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Knowledge Digest
a round-up of developments in the knowledge agenda
 
 



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Managing editor:
David J. Skyrme

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Each month's Knowledge Digest is published as part of I3 UPDATE / ENTOVATION International News.
Other Digests: Jan 2003 - Sept 2003 - Sept 2000 - Dec 2001


NOTES /
UPDATES

DECEMBER 2002


Innovation Climbs Corporate Agenda

Three things convince me that innovation is fast climbing both the policy and corporate agenda:

1. The growing volume of literature on European Commission Innovation Programmes. With the enlargement of the EU to 25 countries, just agreed at the Copenhagen summit, and the first projects in Framework 6 programme starting next year, the time is ripe for more collaborative efforts. See, for example, the proposal on a 'knowledge angel' network at
http://www.knowledgeboard.com

2. A recent joint survey by survey by Accenture and the Talent Foundation (Innovation - A Way of Being) showed that 61 per cent of executives believe that innovation has increased in importance since the beginning of the economic downturn in 2001. It features in the top ten issues list for 96 per cent of all companies. Accenture is pushing hard at the innovation theme with its adverts ("I am your idea", "ideas into action" and "innovation into results").
http://www.accenture.com

3. A telling statistic from the above survey is that companies only commercialize 20 percent of their good ideas. This is where knowledge innovation comes in. Whereas in the past only ENTOVATION was talking about it (Knowledge Innovation® is a registered trade mark of its services) today (12 December) when you type "knowledge innovation" into Google.com you will find 6,780 references (with ENTOVATION still at the top!). To read the distinction between knowledge management and knowledge innovation, go to:
http://www.entovation.com/innovation/knowinno.htm


I3 UPDATE No. 68: Contents - Previous Feature


NOVEMBER 2002


Handbook on Knowledge Management

It's not often I get enthusiastic about 2 thick volumes (some 1,200 pages and 10 cms of shelf space) of reading material. But the Handbook on Knowledge Management edited by Clyde Holsapple of the University of Kentucky and published by Springer-Verlag is an exception. Some two years in the making, Clyde has brought together a wealth of contributions from many thought leaders and lead practitioners in the field. Just getting contributions of such high quality from different authors for 65 chapters is a feat in itself. But where most compilations fails, this one succeeds. The chapters are put into a coherent structure in eight parts with each part having a useful framing introduction. The first volume - Knowledge Matters - covers foundations, knowledge as a resource, knowledge processing and influences. Volume 2 - Knowledge Directions - covers technologies, outcomes, knowledge management in action and the knowledge management horizon. I thought I knew a lot about knowledge management. This book shows me that I still have a lot to learn. It's an invaluable reference that brings the whole gamut of KM into one title, so even though I'm short of bookshelf space, some of those earlier knowledge management books will have to go!

Handbook of Knowledge Management (2 vols), ed. Clyde W. Holsapple, Springer Verlag (2002). Vol 1 ISBN 3-540-43527-1; Vol 2 ISB 3-540-43848-3.
Order at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk


MAKEing IT In Asia

Teleos has recently announced the winners of the first annual Asian Most Admired Knowledge Enterprises (MAKE) study. There are six Japanese companies in the list of ten - Asahi Breweries, Fuji Xerox, Kao, NTT Data, Sony and Toyota. Other winners are Infosys Technologies (India), PCCW Ltd. (Hong Kong), Samsung SDS (Korea) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (Taiwan).

A finding from the study was that 2002 Asian MAKE Finalists and Winners were eight times more profitable (as a percentage of assets) that the Asian Top 500 average. The survey was conducted in association with the KNOW Network:
http://www.knowledgebusiness.com


I3 UPDATE No. 67: Contents - Previous Feature


OCTOBER 2002


Memories From The Futures Center

This is not a new development, but a timely reminder of an interesting read about the evolution of Skandia Futures Center written by Ingrid Tidhult, Cultivator. In March 2002 she wrote:

"Though I wrote this book over three years ago, it seems like the thoughts and ideas we had at the Future Center first lately are being adopted and implemented in small companies, big organizations and other parts of our society." Read about The Cultivator, Road Maps, Contactivity, IC The Future and more at...
http://medlem.spray.se/tidhult/memories_from.htm


Knowledge In The Desert

Following on from the feature article on the Desert Knowledge Australia symposium in the last I3 UPDATE / ENTOVATION International News, Debra's Amidon's full article can be found at:
http://www.entovation.com/whatsnew/desert-knowledge.htm

The organizers also report that some of the presentations and accompanying papers have been posted at their website. Also promised for the near future is a full Symposium report. See them at:
http://www.desertknowledge.com.au


What's In A Name?

