Within Alpha several functions and teams such as business
architecture, IT and knowledge content and design were formed. One of
Alpha’s priorities was to build a network of “knowledge-enabled worktables”
to provide staff customized access to Alpha’s knowledge base. Due to the
teething problem of using new technology and the poor translation of design
requirements to system functionalities, the IT team could not complete the
first worktable for the sales function on schedule. Meanwhile, the knowledge
content and design team had already developed a large amount of content.
Fearing that the delay could dampen interest in KM, the team engaged a
vendor to develop an intranet system as a quick alternative to making its
content available. This move was perceived by the IT team as an invasion into
its territory. Furthermore, the intranet was treated with skepticism from the rest
of the functions in Alpha. By the end of the year, the viability of the worktable
was in doubt. Given the high dependence and unsustainable expenditure
on external IT resources, Alpha was perceived to be losing control over its
IT-related projects. Thus, the management curtailed the worktable project
and disbanded Alpha completely when it eventually lost faith in knowledge
management.