Can, Should, How of Safeguarding Knowledge

This blog is in continuation to my post on whether a practitioner should manage all knowledge of an organisation. There were multiple feedbacks and this blog is a consolidation of the suggestions. Thank you Professor Eric Tsui and Dr. Abdelkarim Darwish for the suggestions

An attempt to manage all knowledge would be foolish in the current scenario when funding on KM is low.?

Considering this a more intelligent approach to managing knowledge is suggested. In this the key focus is on safeguarding knowledge.

Start with Goals, tasks and key capabilities of the organisation

KM Interventions should always be aligned to the goals, tasks and key capabilities of the organisation. The goals of the organisations, both short term and long term goals can be accomplished only when some specific knowledge are available. Similarly the tasks that are performed by the organisation.

While the tasks can be mapped to goals, there will be tasks that may stand independent of any goal.

Similarly understand all the key capabilities of the organisation that defines its competitiveness. The underlying knowledge related to this capabilities are critical.

What are those critical knowledge?

Not all knowledge in the above list should be managed. There are some knowledge that are easily accessible, some that can be easily bought and there are some knowledge that are very difficult to create or acquire. Which when lost will impact the organisation.

Identifying them is critical.

Some criteria to further classify the critical knowledge

• They are broadly applicable
• Has extensive impact on the performance of organisation
• Would be difficult to acquire
• Having this knowledge gives a comparative advantage

Approach to safeguard the knowledge

What should be the approach to safeguard the critical knowledge. The approach will differ based on whether it is explicit or tacit knowledge. Explicit knowledge can be captured, stored, audited, archived regularly. Tacit knowledge should be tracked, backups defined and grown through different approaches including CoPs.?

Defining this approach is critical.

Approach to leverage knowledge

This is an important part in managing knowledge. How do we ensure that the knowledge that is captured is leveraged. While the typical approach has been to evangelise on KM and promote usage, more proactive measures can also be adopted. This includes systematic reuse program, institutionalisation of knowledge, knowledge sharing sessions etc.?Elements like better search engine, insight building etc, also forms part of this.

A task based approach to leveraging and consuming knowledge will bring more tangible benefits to the organisation.

Metrics, reporting, feedback and improvement

This is the last key element in the KM intervention part. Regular reporting, taking feedback and improving the KM intervention is critical.