Another change in name in the KM Consulting scene. KPMG Consulting, now distancing itself from its former auditor parent, and having acquired some of Arthur Andersen's international consulting businesses has changed its name to BearingPoint. It means "setting direction to achieve end results". This is the result of evaluating 550 new names provided by employees and branding experts. Will it last longer than Monday?
http://www.bearingpoint.com
(you can also get your bearings via http://www.kpmgconsulting.com)


I3 UPDATE No. 66: Contents - Previous Feature


SEPTEMBER 2002


KM and Risk Management.

Debra Amidon was one of the global experts interviewed for a feature article in the September issue of Knowledge Management magazine on the relationship between KM and risk management. She defines risk management as "the practice of maximizing positive results while minimizing negative ones". All interviewees saw a growing association between the practice of risk management and knowledge management. As Amidon puts it: "risk management is primarily a function of the inherent behaviours practised by the people that make up a business, and it is the knowledge that these people create, use and transfer that leads to the provision of given products and services. It therefore follows that the more effectively the organization manages this knowledge, the greater the chance that business results will be favourable."
http://www.kmmagazine.com


Proposed ANSI Standards for Knowledge Management.

The Global Knowledge Economics Council (GKEC) has announced that it is now embarking on a formal process for the development of knowledge management and knowledge economic standards. As an accredited developer for American National Standards by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), it is inviting people with an interest to participate by "a) expressing a position and its basis, b) having that position considered, and c) having the right to appeal. Due process allows for equity and fair play." It continues: "What this means is - if you do not submit your ideas, they will not be included in the American National Standards and in the ISO standards". This is not strictly true as GKEC is not the only show in town (see the article at the beginning of this edition on KM standards). For information about committees, rules and procedures, see:
http://www.kmstandards.org


KMPro and KIMPS merge

Two assocations with memebrs in the KM community, and both with headquarters in the Washington DC area, recently announced their merger. The Knowledge Management Professional Society (KMPro) founded in 2001, offers various membership services and courses to KM professionals. The Knowledge and Innovation Management Professional Society (KIMPS) claims several thousand members and was founded in 2000. They will merge their various chapters around the world.
http://www.kmpro.org


New K-Guide on Communities of Practice

Bringing together lessons from leading practitioner and experts, this K-Guide takes the reader through the four stages of creating successful communities - planning and initiating, developing, sustaining and integrating into the organizational context. Offering an architectural framework, practical guidelines and pitfalls to avoid, the 35 page guide includes case studies on community development at BP, Scient, Schlumberger, Siemens and Shell. Until 15th October, it is available at the introductory price of $7.50 from:
http://www.skyrme.com/kshop/


All Change in the KM Consulting Arena

First the news that IBM has acquired PwC's consulting arm for $3.5 billion (corrected from 'million' - see Readers' Reply), has raised questions by analysts on how well the merger will be consummated of 30,000 PwC professionals into IBM's 150,000 consulting staff in its Global Services division. Now we learn of Atos Origin's purchase of KPMG Consulting in the UK and The Netherlands. Almost before the ink is dry Atos Origin plans to reduce its UK workforce by 10-15 per cent because of over capacity - does this mean that corporate clients are now figureing out for themselves how to implement KM? Atos Origin, by the way, is where the in-house ICI KM team was outsourced to a couple of years ago. The sources of such consulting stories is Management Consultants' News Direct:
http://www.pmp.co.uk


I3 UPDATE No. 65: Contents - Previous Feature


AUGUST 2002


KnowledgeBoard Transripts Available.

Transcripts of Debra Amidon's online KnowledgeBoard workshop "The Innovation Superhighway" are now available at the ENTOVATION website. This lively discussion explored some isses of competition vs. collaboration, innovation and KM, knowledge economics, communities and micro-communities. Read the transcript at:
"http://www.entovation.com/whatsnew/kboard.htm.

As a corollory to this workshop a new Innovation Challenge discussion has been up in the Innovation SIG at KnowledgeBoard:
http://www.knowledgeboard.com/community/zones/sig/innovation.html


Knowledge Management Case Book:Siemens Best Practices
eds. Thomas H. Davenport, Gilbert J.B.Probst

Siemens has long been held as a good exemplar of corporate knowledge management. Many of us have heard and read parts of the Siemens story at conferences, in article etc. Now, brought together in one place is the story as told by Siemens own employees in an 18 chapter book. There are sections on knowledge strategy, knowledge transfer, communities of practice, added value, learning and visualizing value creation. Lots of practical guidance, diagrams and screen-shots. A highly recommended book from practitioners who want to learn from one of the pioneers. Details: ISBN 3-89578-181-9. A joint publication of: http://publicis.erlangen.de/books - Publicis Corporate Publishing
http://www.wiley.com - John Wiley & Sons.
Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk - links to book ordering details.


A Collaborative Innovation?

