Following our class discussion last week on learning and KM, I came across the following in an article I was reading.  The quote is from Hubert Saint-Onge, Sr VP of Strategic Capabilities for Clarica Life Insurance:

The connection between learning and knowledge management is generally not well understood because the two fields have been kept separate from an organization structure point of view. Yet learning can best be served by a comprehensive knowledge strategy that includes learning modules as well as other sources of knowledge, including knowledge databases, documents, and policies. The knowledge interface we recently created allows individuals to run a search that calls upon all learning materials, as well as these other sources of knowledge. Contrasting KM and OL may not be all that helpful. In fact, a knowledge-driven organization and a learning organization will ultimately end up looking very much alike. Is After Action Review a learning method or a KM approach?

This very much reflects the core of my thoughts on the intersection between learning  and KM.   Any comments or thoughts?

[Greg Harmeyer's KM Weblog]

The logic of linking KM and learning in organizations seems indisputable. Current organizational practice and inertia keep them separated to the detriment of both. One of the biggest challenges is that learning gets heard as "training" and as "remedial work" by most executives in organizations. Consequently you end up with a huge change issue to address before you ever get to the substantive issues of how to use new knowledge and learning in organizations to cope with external change surrounding us.

One of the leadership challenges that needs to be addressed is to get those who have political capital in the organization to take the lead as "learners" This is an area of leadership where the leadership absolutely must be leadership by example not exhortation. That can be hard where part of political capital in most organizations equates to "I know more than you (and, therefore, have nothing I need to learn."

5:10:10 PM •  • comment