Unit 4: Improving the Management of Communications, Knowledge and Information
Unit code: T/504/537
QCF level 4: BTEC Professional
Credit value: 11
Guided learning hours: 44
Unit aim
The aim of this unit is to give learners
knowledge and understanding of the importance of managing communications to improve
the flow of knowledge and information in the workplace for the success of the organisation.
Unit introduction
Information and work-based knowledge
is the most valuable resource that an organization possesses. The effective gathering, protection, analysis,
processing and dissemination of information are vital to the success of any organisation. As globalisation and the 24-hour economy develops
and increases, organisations must ensure that their information systems are reliable,
efficient and able to cope with rapid change. This unit is designed to develop understanding
of the interaction between communications, knowledge and information which will
help learners to understand that communications do not automatically take place
effectively in organisations and that both information and work-based knowledge
is often insufficient when decisions are made. Managers can improve the planning
of their communications processes as well as their communication skills. This unit
will help learners to understand why managers need to adopt a more inclusive approach
to stakeholders affected by their decisions and why they need to network on a more
structured basis. Learners will also examine how managers can make the information
and knowledge they gain accessible to other parts of the organisation.
Organisations whose information systems
previously dealt purely with data processing have now introduced systems to support
strategic management and decisions. Decision making depends on having information
that is relevant and timely and that can be used to justify decisions taken. Information
and communications technology (ICT) have changed many aspects of the decision- making
process. In this unit learners will develop an understanding of the importance of
analysing the information needs of an organisation at different levels and within
different functional areas such as financial analysis, econometric, auditing, production
and operations, including services improvement and market research.
On completion of this unit, learners
will understand the importance of effective information systems and how these systems
contribute to the decision-making process.
Learning outcomes and assessment
criteria
In order to pass this unit, the evidence
that the learner presents for assessment needs to demonstrate that they can meet
all the learning outcomes for the unit. The assessment criteria determine the standard
required to achieve the unit.
On completion of this unit a learner
should:
|
Learning
outcomes
|
Assessment
criteria
|
|
1 Understand how to assess information
and knowledge needs
|
·
describe the characteristics and sources of data
that a selected organisation needs
·
describe sources of information and knowledge needed
to ensure effective decision taking
·
evaluate the importance of information and knowledge
in the management decision making process
|
|
2 Understand how to create strategies to
increase personal networking to widen involvement in the decision- making process
|
·
assess the benefits of personal networking
·
evaluate the suitability of methods used to develop
business relationships
·
evaluate strategies for improving personal networking
|
|
3 Understand how to develop communication
processes to improve the gathering and dissemination of information and organisational
knowledge
|
·
evaluate the effectiveness of the current communication
processes in an organisation
·
recommend improvements to ensure greater integration
of systems of communication in that organisation
·
explain the importance of producing a personal
plan to improve own communication skills
|
|
Learning
outcomes
|
Assessment
criteria
|
|
4 Understand ways to improve systems relating
to information and knowledge
|
·
assess existing approaches to the collection, formatting,
storage and dissemination of information and knowledge in an organisation
·
recommend improvements to the collection, formatting,
storage and dissemination of information and knowledge in that organisation
·
assess the benefits of developing a strategy to
improve access to systems of information and
·
knowledge, taking into account any legal, ethical
and operational issues
|
Programme of suggested assignments
The table below shows a programme
of suggested assignments that cover the criteria in the assessment grid. This is
for guidance only and it is recommended that centres either write their own assignments
or adapt Excel assignments to meet local needs and resources.
|
Criteria
covered
|
Assignment
title
|
Scenario
|
Assessment
method
|
|
1.1, 1.2, 1.3,
2.1,
2.2, 2.3
|
Communications
in Business
|
Investigation
into the types of information used to inform decision making
|
Presentation
or report
|
|
3 .1, 3.2, 3.3,
4.1,
4.2, 4.3
|
The Way Forward
|
Investigation
of the
communication
and
information processes and systems in an organisation and how these could be improved,
taking account
of legal and ethical issues
|
Presentation
or report
|
