Knowledge Management Initiation

Knowledge is the combination of experience and information, which together can be used to formulate understanding and a decision. While the capture and distribution of knowledge within an enterprise has traditionally been a strictly controlled process, the new information-driven economy calls for more flexibility and greater
collaboration, both within an organisation adnwith customers and partners.

The goal of knowledge management is to capture, share and maintain the less formal, but critically important, tacit knowledge. Within an enterprise, the discipline of KM has become a fromalised process for facilitating the transfer of knowledge between individuals, the knowledge that isn't necessarily formally documented or shared.

Successful knowledge management implementation in an enterprise requires a true ecosystem, one comprised of a range of elements that must operate in concert:

People - For those companies embarking on KM inititative, a fundamental change is required. Knowledge can no longer be viewed as power - something that must be held close - rather than shared. Organisations need to build a culture of collaboration, where all stakeholders understand the part they play in sharing knowledge, where its easy to contribute to the knowledge base, and where those contributions are encouraged and rewarded.

Process - Disciplined workflows for creating knowledge, and for reviewing that information not only before, but after it is published to make sure it stays current.

Technologies - A technology infrastructure is needed to facilitate and streamline the knowledge capture process. These technologies must make this information easily and readily accessible to those who need it. The need to provide insights into how information's being used, whats' valuable, and whats' not, so that knowledge management systems are continually upgraded/ improved.