2.

Knowledge
Management
for Individuals, Communities and
Organizations

Knowledge Management Introduction Stefan Urbanek

2008 Lecture Slides stefan.urbanek@gmail.com
http://stiivi.com
Stiivi
 Book references:

Kimiz Dalkir:
Knowledge Management in Theory and Practice
Elsevier 2005
 Attributes of KM
generating new knowledge

accessing valuable knowledge

from outside sources

using accessible knowledge in decision making

embedding knowledge
in process, products and services
 Major KM
Components

content containers
collection of knowledge units places where knowledge is stored,
modified, linked, managed

communities
prosumers* of knowledge book p. 20
(producers + consumers) *see Wikinomics
 Beneficiaries

communities
individuals organization
of practice
For Individuals
 For Individual
helps people do their jobs
and save time through better decision making and problem solving

builds a sense of community bonds

within the organization

helps people to keep up to date

provides challenges to contribute

 Time Saving (simplified)

meeting, analysis knowledge sharing knowledge application

1+1=? 2
1+1=? 2 2!

No KM
time
With KM

No KM

With KM free time

 For Individual
facilitating knowledge growth
through culture and incentives

transferring existing knowledge

see one example
into other parts of the organization

measuring the value of knowledge assets

impact of knowledge management
One Example
of Knowledge Transfer
 some information flows
management are going through several
levels of management,
sometimes being
aggregated, simplified
and subjectivised by
link chains, moreover it
makes flows slower

human marketing strategy customer

resources service

retail IT
 knowledge management
helps to create horizontal
retail
communication channels
marketing that allows peers to share
knowledge through
departments across whole
human organization
resources

strategy

customer
service

IT
For Community
of Practice
 For Community

develops professional skills

promotes peer-to-peer mentoring see one example

colleagues can teach each other more effectively

teaching material is reusable in time and in space

facilitates more effective networking and

collaboration see one example
 For Community

develops a professional code of ethics that

members can follow

develops a common language

Common Language

company wide Glossary might emerge

common language does not mean single

organization-wide definitions

common language means, that each member of

the organization is aware of all known and
used definitions
For Organization
 For Organization

helps drive strategy

solves problems quickly

solutions might be recorded and reused
each organization member can be potential solver
 For Organization

wisdom of crowds

diffuses best practices

cross fertilizes ideas and increases

opportunities for innovation

recommended reading: James Surowiecky: Wisdom of Crowds

 For Organization

improves embedded knowledge

in products and services
special properties or design reasons

builds organizational memory

knowledge is preserved in time
with knowledge management, organization
becomes knowledgeable and learning

learning organization
organizational knowledge is not intended to
replace individual knowledge but to
complement it by making it stronger, more
coherent and more broadly applicative