The foreword to Debra Amidon's forthcoming book 'The Innovation Superhighway') to be published by Butterworth-Heinemann in October) is a collaborative effort between Leif Edvinsson (formerly VP of Intellectual Capital at Skandia), Hubert Saint-Onge (formerly a VP at Clarica) and Joachim Doering (VP of ICN Division of Siemens). Collectively they write:

"Innovation is what gives purpose to the exchange of knowledge. Innovation is the outcome of a knowledge-based interaction. Innovation is about shaping and architecting a desired future..... Once again, Amidon has moved the finish line - and appropriately so - to stretch our imaginations of how we might architect our future. ....According to Amidon, the opportunity is ours. Are we ready to accept the challenge?"

http://www.entovation.com/forthcoming.htm


Brainpower on The Balance Sheet

Business Week's issue of this week (26th August) has "25 ideas for changing world". Many are obviously prompted by the collapse of Enron and similar happenings e.g. The Mea Culpa Defense, Firepower for Financial Cops, The Downside of Disclosure. However, in idea number 12, Adam Aston argues that as the world "clamors for truth in accounting" then intangible assets - such as brands, customer lists, patents and other intellectual property - should go on the balance sheet. The big question is: where and how? Perhaps, let's start by putting them in the footnotes? Aston concludes: "In small print or large, these assets deserve to see the light".
http://www.businessweek.com/premium/content/02_34/b3796624.htm (subscribers only)


Inspiring Innovation

A special edition of Harvard Business Review (August) is devoted to Innovation: "The Innovative Enterprise: Turning Ideas into Profit". In the lead article, 16 innovation experts were asked what most inspired innovation in their organizations. Answers included the need to let people experiment and take risks, recruiting people with divergent knowledge and skills, extensive networking. Other feature articles include 'Creativity under the Gun', the best of HBR on Corporate Innovation and 'The Failure Tolerant Leader'.
http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/b02/en/hbr/hbr_home.html


Knowledge Connections: Enhanced Website

Just relaunched is the Knowledge Connections website of David Skyrme Associates. With nearly ten years of cumulative material tracking developments and issues in knowledge management, this resource is heavily used by practitioners, researchers and consultants from around the world. The new look, designed by Simon Eaton, provides simpler navigation, while the use of a content component approach for development (using Companion supported by a Microsoft Access database), makes ongoing updates, maintenance and future changes much easier. Key sections of the site are Management Insights, the I3 UPDATE archive (63 issues from from 1993-present), articles and papers, Powerpoint presentations, KM resources and links, and a knowledge shop with briefings, guides and tools for business managers and KM practitioners.
http://www.skyrme.com


I3 UPDATE No. 64: Contents - Previous Feature


JULY 2002


Admiral Inman receives first KEN Practitioner of the Year Award

Admiral Bobby Ray Inman was announced the ENTOVATION KEN Practitioner of the Year 2002 in West Orange, New Jersey, in a ceremony that was part of the E100 Roundtable - 'Harnessing Collaborative Advantage' attended by ENTOVATION colleagues from 17 countries. The award, presented by ENTOVATION founder Debra Amidon, was in recognition of "decades of knowledge leadership to create collaborative advantage".

Formerly in the US Navy, he served as Director of the National Security Agency and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence. After retirement from the Navy, he was selected the first Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC) in Austin, Texas. As its first leader, Inman can be credited with architecting the facility selection in Austin, the recruitment of a significant number of large-scale companies who were in many cases, arch competitors. MCC used a technopolis framework promoting new kinds of relationships/alliances between public and private sectors – especially government, business and academia. Admiral Inman's primary activity since 1990 has been investing in start-up technology companies. For full citation and profile see:
http://www.entovation.com/whatsnew/inman.htm


Aslib IRM Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

The Aslib IRM (Information Resources Management) network celebrated its 10th anniversary earlier this month. An active network of professionals based in the UK, each meeting combines a guest speaker and syndicate session to discuss related issues. Over the years the focus has shifted purely from information management to the broader perspective of knowledge management. Nick Willard outlined five key milestones: 1) The 1992 launch that followed an inspiration talk by Woody Horton on InfoMap (an information mapping method); 2) the development of the Willard model (covering the five aspects of identification, ownership, cost/value, development, exploitation) - working through these formed the basis of 22 meetings; 3) The definitions task force (differences between IM, IRM, KM); 4) The open conference last May; and 5) the success of the network as a knowledge exchange hub. Over the decade, there have been 27 papers resulting from the content of IRM meetings, published in Managing Information. For details of the network see:
http://www.irm.org.uk


The Innovation HubTM:
A Collaborative Venture in South Africa

The Innovation Hub is a strategic partnership between the Gauteng Provincial Government's Blue IQ initiative, and SERA, the Southern Education and Research Alliance, a partnership between the CSIR and the University of Pretoria. It represents a good example of partnership at the regional level for innovation and for incubation support for start-ups. You can read the Hub's newsletter at:
http://www.innovationhub.co.za/newsbits/index.html


