techno nerds. These stereotypes need to be diminished by
showing the older workers that the newer technology and the younger employee brings advanced
knowledge and newer attitudes to the workplace. Once the older generation sees that the
technologically advanced younger generation brings better efficiency and streamline techniques
to the job, they will be more inclined to help train them on their years of job knowledge.