Why Knowledge Management?

Before we start to explore and understand the details of what knowledge management is, and how to implement knowledge management projects and initiatives, we need to first ask ourselves why we want to consider knowledge management in the first place? 

What are the real benefits that can be gained from effective knowledge management for the individual, the team, the entire organization, the community, the nation, or even the entire planet Earth?

Knowledge management is far reaching. Maybe you are considering developing your own personal knowledge management competencies, to become a more effective player in the global knowledge economy, or becoming a more competitive knowledge leader and knowledge driven organization.

Maybe you wish to develop and apply knowledge management strategies to government, military operations, global poverty eradication, international disaster management and even, now, knowledge management for global climate change.

The list is endless. Knowledge management is applied today across the world, in all industry sectors, public and private organizations and humanitarian institutions and international charities.

Most importantly, effective knowledge management is now recognised to be 'the key driver of new knowledge and new ideas' to the innovation process, to new innovative products, services and solutions.

Why Knowledge Management Is Important To The Success Of Your Organization

Overload of data is making knowledge management increasingly more important. Three key reasons why actively managing knowledge is important to aOrganization's success are:

1.      facilitates decision-making capabilities,

2.      Builds learning organizations by making learning routine, and,

3.      Stimulates cultural change and innovation.

What is Knowledge Management

Definitions;

"Knowledge management is the process of capturing, distributing, and effectively using knowledge."

"Knowledge management is a discipline that promotes an integrated approach to identifying, capturing, evaluating, retrieving, and sharing all of an enterprise's information assets. These assets may include databases, documents, policies, procedures, and previously un-captured expertise and experience in individual workers."

APO KM Definition

“KM is an integrated approach of creating, sharing, and applying knowledge to enhance organizational productivity, profitability and growth.”

Type of Knowledge

·         Implicit Knowledge

·         Tacit Knowledge

·         Explicit :Information or knowledge that is set out in tangible form.

Tacit: information or knowledge that one would have extreme difficulty operationally setting out in tangible form.

D I K W Model

The DIKW pyramid, also known variously as the DIKW hierarchy, wisdom hierarchy, knowledge hierarchy, information hierarchy, and the knowledge pyramid, refers loosely to a class of models for representing purported structural and/or functional relationships between data, information, knowledge, and wisdom.

APO Knowledge Management Framework

The APO KM Framework provides a common understanding of KM among member countries, and emphasizes its value for organizational success. The Framework is designed based on the practical experience of KM from several countries in Asia, including the best practices from America, Australia, and Europe. The APO KM Framework is simple and comprehensive. It addresses all relevant elements of a KM solution, and serves as a reference basis for all types of organizations; it aims to improve their performance through knowledge management.

 The starting point is the understanding of the vision and mission of the organization, which provides the strategic direction of the organization. Understanding it helps identify core competencies required to achieve the business objectives providing insights for designing the KM programs, roadmap, and action plan for the organization.

There are three levels in the framework:

•           Accelerators

•           Knowledge Process

•           Outcomes

The Accelerators comprise both drivers and enablers of KM. Leadership is the driver that propels KM initiative in the organization. Processes, people, and technology enable the organization to accelerate the KM initiative and implementation.

Five widely accepted core knowledge processing activities have been identified:

APO KM IMPLEMENTATION APROACH

Discover

            Find out where you are

            Create the business case

Design

            Develop KM strategy

            Identify potential programs

            Design processes

            Formulate implementation plan

Develop

            Formulate the pilot plan

            Conduct AAR

Deploy

            Implement organization-wide plan

            Addressing KM resistance

            Develop communication plan

            On-going evaluationntify, create, store, share, and apply knowledge.