Low-Tech Knowledge Management...

Low Tech Smarts: Knowledge management isn't just for big companies anymore
By Christopher Caggiano on establishing low-tech knowledge management systems. 

This Inc. Magazine article addresses how a knowledge management leader might overcome the cost issue when implementing a knowledge management initiative by first developing the knowledge sharing culture using low-tech/non-tech means. 

 [Cathy O. Frampton]

One interesting thought experiment this suggests is to examine routine organizational practices you come across and ask how they fit into an organization's knowledge management culture and practices.

Equating KM with technology or even acting as if KM is something radically new obscures the wide range of practices and techniques that have existed for a long time and that contribute materially to weaving an organization's knowledge web. Lab notebooks in R&D labs, for example, have been around for decades contributing to an organization's memory.  Lunch rooms and coffee machines provide space and excuses to interact. Most of the conversations might be about last night's Cubs game, but many will also cover work content.

The HUGE mistake that organizational theorists made years ago was to call this "organizational slack."  In a world focused on manual productivity, these time was, indeed, non-productive. Unfortunately, in a world of knowledge work this "slack" time is where the innovative juice is. You can't separate the visible working time and the slack time and then eliminate the slack.

So my question would be what do we use as a new term?

4:20:59 PM •  • comment  

Here is a brief introduction to some of the work that Tony Alvarado has been doing in the area of professional development for teachers.  It does not go into detail, but it does show the extent to which he is respected in the field.  I also include it so that you can see a picture of Tony.  The gesture is pure Alvarado.

http://www.ascd.org/readingroom/edupdate/2000/june00/19jun00.html

[Jed Wallace's Radio Weblog]

I see Alvarado's suggestions for teachers as something equally applicable to any other knowledge worker. His advice is consistent with Drucker's point that knowledge workers need to be mindful about how they incorporate both continuous learning and continuous teaching into their work practice.

2:18:04 PM •  • comment  

John: I’m hurt, man. Here I am, a management student in Boston, blogging for over a year on business and technology issues! What am I, chopped liver?? :) [jarretthousenorth News]

Yes, I am using my position to create new webloggers. I have two goals, one pedagogical and one mildly subversive. The pedagogical goal is to give students a hands on opportunity to work with a technology that I believe will be a central aspect of successful knowledge management. It also gives me a way to extend the course outside the confines of a weekly session.

The mildly subversive goal is to create some new long-term bloggers. A 10-week course provides enough time to get rolling if it's going to happen. Early indications are that the world will end up with a few new bloggers worth paying attention to in the realm of the business world. Moreover, some of them will go out to new jobs and have some concrete experiences with weblogs and knowledge logs to offer.

For what it's worth, Tim Jarrett's weblog has been on my subscription list since before the course started.  If you're interested in following Kellogg's fledgling weblogging efforts, check out the course weblog.

2:03:54 PM •  • comment