Beyond knowledge management to better management
Paul Sloane has written a fantastic piece called How to Ruin a Brainstorming Session. If you take a closer look, you'll realize that many of the elements that are fatal for brainstorming are also fatal for a knowledge management program. Here are some of the practices Paul Sloane believes are deadly: You have no clear... Continue Reading →
As a self-confessed pack rat, I've had a morbid fascination for folks who preach and practice the virtues of minimalism and a clutter-free existence. Call it a form of self-abuse, but I just can't help reading their propaganda. And then, I come every workday to a business that never has a shortage of stuff to... Continue Reading →
Given the state of the economy, it's wise to ask yourself from time to time if you are closer to obsolete than mission critical. As you think about your answer to that question, I'd recommend that you take a look at Rick Mans' post, Should Knowledge Managers Look for a New Job, and the accompanying... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Regardless of official job descriptions and titles, one of the most important functions knowledge management performs is that of corporate matchmaker. The matches KM makes are often transitory, but can be very important in the moment. If you're looking for advice, we find you an expert. If you're looking for an example, we find you... Continue Reading →
Those of us who chase knowledge for a living have learned the hard way that our target frequently is elusive and the available tools and methods are not always adequate. Despite this, we do strive to identify and follow the best route for achieving the knowledge management goals set by our firms. In a prior... Continue Reading →
In a recent meeting, a vendor said with great enthusiasm, "Let me show you our KM solution." For a brief moment of intense joy, I actually thought I was about to experience KM enlightenment. I should have known better. After a bit of fanfare, he unveiled ... a search engine. Admittedly, it appeared to be... Continue Reading →
Over the weekend, I met a rather opinionated person. (Although, perhaps it is overstating it a bit to use the word "person.") She was very insistent that we do things her way and really wasn't open to a conversation about alternative approaches. If we decided not to follow her advice, she'd repeat insistently, "off-route, recalculating,... Continue Reading →
Above and Beyond KM 