Beyond knowledge management to better management
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 →
I recently saw adults behaving very badly in God of Carnage. And then courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera's iconic production of the Ring Cycle, I saw gods behaving badly, mortals behaving badly, giants behaving badly, dwarfs behaving badly ... you get the picture. All of this aberrant behavior started me wondering about how we factor... Continue Reading →
If you don't believe design matters, read this post, buy a can of Altoids and reconsider. I heard a great story at lunch on Sunday of a presentation made by Claudia Kotchka, Proctor & Gamble's design and innovation maven, who explained what made Altoids great. And then, to drive the point home, showed her audience... Continue Reading →
There is an old adage: "A place for every thing and every thing in its place." And yet, if you've ever shared space with another human being, you know how hard it can be to (i) identify that one place and (ii) get everyone to put each thing in its "proper" place. (As I write,... Continue Reading →
Let me introduce you to My Little Pony Scootaloo. According to the manufacturer, "SCOOTALOO pony loves to play games and be outside. She’s always on the go to meet and play outdoors with all her pony friends!" The suggested retail price for this toy is US$4.99.To be honest, My Little Pony is not something I've... Continue Reading →
In my earlier post today, KM and the Pantyhose Fallacy, I begged the indulgence of my male readers with the following words: "Stick with me, gentlemen. I'm sure there's a male equivalent to this that I haven't thought of yet." Well there is an equivalent (or near equivalent) that is instructive: pants.Traditionally, better quality men's... Continue Reading →
The Pantyhose* Fallacy may not yet be a term of art in knowledge management and information technology, but I can guarantee that you already understand its underlying principle. [Stick with me, gentlemen. I'm sure there's a male equivalent to this that I haven't thought of yet.] Here's the Pantyhose Fallacy: for years retailers have sold... Continue Reading →
Where do the smartest lawyers in the world work? If Seth Godin is to be believed, each law firm knowledge manager could say "the smartest lawyers in the world work at my firm." In his post, All customers are smarter than average, he reports that people regularly rate themselves as "less racist than average, smarter... Continue Reading →
What are people searching for and where are they looking? That's the question asked and answered in a thought-provoking article in the March 2008 issue of KMWorld. While working with an admittedly small sample, the survey yielded some interesting findings:- 62% of respondents said that they first search the Internet before searching more specialized resources... Continue Reading →
Chocolates and roses are traditional Valentine's Day gifts. And they are given for what purpose? The cynic might say behavior modification. Unfortunately, while chocolates and roses may facilitate a pleasant evening, they rarely bring about lasting changes in behavior. Something else is required. Knowledge management by its very nature leads to behavioral changes. Good knowledge... Continue Reading →
Above and Beyond KM 