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Blogging for Knowledge Exchange. Darlene Fichter Data Library Coordinator University of Saskatchewan Library Darlene.Fichter@usask.ca Internet Librarian 2002. Overview. Intranets and KM Knowledge exchange What about blogs?. Knowledge Management.
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Blogging for Knowledge Exchange Darlene FichterData Library Coordinator University of Saskatchewan Library Darlene.Fichter@usask.ca Internet Librarian 2002
Overview • Intranets and KM • Knowledge exchange • What about blogs?
Knowledge Management • KM is an umbrella term for a collection of disciplines, methods and tools that support creation and sharing of intellectual assets to achieve business/organization goals • Often use information infrastructure Patti Anklam, Social Network Analysis, KMWorld2002
Intranets & KM • Formally or informally, intranets support KM by: • Encoding • Storing • Transmitting information • Typically projects focus on: • Knowledge bases provide information to support staff • Communities of practice
Driving Forces • Need to innovate and adapt more quickly • Improve business processes • Succession planning Fifty percent of faculty at our university will retire within 5 years. Smarter Faster Better
The KM Promise • Instant sharing and flow of strategic information and knowledge • Seamlessly everywhere throughout the organization • Ensuring a well informed workforce • Respond to the vagaries of the new economy • A way to “capture” what senior staff know
KM Modes of Knowledge Transfer • Explicit knowledge is definable and objective; easily documented and transferred
KM Modes of Knowledge Transfer • Tacit knowledge lives in people’s heads and their practices; used every day but you see it only when it’s used. • “Know – how” • Most difficult and elusive
Tapping into Tacit Knowledge • You can influence and encourage • Storytelling and coaching are two effective techniques
Organizational Challenges • KM is a great concept • Many KM solutions are complex • Workflow, software, implementation • Highly structured • Mega projects • In short, they are overwhelming
Employee Challenges • Employees are reluctant to share • My knowledge is what makes me valuable to my employee, if I share it my value diminishes • “What’s in it for me?” • How will I be valuable if I share all my “know-how”? • Cynicism about the hype and words Librarians are knowledge-brokers
What might work? • Foster knowledge sharing and exchange • Bottom up rather than a top down
From Blogs to K-Logs* Blogs K-Logs Firewall *John Robb, President of Userland is the originator of the concept k-logs.
Klogging – Another Definition • Dave Gurteen described the “purpose of a klog is to write about, comment or point to web resources on a particular topic.”
New Features: Track back • Infancy stage • Supports bi-directional linking
Where do blogs fit? Explicit Knowledge Blogs Knowledge Repository KM
Blogs • Light weight content management tools • Post with a web form, bookmarklet or windows client • Quick and easy to set up • Simple for employees to contribute to corporate intranet/knowledge base KISS
Solve Real World Problems • Information overload • Collapse of email
Filters and Mining • Human powered filters
Teams • Capture the facts • Plans • Steps in the process • Best new web resources • Lessons learned • Tips • Where to look Collaborative content
Strengths on an Intranet • Searchable archives • Corporate search engines can spider them
Where do Blogs Fit? Tacit Knowledge Blogs Storytelling KM
Unlock Tacit Knowledge • Stories are a good framework for sharing information, meaning and knowledge (Nichani/Rajamanickam) • Blogs encourage story telling • Fosters understanding because they usually offer context • Good stores resonate, so do good blogs Blogging is a train-of-thought technology. Scott Dinsdale
Relationships • Excellent at ONE to MANY communication • Allows participation • Breaks down the silos • Allows us to have “connected content”
Informal Communities • The ease of cross-linking and the conversational nature, fosters social networking • Self – organizing communities emerge
Unlock Expertise • Who knows what? • How can I judge their “credibility”?
Support Smart Distribution Methods • One blog or many • RSS Syndication of one blog, categories to specific groups and individuals automatically • Email
Tools • More than 3 dozen tools • Just a mention of 2 business focused blogging products: • Trellix • Traction software My January/February 2003 column in Online magazine, www. onlineinc.com will talk about how to choose tools.
What’s in it for ME? • Self-rewarding • Often bloggers report they discover their own interests, refine their perspectives … • “Peer” recognition
Definition of a Knowledge Worker • “A knowledge worker is someone whose job entails having really interesting conversations at work.” David Weinberger