More ENTOVATION Contributions to Knowledge Board

In something of a coincidence (really!), three members of the ENTOVATION Network have been invited to be workshop leaders in the monthly series run by KnowledgeBoard, the online forum supporting the European Commission's programme of "knowledge management made in Europe". Here are the details:

16 May - Innovation Management by Edna Pasher - read transcript
4 July - Knowledge Management Pitfalls and Challenges by David Skyrme - read transcript

And coming next week:
1 Aug - The Innovation Superhighway by Debra Amidon


6th World Congress on Intellectual Capital and Innovation

This well established series of events is taking place, as usual in January (15th - 17th Jan 2003). The organizers are inviting abstracts (by 31st July) for one of the three special themed tracks:
1) IC in government and not-for-profit organizations;
2) Managing relationship and reputation capital;
3) The role, relationship and impact of mission and vision statements in enhancing an organization's IC.
http://worldcongress.mcmaster.ca


The Seeds Of Innovation

This new book by Elaine Dundon gives practical, down-to-earth examples, advice, tools, and techniques on how to stimulate innovative thinking and decision-making at the individual, team, and organizational levels. She highlights the 9 "Seeds" of Innovation in the key areas of Creative Thinking, Strategic Thinking, and Transformational Thinking. Published by the American Management Association. Elaine is founder of the Innovation Group Consulting Inc.:
http://www.innovationguru.com


The Knowledge: An Interview with Dan Holtshouse

As part of its pre-publicity for KM2002 (see Events), Knowledge Management magazine is interviewing the 6 keynote speakers asking them to share their vision for the future of KM. In the second of this series entitled "The Knowledge" Dan Holtshouse, Director of Xerox Knowledge Initiatives, discusses his unique experiences. You can read a full transcript of this interview at:
http://www.kmeurope.com/knowledge.asp


I3 UPDATE No. 63: Contents - Previous Feature


JUNE 2002


Are Old Ideas The Best Ideas?

A recent (16 May) KnowledgeBoard online workshop featured Israeli ENTOVATION Colleague Edna Pasher dialoguing with participants on Innovation Management. Among the key points that Edna makes is that managers cannot initiate innovation, they have to create the right environment. She described how she helps customers create innovation laboratories and develop innovative competencies. Innovation needs attention to culture, processes and technology. A telling point - one innovation laboratory manager told Edna that most of their ideas came from older (not younger) people - but it needs the youngsters that have the energy to push them along - there's hope for us in the grey-haired (or no hair) brigade still! The full transcript is at:
http://www.knowledgeboard.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=82168


Lost Your Way in KM? Navigate Here!

I was privileged to attend the launch of KM pioneer Leif Edvinsson's latest book 'Corporate Longitude: what you need to know to navigate the knowledge economy'. The event was hosted by The Henley Knowledge Management forum (http://www.henleymc.ac.uk/kmresearch) but held at the well renowned Reform Club in London. It was here that Phileas Fogg started his journey "80 days around the World". Leif's premise is that we have the wrong tools to navigate effectively in the knowledge economy. Accountants and others measure the wrong things. He likens the situation to that of the British Navy ships being lost in the fog before the 'longitude' problem was finally solved. And it was not one of the establishment, but an outsider, a provincial clockmakers (Thomas Harrison) who solved the problem. Today, we need to "move away from the cash register to the chronometer" and we must also figure out "how to take care of knowledge outsiders". The book isn't just about measurement though - it covers innovation, i-commerce. u-capital, leadership, holistic enterprising and much more. It is a well researched, thought provoking and insightful read:
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com

Also visit the highly innovative Corporate Longitude website: http://www.corporatelongitude.com/


KM in Europe Business Survey

In a survey of 54 business firms carried out by ECKM at the end of last year over three-quarters of the companies surveyed have or are establishing a KM program. Nearly half have a KM officer. Lack of time is the main reason why respondents won't contribute to online communities, with lack of knowledge (30%) another key reason. Several questions addressed development and training. The full survey results can be downloaded from:
http://www.knowledgeboard.com/item/82224


Global MAKE 2002 Winners Announced

Teleos announced the winners of the 2002 Make (Most Admired Knowledge Enterprises) awards. Many of the winners are well known names in the KM movement. Buckman Laboratories headed the list for a second time. Its K'Netix system has helped it deliver "creativity for our customers". Royal Dutch/Shell received its fourth consecutive Global MAKE Award. Eleven organizations make it (pun intended!) to the Global MAKE Hall of Frame: Accenture, BP, Buckman Laboratories, Ernst & Young, General Electric, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft, Siemens, Skandia and Xerox. They have each been Global MAKE Winners every year since the research program was established in 1998. An Executive Summary of the "2002 Global MAKE Study" containing key findings and best practices is available from Teleos:
E-mail: info@knowledgebusiness.com


'The Innovation Superhighway' is coming!

