If it weren’t for the invention of the automobile, using horses and buggies to get around would be just fine. Sure, it’s better than walking, but there are huge disadvantages.
Similarly, many organizations around the world are currently operating at a disadvantage like that, with their traditional knowledge management solutions. Document vaults, checklists, customized solutions, human recall, and spreadsheets are an improvement over paper documents and floppy disks files, but is it really solving their issues? Is knowledge really being captured? Are employees continuously learning from past mistakes?
Unfortunately, the traditional knowledge management approaches are not enough to get ahead in today’s rapidly changing and demanding world. In fact, this approach to managing knowledge puts an organization at a disadvantage. Organizations are investing millions in traditional knowledge management solutions, yet still face many serious failure modes, like the ones listed here:
Knowledge is difficult to find
Knowledge stored in documents is hard to find, regardless of the power of the search engine. Search engines do not help capture or refine knowledge or make the knowledge useful.
Knowledge lacks relevance to re-user
Too often, end users are flooded with documents where most content is irrelevant to their immediate needs.
Knowledge is not up-to-date
Even the most useful know-how has a life-cycle— after some time, it will no longer be valid. This “transient decay,” when not addressed directly, will create problems and obstacles.
Knowledge is hard to understand
Knowledge is often inconsistently captured and lacks comprehensiveness. Experts are often not skilled in how to author knowledge for re-use.
Knowledge is verbose and incomplete
Knowledge is recorded in random ways and is alternately verbose and incomplete. The end user is left filling in the gaps.
Knowledge is not actionable
Not all captured knowledge is helpful. Knowledge can sometimes be too broad, or not provide enough instruction to be useful.
End users distrust knowledge
All is lost if the end users must verify content as it is encountered. Sources must be established with trust.
Organizations implement knowledge management systems for many reasons, but primarily for a more effective way to continuously learn across their organization. As you can see from the failure modes, traditional knowledge management systems leave organizations falling short from expectations.
Here’s What an Active “700 Horsepower Racecar” Knowledge Management System Looks Like
Many organizations around the globe have transitioned to a more active knowledge management approach, such as the Knowledge Aware approach. An active knowledge management approach promotes the reuse of knowledge by activating technical know-how in the flow of work, when and where it’s needed, instead of relying on employees to passively look for the knowledge. When knowledge is effectively captured, shared, and reused, an organization will benefit greatly, and as a result:
- Employees are continuously learning across teams, languages, and time
- Decision-making and analysis are positively influenced
- Organizational efficiency, effectiveness, and product quality have been improved
For many organizations that traded in their traditional “horse and buggy” knowledge management approach for an active “700 Horsepower Racecar” knowledge management approach, they already see the difference it’s providing their organization.
Knowledge Aware is the next-generation knowledge management system that is quickly being adopted around the world and is being used through all parts of the organization, in areas such as:
- