Institutional Knowledge Management: Leveraging Your Firm's Most Valuable Asset

Transcription

1 Fr several decades the wrld s best knwn frecasters f scietal change have predicted the emergence f a new ecnmy in which brainpwer, nt machine pwer, is the critical resurce. But the future has already turned int the present, and the era f knwledge has arrived. The Learning Organizatin Ecnmist Intelligence Unit Actin Plan The cncept f knwledge management is based n tw key assumptins: Knwledge is an imprtant cmmdity that can create a cmpetitive advantage fr rganizatins that use it well. Knwledge can, in fact, be strategically acquired, captured, shared, and stred in ways that leverages its value t individuals and rganizatins. In this presentatin, we will explre the cncept f knwledge management, its value in landscape architectural firms tday, and techniques that will help a firm leverage its use f knwledge t create a cmpetitive advantage. Sme f ur bjectives fr this prgram Create a cmmn understanding f the cncept knwledge management. Cmmunicate the imprtance and value f managing knwledge as an rganizatinal asset. Intrduce a mdel that will help yu address knwledge management in yur firm. Share sme lessns learned frm the KM effrts f ther rganizatins. Help yu create an Actin Plan fr addressing KM in yur firm. Actin Steps: In the sidebar, capture actin steps that yu will take in yur firm t launch r enhance yur knwledge management effrts. 2

2 What are yur gals? What d yu want t get ut f this prgram? ntes Actin Plan What is knwledge management? There are many, many definitins f knwledge management. Sme include: A range f strategies and practices used in an rganizatin t identify, create, represent, distribute, and enable adptin f insights and experiences. A strategic apprach fr leveraging hw an rganizatin acquires, captures, stres/retrieves, shares, and benefits frm its knwledge assets. A prcess fr ptimizing the effective applicatin f intellectual capital t achieve bjectives. Designing and creating envirnments, technlgies, and activities t discver and release knwledge that is nt knwn, r tacit knwledge. What des knwledge management mean t yur firm? What are yu trying t achieve? 3

3 The knwledge prcess Actins Plan Envirnment Discvery Applicatin Sharing Leveraging Capture Why is knwledge management imprtant? Mre imprtantly, why is knwledge management imprtant t YOU? What prblem are yu hping t fix thrugh a strategic KM effrt? What advantages are yu hping t gain? Sme cmmn knwledge management prblems we have seen Where s the itch? 4

4 A Knwledge Management Case Study Actins Plan The Dilemma Building the Team Rewards and Risks Strategies and Pririties Marshalling Supprt Mnitring the Effrt Aligning the Effrt Lessns Learned Measuring Success 5

5 Creating the Envirnment Actins Plan The Staff s View 6

6 Creating the Envirnment Actins ntes Plan Where Change Starts Change Risks Creating the Blueprint Building Cmmitment 7

7 Knwledge Capture Actin Plan It s a marathn, nt a sprint. Yu already have knwledge management systems in yur firm. Develp a KM Master Plan Priritize and take n bite sized prjects ver several years. Design a fundamental architecture that will allw all/mst f thse cmpnents t talk t each ther and wrk as a single system. Lk fr existing islands f infrmatin and cnslidate int a single Prtal. Databases Spreadsheets n individual wrkstatins Lists Reprts Prject Flders PwerPints Training Prgrams Prject management systems Finance/accunting Image management systems 8

8 Chsing a Prtal System Actin Plan Mid Range (Best f Landscape Architects) Criteria Single Sign n Integratin f multiple functins Ease f setup Dcumentatin Out f the bx features Prtlet API Custmizatin Persnalizatin Access Cntrl Federatin frm multiple data surces Licensing: server, database, prtal Cmmn Applicatins Intranet Dcument Management Cntent Management Cllabratin Sftware Custmer Relatinship Management Business Intelligence Wiki Blg RSS Tipping pint: Peple will use the system if they find it useful. In rder t be useful, it has t be ppulated with usable cntent up frnt. Once they get a certain success rate, they will use the system faithfully. Reward behavirs: T change behavirs and create a culture f cntributin, be sure t publicly recgnize cntributrs and prvide scial and financial incentives. Bite sized infrmatin: Large research papers are t cmplex and cstly t prepare. Create bite sized wiki articles that peple can quickly digest and use. Infrmatin n Demand: Infrmatin that is available at any time is critical. Make it easy t find what peple want n days, nights and weekends. Ownership: Give wnership t individuals fr specific dmains f knwledge. Identify Cmmunity f Practice leaders (e.g. strmwater experts, urban design experts, r planning experts and have them lead a cmmunity f practice. These will be the peple wh will be able t identify and capture dmain infrmatin as it flws thrugh the prject cycle. Capture Infrmatin in the Prject Prcess: Train Prject Managers t identify and reward capturing infrmatin that is gathered during the research phase f every prject vs. researching infrmatin fr the prtal that yu may need sme day. Cmmunicate updates: Let peple knw what has been added t the KM system. If they knw yu have the latest Green Rf data, then they will lk t yur KM system first. Measurement f results: Wh is inputting data, hw much, hw ften? Wh is using the KM successfully n prjects. Use the data t reinfrce behavir, share success stries and cntinually adjust yur prcesses. 9

9 Facilitating Discvery, Applicatin, Sharing, and Leveraging f Knwledge Actin Plan Nt all infrmatin is created equal Create knwledge cnnectins Create tipping pints Create mmentum Dn t spend a red cent Make cncepts sticky Directed learning vs. Guided experience Reinfrce learning Measure impact Create knwledge cnnectins. 10