Knowledge is different than data or information. It has been defined in many different ways, but the one we prefer is that of justified belief. Set in the correct context, knowledge is actionable and can be a great lever used to enhance organizational performance.
Knowledge management is about getting the most out of an organization's knowledge resources, and it comprises several separate, but related processes. These processes, discovery, capture, sharing and application, address different needs, and they rely on different supporting systems and solutions, and the correct mix of process, systems and solutions ultimately depends on a variety of firm-specific factors. Because a successful knowledge management initiative requires careful planning, we use a structured, three-phase process comprising audit/assessment, planning and implementation in order to assure optimal results.
First we start by interviewing management and internal stakeholders to determine organizational goals and determine project scope.
Second we interview IT personnel to understand the organization's current technical capabilities to support knowledge management systems and platforms.
Third we conduct a survey of relevant employees to assess the current state of knowledge management within the organization.
Fourth we synthesize the data we've collected and use our custom KM priority scorecard to identify priorities and make recommendations for processes the organization should implement as well as processes the organization should abandon.
Fifth we discuss our recommendations with the organization to determine whether we should proceed to the project planning phase.
First we determine the organization's budget and develop an appropriate portfolio of solutions to address the priorities identified in the audit/assessment phase.
Second we determine metrics to measure the success of the project (and ongoing knowledge management performance).
Third we prepare a detailed project plan with concrete milestones.
Fourth we make sure we have support from the appropriate levels of the organization before moving on to implementation.
First we collect any data required to give use a baseline for the performance metrics we identified in the planning phase.
Second we deploy any new technologies (software, devices, platforms) necessary to support the solutions identified in the planning phase.
Third we implement the specific solutions to meet the organization's knowledge management goals.
Fourth we train employees and provide necessary documentation. (This step may overlap with the actual solution implementation step.)
Fifth we collect performance data and compare them against the baseline data to determine overall success after a predetermined length of time.
Finally we officially conclude the project by providing a final report to the organization and discussing ongoing goals and priorities with management.
Contact us to find out how you can leverage our knowledge management methodology to achieve a cognitive advantage.