Mapping Workflows and Managing Knowledge: Dynamic Modeling of Formal and Tacit Knowledge to Improve Organizational Performance, Volume II - Softcover

John L. Kmetz

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1631574299 ISBN 13: 9781631574290

Publisher: Business Expert Press, 2016

Synopsis

This book is Volume II of simple but powerful tools for performance improvement. It is written for managers, analysts, and consultants who realize the value that system dynamic modeling can bring to companies and organizations, and would like to have that capability without a degree in math or computer science. It features the iThink modeling program, which requires no extensive knowledge of math; instead, iThink uses a small set of symbols and rules to allow any keen observer of a system to create models graphicallythe user literally draws a graphic of the system within the program and works from that. In Chapter 1, the author describes his own experiences with modeling, the growth and development of modeling software, and makes the case for its value. Chapter 2 is an overview of iThink symbols and rules, sufficient to enable the reader to interpret and understand iThink models; while the program has many advanced features, a great many models are based on the fundamentals in this chapter. Chapter 3 provides guidelines for converting workflow-mapping models into iThink dynamic models, and discusses approaches to building models from scratch. This approach to modeling is consistent with the authors approach to workflow mapping and analysis, which uses a small symbol set and related discipline to map workflows in any company or organization, without the need for expensive software or extended training. That process is described in this volume of the series, and these maps are often the foundation for modeling the system as a dynamic entity.

About this title

About the Author

John Kmetz is president of Transition Assistance Associates, a selective firm of professionals who assist companies and organizations in diagnosing challenges and formulating transition strategies to meet them. He is retired from the Department of Business Administration at the University of Delaware, where he taught at both graduate and undergraduate levels for 34 years, in addition to taking a very active role in development and delivery of professional courses and seminars. He combined his academic interests with a wide range of experience. He spent two years as a proofreader and copyeditor in a printing company while working his way through a BS at Penn State. He took his MBA and Doctor of Business Administration at the University of Maryland.

Edition details

• Publisher: Business Expert Press
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1631574299
• ISBN 13: 9781631574290
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 90