Debra Amidon's new book has gone to press. Describing the evolution of the Knowledge Innovation® movement, it delves into the innovation frontier - the why, what and how - and gives a framework for innovating the future, illustrated with practical examples and cases. You'll have to wait until October to read the full book, but you can find a preview, sample chapter and the table of contents at:
http://www.entovation.com/forthcoming.htm


I3 UPDATE No. 62: Contents - Previous Feature


MAY 2002


North American Most Admired Knowledge Enterprises (MAKE) 2002

Teleos has announced the results of its 2002 survey into North American organization's recognized by their peers as world-class leaders in managing knowledge to deliver superior performance. The winners are (in alphabetical order) and reasons for winning:

  • Accenture: its ability to deliver knowledge-based products/solutions, maximize the value of the firm's enterprise intellectual capital, and transform enterprise knowledge into shareholder value
  • Buckman Laboratories: strong corporate knowledge culture, knowledge leadership
  • Clarica Life Insurance: organizational learning, as well as for its knowledge leaders, corporate knowledge sharing environment, and managing customer knowledge
  • Ernst & Young: knowledge leadership, collaborative enterprise knowledge sharing, and value creation through customer knowledge.
  • General Electric: organizational learning, customer knowledge, and transforming corporate knowledge into shareholder value
  • International Business Machines: ability to create and sustain a corporate knowledge culture, innovation, and corporate knowledge sharing
  • McKinsey & Company: strong corporate knowledge culture, collaborative global knowledge sharing
  • Microsoft: creating and delivering knowledge-based products/solutions, maximizing the value of the firm's enterprise intellectual capital
  • U.S. Navy: leadership of its knowledge-based programs and initiatives and for its emphasis on organizational learning
  • Xerox: corporate culture supporting knowledge best practices, managing enterprise capital to create value, collaborative corporate knowledge sharing, and organizational learning.

According to Rory Chase, managing director of Teleos, MAKE winners show a 2:1 improvement on their total return to investors, compared to the Fortune 500 median. The study also identified the 'Enron Effect': as a result of Enron's spectacular bankruptcy, North American companies have become aware how corporate reputations, brands and other intangible assets - their intellectual capital - are the drivers of market capitalization and shareholder value.

An Executive Summary of the "North American MAKE Study" is available from Teleos
E-mail: info@knowledgebusiness.com.


New KM Handbook

Not to be confused with other KM handbooks or fieldbooks, Knowledge Management (Ark Publishing Group) has announced the forthcoming release of The Knowledge Management Handbook 2002. Claimed as the first comprehensive guide to the solutions, tools, vendors and consultants in the KM marketplace, it will be distributed to an estimated 15,000 senior KM practitioners (starting with those attending the GlobalKMExchange event in New York - see Events). Simon Lelic, editor of Knowledge Management says "The education phase in the establishment of knowledge management as a vital management discipline is coming to an end. The challenge facing companies now is to identify the business objectives they are looking to achieve with their KM initiatives, and to chose the right tools and services that will allow them to realise those goals." If you don't get a copy and you think you should, then email Andrew Summersgill:
Email: asummersgill@ark-group.com


I3 UPDATE No. 61: Contents - Previous Feature


APRIL 2002


E-Learning Also in The Trough of Disillusionment

Like portals (see article above) E-learning is another technology that Gartner group puts in the 'trough of disillusionment. Many e-learning initiatives have failed to meet expectations. Organizations are realizing that e-learning is not a one off project but a long term commitment. Despite its positioning on the downward slope Gartner remains optimistic about its future (it will climb out of the trough) and estimates that the market will continue to grow rapidly. Read the news article at:
http://www.kmmagazine.com/news/
displaynewsitem.asp?PageID=97133801


ENTOVATION Finalist for CI Champion of the Year

ENTOVATION has been nominated as one of two finalists in the Category of CI (Competitive Intelligence) Champion of the Year for the Competia Awards 2002. Citations include:

  • "The ENTOVATION 100 is the most unique, global and cross-organizational place where people in the Knowledge Management arena can be found." (Dr. Joerg Staeheli, Switzerland)
  • "The methodologies - as well as networking brought forward by her work - are a true global entrepreneurial spirit for nourishing intellectual capital." (Leif Edvinsson, Sweden)
  • "ENTOVATION for me is a source of energy, passion, persistence, entrepreneurship, innovation, friendship and fun." (Dr Edna Pasher, Israel)
  • "The ENTOVATION network provides the best source of thinking and practice on knowledge innovation" (Chin Hoon Lau, Malaysia)
  • "The ENTOVATION Network addresses the essence of the key challenge we face in the knowledge era: the constant need to innovate for individuals, organizations and societies." (Hubert Saint-Onge, Canada)

The winner of each category will be unveiled at the Special Awards Ceremony during the Competia International Symposium to be held in Cape Cod, May 13-15. (See Events). http://www.competia.com/awards/


Is Email the Most Effective Way of Sharing Knowledge?

