Beyond knowledge management to better management
We're told that we should not watch anyone make sausages or laws. These are messy (and, in the view of some, stomach-churning) processes that can produce wonderful results. Unfortunately, many have extended this aversion from the making of laws to the providing of legal services. So we go through our days doing whatever the client... Continue Reading →
When we work in an area like knowledge management that is hard to reduce to useful numbers, it can be challenging to prove ROI for the bean counters. In fact, some would argue that numbers can never tell the whole story regarding a knowledge management initiative. So what works better? Find your success stories and... Continue Reading →
Today is Groundhog Day. I have no idea whether Phil the groundhog will see his shadow, but I try never to forget what happened to Bill. Who's Bill? Bill Murray in the movie, Groundhog Day. Because he resisted growing up and moving forward, he was condemned to repeat Groundhog Day until he did something to... Continue Reading →
I made a mistake the other day. As I was leaving for work, I checked the weather report to see how warmly I needed to dress. The forecast said 40 Fahrenheit. So, my brain went through the following fairly logical steps: On the Fahrenheit scale, freezing occurs at 32 degrees. Today's temperature is only 8... Continue Reading →
The heartbreaking photos from Haiti are compelling. How can you not help? In fact, most folks I know have been looking for effective ways to help. And, as they look, many find their instincts clash with reality. For example, some feel compelled to get on the first available plane to Port-au-Prince and DO something. But... Continue Reading →
If you're looking for overnight success, forget about social media. Snake oil salesman who tell you it's easy (or it's like magic) are NOT telling you the truth. Social media success, like pretty much everything else in life, requires hard work -- thoughtfully and consistently done. A recent Mashable piece, 3 Things You Need to... Continue Reading →
There's something quite comforting in the voice that reminds me to "mind the gap" when I travel the London Underground. That recorded message has saved me from many a misstep. It's a pity we knowledge managers don't hear a similar recorded message before we communicate with senior management or front line workers. There is a... Continue Reading →
There have been some recent high profile investigations of bribery in the business world. Has anyone checked the knowledge management world? I've heard reports of cash rewards, gift cards and coveted electronics offered by various KM departments to induce knowledge workers to participate in KM systems. In what way are these not bribes? Here's the... Continue Reading →
Jonah Lehrer has written a thought-provoking piece on why we too often miss the great opportunities presented by failure. In Accept Defeat: The Neuroscience of Screwing Up, he explains how our brains purport to "help" us by screening out information that doesn't fit with what we believe we know. Here's how he describes it: The... Continue Reading →
If you are a traditionalist you'll know that January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany in the Western Church, is the day for giving up and giving away. It is the day to give up your Christmas finery, packing it away until next December. It also is the Day of the Three Kings, when people... Continue Reading →
Above and Beyond KM 