Building a global network

The paper sh exclusively examine close to of the ch each(prenominal)enges that Price body of waterho drug abuseCoopers (PwC) be confronting after a amalgamation between Pricewaterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand. The follow is one of the close to influential deep down its various(prenominal) ancestry bena. Such a position presents a fresh set of disputes in call of creating an efficient and fully functioning ne 2rk. These issues shall be examined below. Importance of having a fellowship origination or intranet resources The latter(prenominal)(prenominal) friendship had benefited from the economies of shell that expired from creation of much(prenominal) a rotund and influential spherical companion.Consequently, thither was a ingest to escort that one of the virtually important qualities in backup was bring home the bacon and this was speed. The latter trait would only be efficiently carried forth if the companies under love had fast technologies to help them ac hieve this. iodin of the latter modes of technology is the use of intranet and self-discip crease of a companionship base. (PWC, 2000) The intranet would go a dogged mood in facilitating parley between a series of s spr bulge outholders inwardly this watertight. Some of them included its employees, the come withs suppliers, its knobs and many to a greater extent(prenominal).Since these stakeholders were distributed spherically, whence at that place was a submit to repair sure that this culture was sh ard efficiently and the topper mode to do this was through the utilization of a sound cognition precaution musical arrangement or the intranet. A good knowledge base was alike all-important(a) in adding apprise to the versatile clients by providing them with easy access to their resources. Intranet would excessively back up in boosting the touch of deployment that provided products and overhauls indoors the firm. In addition, the knowledge base was also essential in ensuring sound concern of those resources.Lastly, the use of the intranet was important in ensuring that the merger was effectively carried out. This was because the latter family of technology would command that knowledge was fist captured, whence updated and distributed effectively within this presidential term. In separate words, knowledge within the two firms would be do avail suit sufficient to the entire organization and this would make the cultivate a whole luck more effective. Advantages and mischiefs of the friendship curve utilize at PWC There are a number of strong points that the experience incline (the intranet) that was follow outed by PwC. offshoot of all, it provided a program against which all the knowledge within the firm was incorporated. This meant that the intimacy slew was instrumental in providing a tool for providing the come with with a source of competitive advantage. (Thomas, 2000) The Knowledge thread was also advantage ous because of its profiling capabilities. with this methodology, it was possible to actualize the take of the company on the basis of geography, line of business and industry. This intranet remains was important to the company because it would assist the company to achieve knowledge counselling both at world(a) train and also at office level.However, in that location was a enigma with the Knowledge curl up owing to the fact that certain priorities at office level would non be implemented on a global level. This was because only the aspects that were common between various firms would be included in this global level carcass of profiling. (Law, 1998) It should be say that this limitation was dealt with by providing Knowledge Curve homepages for each office. This would go a dogged adoption in ensuring that personalized declareation was restricted for these areas. Another major disadvantage was that it was difficult to customize this several(prenominal) clay.This in the end led to the creation of other website whose point was to delay that local necessitate within each enterprise level were addressed. The latter website was known as the bridge. By adding much(prenominal)(prenominal) extra features, because it behind be said that Knowledge Curve was a bit ineffective at achieving around of it objectives. (litre and Langley, 2000) How PWC would encourage users to contribute knowledge towards the intranet First of all, PWC could realize that they break down all the bureaucratic systems within the company.This means that the spring mentality where it had been held that the support teams are implementers epoch the more experienced members were the decision makers should be changed. By doing this, mint who are more in touch with what is going on at the ground depart be encouraged to participate more within the intranet system within the company. The company gather ups to suss out that in that location is a flatter structure impleme nted on the ground. This willing go a extensive way in encouraging participants to contribute towards the mesh because they will feel more cute by the organization.While the company has gone a long way in eliminating approximately of the office politics within the organization, in that respect are assuage comparatively juicy numbers of issues that hire to be implemented by this company in enact to boost participation. Since there is still a management board that does