Beyond knowledge management to better management
In knowledge management as in life, folks often come in one of two flavors: the mixologists and the bartenders. Not sure about the distinction? According to Jim Meehan (a bartender at PDT, an East Village speakeasy in New York City): Mixologists serve drinks. Bartenders serve people. The KM mixologists believe in their systems and theories. ... Continue Reading →
Verizon's ads about cellphone reception feature the tag line "Can you hear me now?" They are a great demonstration of the benefits of a good cellphone network. However, they do not represent the gold standard for knowledge management. In KM, it isn't enough merely to hear -- we actually have to listen. It's our inability... Continue Reading →
Silos are a common means by which farmers store the grain they have harvested until it can be taken to market. While silos make sense in agriculture, why are they so prevalent in non-agricultural organizations? Nearly every business has farmers or systems that gather and hoard data in information silos that are impenetrable for those... Continue Reading →
We tell our children that work is serious business. And that's right -- to a certain extent. However, research is reminding us that it takes more than just grim determination and single-minded focus for success at work (and in life). Marion Chapsal recently reiterated this truth in her post, Play, laughter and creativity in coaching. ... Continue Reading →
"Never underestimate the vital importance of finding early in life the work that for you is play. This turns possible underachievers into happy warriors." This quotation from Sir Ken Robinson's book, The Element, is a good reminder for a Friday, as we take stock of the work week that has just past. Have we spent... Continue Reading →
When the first Sinatra Duets album was released in 1993, I was completely surprised. Frank Sinatra and his producers had taken some of his classics and given them a new twist by pairing Sinatra with a curious group of artists, several of whom had little or no experience with the American Songbook. The result was... Continue Reading →
Do current economic conditions have you concerned about the viability of law firm knowledge management? Would it be helpful to your thinking to hear from law firm KM experts on the current state of KM and where they think it's headed? If so, consider tuning into the webinar offered by the Knowledge Management Peer Group... Continue Reading →
If you're ever asked for a church key, don't assume that the person making the request wants access to a house of worship. They may, in fact, be looking for spiritual assistance of a completely different sort. Are you puzzled? Well, that's perfectly understandable if you aren't familiar with this particular idiom. Idioms of all... Continue Reading →
The Hebrew Bible tells the story of the Tower of Babel. This monument to human achievement and pride was to be built so tall as to reach the heavens. It was never completed because the builders were unable to communicate properly with each other. According to the Book of Genesis, it was through divine intervention... Continue Reading →
Our society has made a fetish of linear thinking. We've been trained to expect that A will lead to B, which in turn will lead to C. We breathe a sigh of relief whenever we experience what Webster's New Millennium Dictionary of English describes as a "step-by-step progression where a response to a step must... Continue Reading →
Above and Beyond KM 