At a recent AIIM event, Xerox conducted a survey among 200 visitors. 52 per cent of respondents rated E-mail, intranets and extranets as the most effective ways to share knowledge, compared with just 18 per cent who ranked talking to people in person as the most effective means. Perhaps the sample was unrepresentative, being biassed to those who use their fingers more than their mouth to communicate? Anyway there are some more snippets on the recently revived (after an unexpectedly long absence) of Knowledge Management Magazine (formerly published by Curtco Freedom Press) in its new reincarnation as destinationKM Communicator (which you can receive monthly by email). The March issue with the above news story is at:
http://www.line56.com/km/communicator0302.htm


The Green Chameleon Changes Its Colours

This newly revamped and reorganized website has some new articles on various aspects of knowledge, connectedness and innovation, including one on Singapore's Innovation Agenda. Aimed primarily at professionals in the Far East with an interest in the new economy, the site also links to the new business of Patrick Lambe and Edgar Tan - Straits Knowledge, where you will find a calendar page which lists upcoming conferences in knowledge, learning, innovation and leadership.
http://www.greenchameleon.com/


KnowMap: Special Edition on Social Networking

Related to the article on organizational mapping in I3 UPDATE No. 59, the latest edition of KnowMap (Vol 2, No. 2) is devoted to social mapping. The first article 'Mapping the World' traces the connections of KnowMap readers, including those with the ENTOVATION Network. One of the most fascinating articles is that by Chin Hoon Lau who explores the vulnerability and instability of virtual knowledge networks, such as the Internet Biologists, an online community of scientists facing the issues of the Internet as they try to stay virtually connected. To read this article you will need to subscribe, although each issue and archives has a selection of free articles to give you a taster.
http://www.knowmap.com


Are You Certified?

The issue of certification and standards is arousing interest - and sometimes hostility - in KM circles. We will explore the issue in more depth in a future I3 UPDATE. In the meantime (if you can cope with the acronym soup), GKEC (the Global Knowledge Economics Council) has announced the formation of GKES (the Global Knowledge Economics Society). Whereas the purpose of GKEC is to develop global standards and policies, that of GKES is to socialize, share knowledge, develop career building workshops and conferences, develop continuing educational programs, foster professionalism and ethical behavior, promote the profession, form chapters, and assist the GKEC in the development of international standards. Its subgroups include GACKM (the Global Association of Certified Knowledge Managers), and VOCKM (Volunteer Organization of Certification Knowledge Managers). Still confused? Then go to:
http://www.gkec.org

You might want to compare GKEC's offerings with those of other organizations mentioned in earlier I3 UPDATEs, viz.:

Knowledge Management Professional Society - http://www.kmpro.org
Association of Knowledge Work - http://www.kwork.org who have recently launched a Mentoring and Knowledge Recognition Program under the direction of ENTOVATION Colleague Charles Savage:
http://www.kwork.org/KRP/KRP-main.html


I3 UPDATE No. 60: Contents - Previous Feature


MARCH 2002


E100 Goes to Global KM eXchange

'KnowMap' - an ENTOVATION Affiliate has called it a major 'event of the year'; and many members of the ENTOVATION 100 featured on the Global Knowledge Leadership Map are planning to attend a pre-conference roundtable - "Creating Collaborative Advantage" - the results of which Debra Amidon will report in the keynote address on the last day.

What are we talking about? The event - conference and exhibition - called Global KM eXchange - http://www.globalkmexchange. which takes place in New York City from 24-27 June. It's organized by The Ark Group, which has convened several seminal events, such as KM Europe 2001 (see report in I3 UPDATE No. 56) and KM Asia - both of which were attended by thousands.

We have arranged a 10 per cent discount for ENTOVATION Colleagues who want to go, on top of the special rates for early registration or group attendance. To take advantage of this offer, contact Debra (Email: debra@entovation.com) or myself (david@skyrme.com) for the ENTOVATION registration form. You can read details of the event at:
http://www.globalkmexchange.com


Knowledge Management Professional Society

Joining the growing ranks of associations and membership organizations for KM professionals is the Knowledge Management Professional Society (KMPro). Created in August 2001 by a group that split off from the KMCI, KMPro offers its members news, articles, links to papers and discounted training. It offers week-long courses whose successful graduates achieve certification as a Certified Knowledge Manager. In the works is an information clearinghouse for software and technology vendors to showcase their KM-related wares. It sounds a promising venture, although its knowledge base on its website left us unimpressed. We will provide a fuller comparison of the KMPro and other associations in a forthcoming UPDATE (in the meantime you might like to look back at ' Knowledge Associations - Networks or Notworks from I3 UPDATE No. 43). For further information on KMPro's activities and membership benefits go to:
http://www.kmpro.org


Enhanced Collaboration - ShareNet and Eureka.