project approvals and constitutes the management board, then people within the organization may still be judgement a little inhibited more or less contributing towards that intranet. Fewer powers hold to be given to this board so as to boost an sluttish environment.How PWC could facilitate sensation about the intranet and encourage users to utilize the knowledge base PWC was confront with an enormous designate of informing all its one 100 and fifty thousand employees who are distributed across one hun dred and fifty two countries for this receptive company. Consequently, there was a need to look for methods that could apply in much(prenominal) a wide geographical arena. Presentations are always a good way of informing people about something new. Consequently, the latter company could utilize this method to inform people.It could exact this out by visit various offices hence talking to people face to face and reservation them understand some of these issues properly. (Law, 1998) as well as using presentations, there is a need to interact personally with these potential users through the utilization of direct instructions. The company could go a long way in promoting awareness by distributing literature in the system. Since PWC is implementing the system on a global scale, then there is a need for the company to ensure that all the respective withdraw radicals understand the intricacies knotted through a method that leaves fashion for the communication of vast amounts of selective information.Other ways in which this company sess create awareness include Flyers Posters Wallet cards pretend a ways Many more The company house also go a long way in ensuring that various professionals understand how to use this system. This shadower be do by implementing sessions bespoke for such groups. Examples are all the accountants within the firm. By addressing a particular profession, then the company will gift shown them dependable how specific the intranet will be to their respective call for. Promoting awareness should not just be restricted to understanding the system itself.Awareness postulate to be done through a two way exchange. In other words, the system call for to be do in such a room that the underlying problems approach by the users need to be understood by the ingress team. One such example is the Knowledge Point help desk in which individuals do-nothing address their problems through such a system. Besides this, there is also a need to look into some of the challenges that the group is likely to encounter through a survey. Here, respondents fecal matter be asked about how they anchor the intranet and what the company displace do to better it.Tracking this intranet on an annual basis can also go a long way in ensuring its success. (Anonymous, 1998) Issues that PWC could encounter for intranet users outside(a) PWC Most of the problems to be faced by intranet users outside of this organization will emanate from the fact that there are still a number of corrections that are yet to be done in the process. An example of this issue is in equipment casualty of its Notes usage the company is yet to implement a regional basis of this system. Consequently, the succeeding(a) Notes names will have to be carried out Country City course of serviceSince ensuring the execution of such system would take up a lot of time, then it can be said that the credential of the user will be at stake. Another way in which guarantor issues could present a hurdle to the respective clients under consideration is through the performance of a private link to the clients system. This can be toughened owing to the fact that implementing it is too composite plant thus leaving security take unmet. An example of how such a problem was revealed was when the PWC tried implementing a private system for Hong Kong which was the centre point of all Asiatic Pacific clients.This was implemented through Australian, sweet Zealand and Hong Kong gateways. Utilization of such measures could be really problematic owing to the fact that so many security bridges can arise out of such a complex system. Evaluation of Lotus and the Knowledge Curve Benefits of using such systems Also, the intranet was very important to this company because of the fact that it was sooner simple to implement. In other words, it was comparatively easy to package, capture and also kick knowledge to the respective users.Whether PWC could mana ge various(a) and huge information with its technical fundament PWC can definitely manage such a diverse information system owing to the fact that it implemented a rationalization program. This was done in nine to eliminate duplication of work that arose out of the availability of two sources of info. Besides this, the company was in need of synchronizing all the numerous databases that were located within contrasting geographical areas. In pronounce to straighten out such a problem, the company chose to impute duties to lines of service.Doing this was an effective and adequate way of making sure that all the problems being faced were dealt with meticulously. Besides that, the IT team would have been burden by the problem. Each line of service member was supposed to exonerate out identification of the data owner. PWC was able to carry this out effectively also data owners were assigned the task of regularly modify information so as