If you are interested in researching Knowledge Management, also referred to as KM, you will certainly find that there is an abundance of literature about this topic. But just what is “knowledge management?” According to e-learning expert, Marc Rosenberg (2007), knowledge management is
a collection of three things. The first one is collaboration, sharing among people. The second is the ability to effectively find and use expertise-being able to find answers from people who know the answers quickly. The third is the use of information repositories, libraries of information that people can access easily and share conveniently.
A number of scholars view knowledge management as a systematic process whereby there is a sharing of information that is available to those who need it, just at the right time it is needed. (Rossett 2002; Malhotra, 2003; Dagli, Silman, & Birol, 2009). Notwithstanding these references, there exists a general consensus among a significant number of professionals that knowledge management, when appropriately structured and applied, can yield long term benefits (Dagli, et. al; Malhotra). There is also agreement that knowledge management is not limited to the technological arena (Gottschalk, 2007; Dagli, et al).
So what are some reasons we should be doing knowledge management?
1. Effective Workgroup Collaboration
A knowledgeable workgroup is a more satisfied workgroup. Creating repositories where individuals in similar professionals house and share their expertise, experiences and knowledge is one of the advantages of doing knowledge management.
A great example of this sharing concept is community blogs which allow individuals seeking advice on how to handle specific work-related problems. The solution to the challenge(s) they are facing might very well be one blog post away.
2. Reduction in time and costs
In well-organized and deep knowledge repositories, there is a potential for reduction in time and costs required to finding solutions to specific work problems and challenges (please refer to #1 above).
3. Enhance Customer/Client Satisfaction
According to Malhotra, Dell Computer Corporation survived the “desktop computer bloodbath” that other companies fell victim to by using actionable knowledge management to refine its business model to better cater to the changing needs of customers (2003). Critical to that success, he states, was that they not only did “the right thing,” they also did “things right.” (2003). Jurgens Pieterse also states that knowledge management “allows a business to capture and change essential business logic” (2005)
4. Leading by Example
Dr. Judith Lamont, Ph.D. provides an example of how knowledge management has helped to sustain new government initiatives that provide a way for agencies on all levels to “promote best practices in knowledge sharing (2010).”
5. More Data for Decisions
Last, but not least, doing knowledge management can also help to promote better decision-making by providing organizations with a means to “gather and synthesize information to ensure that it ends up where it will do the most good (Lamont, 2010).”
How do you see knowledge management being useful? Add your thoughts in the comments.
References
Business Management. (n.d.). Is knowledge management the ultimate competitive advantage? Retrieved on January 28, 2010 from http://www.brint.org/BusinessManagementAsia.pdf
Dagli, Gokmen, Silman, Fatos, Birol, & Cem. (2009, Summer). A qualitative research on the university administrators’ capacity to use management knowledge tools (The case of TRNC universities), Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Bilimleri / Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice 9 (3), 1269-1290. Retrieved from ERIC database.
Gottschalk, P. (2007). Knowledge management systems: Value shop creation. Retrieved January 29, 2010 from University of Memphis Libraries, netLibrary Web site: http://www.netlibrary.com.ezproxy.memphis.edu/Reader/
Kapp, K. (n.d.). An Interview with Marc Rosenberg, Retrieved on January 27, 2010 from: http://www.e-learningguru.com/interviews/interview_rosenberg.htm.
Lamont, Judith, (2010, January 1). KM past and future: closing the knowledge loop. [Msg 60327], Message posted to: http://www.kmworld.com/Articles/PrintArticle.aspx?ArticleID=60327
Leitch, J.M. & Rosen, P. (2001). The keys to competitive advantage. The Manchester Review 6(2-3).
Pieterse, J. (2005, November 11). Why knowledge management? [Msg 6572]. Message posted to: http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/enterprise-design/why-knowledge-management -6572
Ried, C. (2009). KM at work: A look at how organizations maximize knowledge to deliver results. EContent, 32(9), 30-5. Retrieved January 30, 2010, from Omni File Full Text Mega database.
Reiser, R., & Dempsey, J. (2007). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Rossett, Allison (Ed), The ASTD E-Learning Handbook, best practices, strategies, and case studies for an emerging field. Retrieved on January 29, 2010 from: website: ASTD Elearning Handbook at: http://books.mcgraw-hill.com/authors/rossett/km.htm
Guest blogger: Dot Hale is a Distance Education (Academic) Advisor and student at the University Memphis. She has taught several courses at the university including: Public Administration and Introduction to Using Computers in the Law Office. Dot is currently working toward an Ed.D. in Instructional Design and Technology at the University of Memphis. After completing her degree, she would like to pursue a teaching career in higher education and develop online resources that will assist academic advisors in the delivery of more effective advising strategies for distance education students.
Image from Thomas A. Boucher at Flikr Creative Commons
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Dot,
Thank you for the insights on knowledge management. This is is an area that I need to get more educated about. I am always drawn to the concept of collaboration in elearning environments and I’m glad to see it first on your list. I recently started following bloggers more and more. I am thrilled at the sharing of valuable knowledge that exists out there.
Thanks for your feedback Suha. The process, if well structured or customized has the potential to really cut down on the amount we spend on to solve different work-related problem. I’m with you that we could all benefit from searching specific subjects on these blogs.
The socialization we have today via the Internet allows sharing of information from different perspectives. However, we must not forget the wealth of information employees have within our own organization. We can easily capture information that involves procedures and processes but the tacit knowledge is more difficult to write down or relay. Cross training employees or employees from different departments working on projects together provides employees an opportunity to transfer their knowledge from experiences and perceptions.
Great post Dot. I agree with Amanda about not forgetting the wealth of information that our own organizations have. As a teacher, I am relatively isolated from my peer teachers. I spend a vast majority of my day in my own classroom (away from all other teachers) teaching to my own students. I rarely have the opportunity to sit down and meet with my peer teachers to discuss what strategies work well for them. I know that my co-workers have a vast amount of experience and knowledge that they could share with me, but because of the way the teaching schedule works and the convince of the Internet, I often do not rely on that knowledge. I think a little bit of inter-organizational collaboration and knowledge management could go a long way in my school and in my overall development as a teacher.
Thanks for the feedback Amanda. You make some very valid points. I agree with you about some of the benefits that cross training could provide. Perhaps organizations should make time for purposeful interorganizational collaboration. Who knows….they might find that solutions to some of their problems are right under their noses?
You are on point Jeremy. Perhaps a change in culture on the part of principles and school board adminisratiors might allow time for teachers to network, collaborate, exchange ideas and information that might lead to more effective teaching strategies. After all, you might find you do not have to reinvent the wheel. The isolation you speak of is one of the obstacles of course that teachers face daily and one which presents some interesting challenges for you and your colleagues. Thanks for your input