Assessment of environmental scanning attitudes, methods and activities at Manakau Institute of Technology

Abstract

This research project originated as an extended essay on the burgeoning topic of knowledge management. Through research and writing, the focus narrowed into a more refined aspect of knowledge management - namely environmental scanning and its impact on what is now known as the learning or intelligent organisation. The study concerned how environmental scanning was undertaken as a management level activity at Manukau Institute of Technology in south Auckland, New Zealand. Based heavily on the work of Daft et al (1988 123 -139) and Auster & Choo (1993, 1994) and Choo (1998) the study analysed aspects, such as how frequently and in what management decision making context, environmental scanning was undertaken by managerial level staff at Manukau Institute of Technology. 100 questionnaires concerning environmental scanning were distributed among target staff members in the allied (administration and management) and academic (teaching) staff fields to assess their beliefs and opinions on various aspects regarding environmental scanning as described in a comprehensive literature review. It was determined that while the findings were tentative and not tested under any formal statistical hypotheses, there was a level of awareness of environmental scanning among staff at Manukau Institute of Technology - be that at a 'common sense' or formal understanding level. While an interview with a senior staff member at the institute generally augmented the survey findings, there is possibly still room for a formal, proactive environmental scanning campaign in the organisation.