US publishers VNU Business Media have created a Knowledge Management White Paper that's well worth a read for anyone looking for further information on the subject.
"Eight Things That Training and Performance Improvement Professionals Must Know about Knowledge Management" is a lengthy, detailed and useful paper aimed at anyone working in training and performance improvement who wants to find out more about the topic or is likely to get involved with a project in the workplace. The paper describes what Knowledge Management is and how it is used, with particualar reference to the impact on those working within training and performance improvement, and gives useful insights into the kind of technology systems needed and the changes that need to be put in place for Knowledge Management to work successfully in an organisation.
The Eight Issues identified are:
- Basic terms and concepts, such as Knowledge Management and Intellectual Capital: becoming familiar with basic terms and concepts
- An overview of the technology infrastructure needed for knowledge management: effectively managing knowledge requires a strong infrastructure of technology, both hardware and software
- A description of the strategic and tactical issues in designing the content for a Knowledge Management system: effectively managing knowledge requires a dynamic, well-designed infrastructure of content
- Issues in cataloging content and data used in a Knowledge Management system: useful content requires careful cataloging and labelling of data
- Issues to consider when addressing users of Knowledge Management systems: helping people create knowledge from data requires a strong understanding of them
- Issues in mass-customising information for users: effectively disseminating information requires mass-customising of IT
- Cultural changes required for knowledge management efforts to become effective: encouraging use of, and contributions to Knowledge Management efforts requires new organisational cultures and new incentive systems
- Changes to training and performance improvement organisations that might result from adopting a culture of Knowledge Management: Knowledge Management changes the way we approach the business of training and performance improvement
The paper also includes useful resources for further reference.
To read the full white paper, visit
