The practical reality of KM within development initiatives by D. Richardson
Updated - Monday 24 November 2003
Richardson argues that knowledge management is a very personal activity that, if practiced widely, can improve organization's ability to achieve development results. Personally accessible, immediately useful and relatively inexpensive personal knowledge management tools can empower development workers to
Richardson argues that knowledge management is a very personal activity that, if practiced widely, can improve organization's ability to achieve development results. Personally accessible, immediately useful and relatively inexpensive personal knowledge management tools can empower development workers to take ownership of their intellectual assets. Knowledge management starts with the individual and moves through an organization. Every individual uses knowledge management tools including personal memory, date books, notebooks, file cabinets, email archives, calendars, post-it notes, bulletin boards, newsletters, journals, and restaurant napkins. Knowledge management begins when an organization enables individuals to link their personal knowledge management systems with organizational knowledge management systems.
Knowledge management tools only work when individuals see direct benefits in linking their personal knowledge management systems with organizational knowledge management systems. If development workers believe that the chores of contributing to an organizational knowledge management program benefit only their bosses, and not themselves or the communities with which they work, they may decide the best way to take advantage of the value of their individual knowledge is to use it for personal or local advantage. This results in serious knowledge deficits for the wider organization.
Too often, knowledge management is thought to be contained in sophisticated electronic networking software tools. This ignores the critical human factor. Personal knowledge management skills are far more important than technical tools. Personal knowledge management skills include:
- Ways that people filter information overload
- Effective reading
- Concise note-taking
- Making sense of and analysing information
- Synthesizing information
- Communicating effectively with others
Link: Click to read the article by D. Richardson (wrd, 364 kB)
