Introduction
As of today, many information technology companies are being built due to the fact that it is an important tool for any firm to have one so as to apply its advancements to their business. Hence, many have already been thinking of the way they can do best in their businesses. It is also necessary to filter out collected data which can be useful in making sound decisions in regards to business. Inevitable, competition can’t be eradicated especially for resources and customers. Company executives are now experiencing stress and a lot of pressure in handling the business due to some uncertainties. So now, many have been researching on the thought of having business knowledge which is both sustainable and has an advantage while keeping things at a competitive level. This information is expected to be well accomplished and embalmed making it easily acquired and comprehended by any person in the industry.
Reasons for failing Knowledge Management
Unfortunately, even if almost all of the leading business people around the globe have great managing skills for their corresponding knowledge assets, they still couldn’t harness an outstanding amount of benefits it should have. Several issues had been raised and studied on why great minds still fail to benefit from their strategic ways of keeping their knowledge assets. First of the many issues is the belief that having the knowledge entitles them to have benefits right away and second is that the mindset that knowledge management is just a small problem such as “supply-side issue” which is not. In addition, business leaders fail to see the benefits of being first on having initiatives regarding knowledge management; they take for granted it most of the time.
Current Event in Business World
Recently on Newsweek posted last 9th of September 2015, Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO was the headline of having refused to follow what the U.S government commanded him to do. Tim Cook rejected to unlock the iPhone of an attacker of San Bernardino, California; this then attracted the interests and attention of countless supporters as well as critics thinking of what will happen to the sales of the Apple Company given this event.
Tim Cook was persistent in his company’s privacy policy and that is to not let anyone interfere with a customer’s right to confidentiality. However, the issue lies to the fact that the one he was protecting was Rizwan Farook who killed 14 individuals in San Bernardino. He was very straightforward when he told the government that once he did obliged to their request; it would lead to destabilize the security of their Apple products. Then with a bliss, critics and supporters of Apple made hashtags “#boycottapple” and “#thankyouapple” which made its way to the top tweets. Many have made their statements and comments but it did not break the hearts of Apple’s and Cook’s supporter.
Also, the CEO of Twitter supported cook regarding the matter and in contrast, Ann Coulter, a pundit, stated that Apple did the rejection of the U.S government’s request just to heighten the popularity of their company and products or as what Coulter stated it “for PR purposes”. On a lighter note, Allan Adamson who even praised what Cook has done for their customers stated that "Corporate leaders are better off having a very clear, principled view that customers can either agree or disagree with rather than having ambiguity and lack of clarity as to what the company stands for,"; Adamson is a branding expert. Furthermore, there are those who stated their respect and acknowledged the fact that Cook was witty enough to present an open letter and fight for their privacy policy.
Synthesis on the article
In relation to knowledge management to put an organization in a competitive advantage, the company of Tim Cook, Apple, was just successful in giving off know-how in a business full of predators and competitors. They did not just protect their customers’ rights but also gained an advantage by keeping their oath and promise. Given that the customer who was privacy rights was to be jeopardized is a cruel one, still, Apple was able to gain support and popularity to many. Indeed, the U.S government could have used another tool to get information about the criminal but they insisted on what they think is the easiest. Unfortunately, Apple’s CEO was that firm on his stand and that only made them more popular in giving great services to the people. Working your company with proper knowledge management enables you to “know more about what you know”. Also, it is quite evident that Cook was able to get hold of their stakeholders to continue investing in the company, thus, continuously giving out good customer service. In addition, it is greatly essential to let the company employees see the transparency in issues like what happened to apple; this in turn will promote the organization’s camaraderie leading to a better working environment, thus more productive employees.
Conclusion
References
Chikati, R., Mpofu, N. (Oct 2013) “Developing Sustainable Competitive Advantage through Knowledge Management” Retrieved from http://www.ijstr.org/final-print/oct2013/Developing-Sustainable-Competitive-Advantage-Through-Knowledge-Management.pdf
Reuters (Feb 2016) “ Will Tim Cook’s Privacy Stance Help Apple With Customers?” Retrieved from http://www.newsweek.com/apple-tim-cook-customers-iphone-encryption-fbi-iphone-san-bernardino-shooter-428360
Zack, H. (Sept 1998) “Managing Codified Knowledge” Retrieved from: http://web.cba.neu.edu/~mzack/articles/kmarch/kmarch.htm
