Knowledge Managment

Why a new Knowledge Management?

It is a major KM issue at businesses that people don't write reports e.g. at the end of project since already working on the next one. The use of new ways such as blogs to share information continously is suggested. Managing knowledge is to create a life cycle of knowledge and to constantly renew it. The cycle is often breaking down in particular on the knowledge capturing.

The company culture aspect has also to be addressed: Empowerment at the right spot; otherwise the processes are very slow. Make decisons at every level. New information sharing tools such as blogs or Wiki's require a much more open way of communication.

KM tools - the past and the future

Past:

• Desktop search. Copernicus (also works for e-mails) --> did somebody found the link?. Google.


• Discussion forum: issue that quality decreasing very fast. we need something that's get better over time. --> wiki.

Future: (approach: let everyone add a little bit. Give away and finding needs to be easy.)

• Video sharing. (Download from You tube. Use Mozilla Firefox. Download Video DownloadHelper. Click on rotating 3 color balls. download. flv file. need flash player FLV PLAYER 1.33)


• key revolution came with web 2.0


• weblog. individual.


• "wiki". twiki.net for the software. basic version for free. use for internal (project mgmt) and external.


• wikis to communicate with customers: Novell Cool Solutions wiki or IBM developer network (talking to the customers; exploration phase, create delicate issues since everybody can change your website. need gudelines for employees to talk to customers. NEVER talk about Financials, customers, products roadmap). Culture has to go with it - people have to get comfortable to change. Documents are always drafts. Sould change over time.


• products: TWIKI, CONFLUENCE, MEDIAWIKI. "50% of all major companies will use WIKI by 2009" (Gardner)


• when do wikis not apply? when opionins/content has hardened. if similiar technology is already in place e.g. Notes.

How to apply it in my business?

My business identified KM as one of the key challenges in particular in the area of product development. I'll explore Wiki's as a way to capture and assess new product ideas. Who has experience with such an application of Wiki's?