KM-Forum: An Initiative from India

KM-Forum: an initiative from India for global knowledge management professionals. A discussion group on KM related topics for global KM Professionals.

Bhojaraju G. Yahoo (2005). Resources>Mailing Lists>Knowledge Management>International

Review: Knowledge and Information Technology Management: Human and Social Perspectives  

As the information technology sector continues to grow, an understanding of KM practices will become increasingly essential to organizational success. Because technical communicators are creators and managers of content/knowledge, they will need to understand KM practices to anticipate how their jobs may change to meet KM needs. The collection Knowledge and information technology management: Human and social perspectives provides technical communicators with both an overview of KM practices and insights into the future development of KM as a field. For this reason, the book is a valuable resource that technical communicators should read to better prepare themselves for future developments in the field.

St. Amant, Kirk R. Technical Communication Online (2004). Articles>Reviews>Knowledge Management

Knowledge Audit: Is it Necessary for Your Organization?  

Views on various dimensions of the knowledge audit (KA) process, and how organizations can use this tool to achieve organizational objectives. During the discussion, participants analyzed the pre-requisites, advantages, and process of the knowledge audit. This article presents a summarized version of the issues discussed.

George, Ginu. International Journal for Technical Communication (2007). Articles>Information Design>Knowledge Management

Knowledge Audit: Is it Necessary for Your Organization?

IJTC invited several experts to share their views on various dimensions of the knowledge audit (KA) process, and how organizations can use this tool to achieve organizational objectives. During the discussion, participants analyzed the pre-requisites, advantages, and process of the knowledge audit. This article presents a summarized version of the issues discussed.

George, Ginu. International Journal for Technical Communication (2007). Articles>Knowledge Management>Assessment

The Knowledge Crunch

The Frito-Lay portal has also been an invaluable tool for helping him assess employee skill sets, because each salesperson is required to catalog his or her strengths and areas of expertise.

Shein, Esther. CIO Magazine (2001). Articles>Knowledge Management>Case Studies

Knowledge Discovery: New Ground, New Challenges

Before taking the challenge of handling information efficiently head on, automated programs for Knowlege Discovery and data analysis have to prove their worth by providing easy-to-use tools for everyday use.

Kudesia, Saurabh. International Journal for Technical Communication (2007). Articles>Knowledge Management>Assessment>Software

Knowledge Management

This course explores knowledge management--the management theory based on the notion that knowledge is mission critical--from the perspective of technical communicators. We will read theory and technical communication scholarship, and we will critique management texts, IT approaches, and software interfaces. We will get hands-on practice with the common techcomm-based technologies, investigating single-sourcing strategies and building content and knowledge management systems. And we will discuss the role of technical communication in organizational knowledge management projects.

Clark, Dave. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Academic>Courses>Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management - Challenge for Technical Editors

Knowledge management - is it a challenge for technical editors? Shouldn't knowledge management be more than just taken for granted in technical editing? And isn't the technical editor also the knowledge manager, per se?

Sturz, Wolfgang. TC-FORUM (2000). Articles>Knowledge Management>Technical Editing

Knowledge Management and Leadership Opportunities for Technical Communicators    

Over the past several years, organizations have devoted increasing amounts of attention to a phenomenon called 'knowledge management.' Despite its growing visibility, knowledge management nonetheless suffers from a multitude of definitions with little apparent consistency. In this article, I outline four of the most common definitions of knowledge management. I unify these definitions by explaining them as four points along a continuum of increasing depth and complexity. After outlining knowledge management in this manner, I explain how technical communicators usually play supporting roles, not leadership roles, in knowledge management efforts. I then argue that to overcome this challenge, technical communicators must carefully re-think how they define knowledge management, technical communication, and themselves as professionals. I further argue that technical communicators should define themselves not by the products they produce but by the 'core competencies' with which they produce them.

Wick, Corey. Technical Communication Online (2000). Design>Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management and Life Long Education in Science    

In 1998 ENEA, the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment, launched an e-learning platform with the mission of sharing scientific knowledge among everyone, not just workers but also students and the unemployed, in order to use its research results to support competitiveness and sustainable development. In 6 years, more than 20.000 users have followed one or more of the 46 on line courses. Many agreements with schools, universities, private and public training organisation are now under way to improve the dissemination of scientific knowledge and to build an open data base of scientific learning objects that anyone can use.

Moreno, Anna and Sergio Grande. Data Science Journal (2005). Articles>Knowledge Management>Education>Scientific Communication

Knowledge Management and Pharmaceutical Development Teams: Using Writing to Guide Science    

This article introduces a way of working with drug development teams that relies on writing as a key development activity. The work of cross-functional teams in pharmaceutical research and development can be guided by the use of tools normally thought of as 'writing' tools. Writing can be used intentionally to help teams develop their thinking, identify and respond to troublesome issues, and develop project documentation efficiently. The article introduces the use of a 'seed document' (one step in a systematic, wholly collaborative, document development process) to establish a conceptual knowledge bank for a development team, and demonstrates how complex documentation can flow naturally out of the evolving seed document. The authors argue that structured writing can help team members, who have varying perspectives and expertise, engage in substantive conflict and reach consensus on team responses to difficult issues.