AGiLiGENCE, the firm co-founded by ENTOVATION Colleague Christian Kurtzke to exploit the intellectual property of ShareNet, the collaborative knowledge sharing platform developed at Siemens, recently announced a collaborative agreement with Xerox. AGiLiGENCE will integrate Xerox's Eureka, a technology that helps harvest ideas and insights from individuals and workgroups. The combined solution of the two complementary collaboration technologies will help organizations build enhanced intranets, extranets and collaborative learning and commerce environments. An example of collaboration leading to better collaboration solutions - presumably the two organizations will use their new solution as their own core knowledge collaboration platform?
http://www.sharenet.com


eLearning and KM join forces

A recent article ('eLearning: which side of the coin?' in I3 UPDATE No. 56) indicated that there was great potential in connecting elearning and KM, but that many organizations had not done so. However, we have come across a recent connection between a major elearning provider - NetG - and a KM software provider - Knowledge Management Software. NetG has a modular approach to elearning materials and has a vast library of over 80,000 'Learning Objects', mostly relating to IT training, and each providing around 5 minutes of training on a specific task. The challenge: how to find which module matches the needs of a particular individual at a particular moment. The solution from Knowledge Management directs users to the right piece of training in response to their questions expressed in ordinary English (or any natural language), but also checks with the users as to how appropriate the response is. It then 'learns' from their evaluation so as to come up with a better response next time . The full case study can be read at:
http://www.kmsoftware.com

Thanks For Your Support

This newsletter takes time out of our busy schedule each month, so we value feedback from readers which gives us the spur to maintain the effort. Among comments received this month:

"I would like to take the opportunity of congratulating you about providing one of the most relevant sources of information for me (in this time of overload)." Christian Kurtzke, CEO, The AGiLiENCE Group, Munich, Paris
http://www.sharenet.com

"Just to say I enjoyed your article (What Next For Knowledge Management - I3 UPDATE No. 57), an excellent summary providing useful insights, and standing head and shoulders above most of what you can find on the net."
Mervyn Lovatt, Chief Knowledge Officer, Front Capital Systems
http://www.front.com/training


I3 UPDATE No. 59: Contents - Previous Feature


FEBRUARY 2002


World Congress on Intellectual Capital: Readings

Just published, one year after the event, is the book covering the 4th World Congress on IC held at McMaster annually each January. This compilation is interesting in that there are several contribution on various aspects of IC measurements, including a report on the Danish pilot project of 20 firms who developed IC accounts and an initial chapter on thought leadership with contributions from Leif Edvinnson, Stephen Denning and Ante Pulic. There are 20 chapters in all, and as well as IC there are chapters on intellectual property and the Internet (David Brett of Knexa) and Knowledge pattern recognition (Bryan Davis). The book hops about a bit - inevitable with a compilation, and suffers from a table of contents that does not identify authors. But it's still a good read, and at $50 cheaper than attending the conference (though there has already been a 5th Congress). Edited by Nick Bontis and published by Butterworth-Heinemann:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/075067475X/
davidskyrmeassoc


Innovation GuruŽ Insights

You can get by email a short Innovation Guru Insight with you each week. This recent one covered Collaborating via Knowledge Management:

"As we face more global influence in all aspects of organizational life, it is only wise that we consider removing some of the artificial boundaries we have erected between one organization and the next. The old approach, which supports secrecy and exclusion, is no longer optimal in today's face-paced and interconnected world. The core premise of the future is the collaborative, seamless enterprise. We need to think about moving to a more open, collaborative, win/win approach--one that allows for competition but also encourages the sharing and leveraging of knowledge and skills for mutual and collective benefit.

One of the world's leading authorities on the theory and practice of Knowledge Management is our friend and colleague, Debra Amidon, the Founder and CEO of Entovation International (http://www.entovation.com). Among other things, Debra is the creator of the visionary Entovation Network, a Global Knowledge Management Roundtable linking over 8,000 theorists and practitioners in 80 countries to leverage their core competencies and wisdom. Her work truly is a wonderful example of collaborative innovation in action!"

To subscribe check out
http://www.innovationguru.com


AOK Ezines

The Asoscation of Knowledge Work publishes several regular ezines on various KM topics. For example, The Knowledge Architecture/Structure EZine is a twice-monthly publication focusing on building and developing knowledge infrastructure in organizations. There are also Knowledge Strategy and Knowledge Systems CoPs, which have their own EZines.
http://www.kwork.org


I3 UPDATE No. 58: Contents - Previous Feature


JANUARY 2002


ENTOVATION 100 Collaborates More Closely

The ENVOTATION Network is a global collaborative network. Its world-wide spread extent and diversity of talent means that it has been difficult to create and maintain a strong sense of community amongst its 3000+ members. This month ENTOVATION launched a closed online discussion group for the ENTOVATION 100 (E100) - a group of people carefully selected to represent a variety of functions, industries and regions of the world. One of the E100, Dr Edna Pasher of Israel describes the network as follows:

"ENTOVATION for me is a source of energy, passion, persistence, entrepreneurship, innovation, friendship and fun"

It is hoped that the collaborative efforts of the E100 will bring benefits to all members of the ENTOVATION community. From time to time I3 UPDATE/Entovation International News will summarize key outcomes from the E100 dialogue and indicate how more members of the ENTOVATION community, including readers of this newsletter, can become more involved. In the meantime, don't hesitate to contact members of the ENTOVATION 100 who share your interests or geographic locality, to discuss ways of making the ENTOVATION community more relevant to you. Details can be found at the Global Knowledge Leadership Map:
http://www.entovation.com/kleadmap/index.htm


Knowledgeboard Quote of the Year

Congratulations to ENTOVATION Colleague Michael Kelleher for his recognition as providing the quote of the year on Knowledgeboard:

"Wisdom is somewhere between profound knowledge and profound doubt. After years of crafting our knowledge and understanding and developing the capacity to critically reflect on that knowledge, doubts begin to creep in that take our thinking to new and higher planes. This is the making of wisdom."

Knowledgeboard is a portal for the European knowledge management community, of particular interest to those involved in EU-supported programmes:
http://www.knowledgeboard.com


French Translations of ENTOVATION Material

Various material by Debra Amidon and ENTOVATION has now been translated into French, most recently the book Innovation Strategy for the Knowledge Economy ('Innovation et Management des Connaiscances'. For details:

- http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/2708125826/
entovatinternalt/

- The Litmus Test: http://www.entovation.com/assessment/flitmus.htm
- Momentum of Knowledge Management: http://www.entovation.com/momentum/mom_fr.htm


Australian KM Portal goes Collaborative

The Australian KM portal (knowledgemanagement.com.au) is now under new management. A new and updated site will be launched on January 21 - 2002, as a integral component of Collabovation.com. Collabovation.com has been established to encourage innovation and growth by facilitating collaboration between individuals, firms, organizations and institutions.
http://www.collabovation.com


Knowledge Management in Difficult Times - A Manufacturing Perspective

In a recent newsletter, Superfactory highlighted that during these difficult times too many companies are still taking the approach of short-term cost cutting rather than using the opportunity to improve infrastructure efficiency and knowledge to prepare themselves for the future. It cites a specific example of an operations manager for a major telecom equipment manufacturer that is downsizing. The company makes sure that $100 tools and shelves are accounted for perfectly, but is putting little effort into ensuring that the knowledge of employees is maintained. It ponders:

"Which is the more valuable asset, especially when business turns around?"

Superfactory is a resource for global manufacturing excellence. Its website includes over 3000 resources on lean manufacturing concepts, best practices, organizations, infrastructure, human factors and has a small section on knowledge management.
http://www.superfactory.com


KM Trash Talk - Don't Believe It!

Jerry Ash's AOK (Association of Knowledge Work) discussion lists always generate some interesting debate. One recent topic under the label "KM Trash Talk" was based on the perception that many people are talking KM down and pointing to lack of successes and various failures. Here is an edited version of David Skyrme's response:

"As you might expect, I think KM is very much alive and well and flourishing - and I have not witnessed the 'trashing' that Jerry talks about - at least in Europe. But KM will evolve, adjust its emphasis and perhaps change its label as it segments and coalesces with similar activities. We must not forget that every organization carries out knowledge development and sharing activities whether they label them KM or not. The issue is therefore one of language and application - how people refer to business activities and how they communicate to create and transfer knowledge. During the last year or so I have witnessed a growing number of organizations / clients wanting to develop a KM strategy and improve their KM practices, whatever they call it. Despite software vendors dropping the label KM - it's 'portals' and 'content management' these days - and the main management consultancies dropping their KM lines of business and merging them into other business streams (after all some of them invented the KM term, so they must now grasp at something else to keep momentum going), I believe that KM will continue to thrive.
There will always be those who denigrate new initiatives (don't we all suffer from initiative fatigue?), and many senior managers who are skeptical about KM. This is what I find a fascinating challenge. As a consultant there is no better sense of satisfaction than converting the skeptics. I try to learn and understand where they are coming from, and translate KM into their language and situation (challenges and opportunities) and apply it to make a difference to what's important to them (even the the bottom line!). Once converted they are usually even better allies and proponents of KM than those who knew it was a good thing all along."

To engage in the discussions visit AOK:
http://www.kwork.org


Putting The Record Straight

I3UPDATE/ENTOVATION International News does not - at least for the moment - take advertisements. Our selection of snippets and events is based purely on the editor's judgement as what will be of interest to readers. Please keep your snippets and events coming through and please don't be too disappointed if yours doesn't feature. It probably doesn't link strongly to our main themes, or is too similar to what has been covered in recent editions. Readers - please let us know what kind of snippets you value the most.


I3 UPDATE No. 59: Contents


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