to ensure that the data base was valuable . Carrying out these scrupulous tasks to completion was an indication that the company can manage vast amounts of data. (Lotus, 2000)Additionally, this company is assailable of covering most of its challenges to be faced in managing huge databases by choosing to nurse open rather than closed systems. unlikeable systems may work for relatively littler companies. However, companies of a global nature such as PWC are in need of making sure that people can update and access information as meltedly as possible and an open database would definitely be the way to go. Lastly, PWC was able to eliminate the duplication problem that it was veneer at the beginning of their merger. This was also another painstakingly slow process since it was manually done.Since the company was able to do this effectively, then one can assume that the company can be able to carry out the process of managing even big amounts of data in the future. Ways in which the Knowledge Curve structure could be make betterd The Knowledge Curve could be improved in the future gutter working on local Knowledge Curves. Already, the Development team has been assigned with this task. They need to ensure that all data is canvas at local levels in rules of order to streamline some of the tax management, schedule management and executive recruitment tasks (Farhoomand, 2000)In order for the knowledge curve to work, there should be improvement of the companys networking system. Servers for data sharing need to be worked on. Also, there are a number of tie in task that need to be managed and buns include monitoring, internet services, network management and security systems. The Knowledge Curve also requires continuous improvement of the Lotus Notes Infrastructure, this can best be achieved through the process of recertifying all identification within this systems. Besides this, the process of addressing through the use of initials needs to be implemented.The Knowledge Curve needs to be in line with novel technologies. This needs to be done in such a manner that items such as voice recognition technologies need to reflect such perceptions. In line with this is the issue of upgrading the power system within the company. Lastly, the Knowledge curve can also be improved through a sound feedback teams. First of all, they need to ensure that calls are answered promptly. Also, they need to improve their level of integration between the use and the integration of internal networks.How PWC should disseminate the service to its clients The company is interested in ensuring that most if not all the services offered to their respective clients are done in an effective manner. In order to do this, then clients should not be treated as if operative challenges are part of their problems. The company needs to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible. (Leong, 1999) First of all, the company should dismiss notifications to their clients about any recent upgrades within their syst em. This can be done through email.Thereafter, the company should give details about those changes and leave room for inquiries from clients in showcase they do not understand the instructions. in short after, the company needs to carry implementation in one stage. This can be done in short intervals so as to ensure that the entire process is covered within a relatively short time. Customers can regulate hold out of this by implementation if they constantly have to grapple with new changes. It would be best to get it over and done with at one go. Whether PWC should offer the service for free or for a feeSince PWC prides itself in the value addition within its services, then the company should offer the service as a bonus to their clients. The rewards of implementing such a system will be depicted in the returns obtained by the system. PwC will be more effective in responding to client needs and they will also have a large capacity for managing information sure from their respect ive clients. Consequently, the system will improve their profitability through more conform to consumers and a wider client base. There will be no point in charging them for this because if PwC was to do this, they would be trying to get double benefits.Conclusion Building a global network is a huge challenge for PwC but this company has more than plentiful capabilities to deal with this issue. First of all, their networking team has been able to manage effectively and they will carry on to do so. Secondly project, development and guest care groups have also done their part. The company needs to keep up this effort in order to ensure that their Knowledge Curve has succeeded. References PWC (2000) Homepage, retrieved from http//www. pwcglobal. com/ accessed on twenty- quaternaryth Jan 2008Anonymous (1998) Moore Schiro We changed the competitive landscape Accounting Today, twenty-eighth September Thomas, S. (2000) Focus Keeping pacing with knowledge Information Week Review, clv Leong, K. (1999) Marketing Gets Innovative, Internet week, 3rd May, Lambert and Langley (2000) PwC Interview, Hong Kong, 1st February Lotus (2000) Definition of Notes, retrieved form http//www. whatiscom/notes. htm 30 May Farhoomand, A. (2000) Price water house Cooper Building a global network Asia case question centre Law, G. (1998) And then there were four Management journal, 45, 1