KM software for KM students

Malaspina University College in Nanaimo, British Columbia, is deploying knowledge exchange software to international students during the knowledge management component of their MBA degree. The college's new MBA degree programs are offered in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire.

The deployment involves IntraKnexa software, a Web-based knowledge exchange that allows users to discover who knows what and then to gain access to that expertise, according to the software maker, Knexa.

Isabelle Giroux, an instructor in the MBA program at Malaspina, says that she continuously emphasizes the fact that technology is merely an enabler for creating knowledge management capability in an organization.

"Without addressing the behavioral and cultural aspects of getting people to share knowledge, even the best knowledge management software will be useless," she says.

"With this in mind, I think piloting Knexa's software is an exciting opportunity for students to touch and feel what knowledge management software is actually capable of accomplishing. Using the software becomes even more important for them if you consider the fact that using this kind of technology to manage knowledge is a growing trend in leading organizations."

Rob Jeacock, director of Malaspina's MBA programs, says, "I think the collaboration will be mutually beneficial to our MBA students and to Knexa."

Knexa CEO David Brett says, "As an executive MBA graduate myself, I realize the tremendous value of a well-thought-out online collaboration system for making the learning experience more powerful and enjoyable."