Bernhardt, Stephen A. and George A. McCulley. Technical Communication Online (2000). Articles>Knowledge Management>Scientific Communication>Biomedical

Knowledge Management Benchmarking Association

The KMBA brings together knowledge management professionals from a variety of companies. KMBA conducts benchmarking studies to identify practices that improve the effectiveness of Knowledge Management activities.

KMBA (2006). Organizations>Content Management>Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management Common Body of Knowledge

Knowledge resides in the user and not in the collection [of information]. It is how the user reacts to a collection of information that matters.

Malhotra, Yogesh. KMnetwork (2007). Resources>Knowledge Management>Information Design>Body of Knowledge

Knowledge Management for Front-Line Staff

The front-line environment must be understood when implementing knowledge management initiatives.

Robertson, James. Step Two (2003). Articles>Knowledge Management>Workflow

Knowledge Management for Training Professionals

This site introduces training professionals to KM and helps orient them to opportunities for applying their training skills and knowledge to KM initiatives.

San Diego State University (1999). Resources>Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management in the Workplace: the Librarian as Knowledge Broker

The role of knowledge brokers as the gatekeepers of information is vital for successful knowledge management. In this context, the role of librarians who act as knowledge brokers in creating a market for both buyers and sellers often goes unnoticed. Librarians with their access to information and people, bridge the gap between knowledge seekers and knowledge.

Thaneerkulam, Chitra. STC NJIT Student Chapter (2005). Articles>Knowledge Management>User Centered Design>Workplace

Knowledge Management Is Critical for Us!

We haven't just been doing this since the term 'knowledge management' has been floating around. We’ve been at it for a long time now.

Sturz, Wolfgang. TC-FORUM (2001). Articles>Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management Support for Teachers  

Considers how the concepts and techniques of knowledge management can be applied in public schools.

Carroll, John M. University of Toronto (1999). Articles>Knowledge Management>Education

Review: Knowledge Management Systems: A Text Mining Perspective    

Hsinchun Chen, in his book Knowledge Management Systems: A Text Mining Perspective, has made knowledge management look simple and understandable.

Kirloskar, Mukta. International Journal for Technical Communication (2006). Articles>Reviews>Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management--Issues and Challenges in the Corporate World

The first of those challenges is merely getting individuals within the company to communicate with each other, wherever they are located. Many organizations have trouble getting people to share information who aren't on the same floor, so adding remote workers or those in other geographical locations can prove difficult. Corporations are realizing how important it is to 'know what they know' and to be able to make maximum use of the knowledge. This knowledge resides in many different places, such as, databases, knowledge bases, filing cabinets, and people's heads, and it is impossible to keep track of and make use of this distributed knowledge. Knowledge Management (KM) needs careful planning and analysis. While technology can support KM, it is not the be all and end all of KM. Knowledge Management decisions should be based on who (people), what (knowledge), and why (business objectives). Critical success factors for KM can be broadly categorized into four classes: people, processes, technology, and sustained strategic commitment. The four pillars of the model are also used to explain the critical success factors in Knowledge Management.

Kumar, Pankaj and Jaya Kalra. International Journal for Technical Communication (2007). Articles>Information Design>Knowledge Management>Workplace

Knowledge Management, Response Ability, and the Agile Enterprise

This paper defines the agile enterprise as one which is able to both manage and apply knowledge effectively, and suggests that value from either capability is impeded if they are not in balance. It looks at the application of knowledge as requiring a change, and overviews a body of analytical work on change proficiency in business systems and processes. It looks at knowledge management as a strategic portfolio management responsibility based on learning functionality, and shares knowledge and experience in organizational collaborative learning mechanisms. It introduces the concept of plug-compatible knowledge packaging as a means for increasing the velocity of knowledge diffusion and the likelihood of knowledge understood at the depth of insight. Finally, it reviews a knowledge portfolio management and collaborative knowledge development architecture used successfully in a sizable cross-industry informal-consortia activity, and suggests that it is a good model for a corporate university architecture.

Dove, Rick. Paradigm Shift International (2005). Articles>Knowledge Management>Management

Knowledge Management, User Manuals, and Online Help: Tools for the Workplace

The three skills that technical writers most often need are an ability to elicit information from recalcitrant SMEs (Subject Matter Experts), the ability to put this information on paper (user manuals) and the ability to put it online in a Help system. This class will teach these skills. The first module will be an in-depth study on Knowledge Management, the second will be the creation of a user-centered manual using Word, Visio, and screen capture programs, and the last module will be transferring this information to an online Help using ForeHelp or RoboHelp.

Johnson, Carol Siri. New Jersey Institute of Technology. Academic>Courses>Knowledge Management>Documentation

Knowledge Management: A Practical Perspective    

As organizations realize the real benefits of knowledge management, they are prepared to invest in a consistent and long-term model to leverage their true potential. But what are the critical factors determining the success of these knowledge management programs?

Kudesia, Saurabh. International Journal for Technical Communication (2006). Articles>Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management: Do You Really Need It?

The knowledge that we have within a corporation is valuable to internal employees to ensure that they are able to do their jobs as accurately and efficiently as possible, and our customers are requesting more and more information to enable them to use our products correctly. For years this knowledge resided in peoples’ heads and in volumes of paper. Now that information is being moved onto the Internet/intranets and extranets.

Rockley, Ann. Rockley Bulletin (1998). Articles>Knowledge Management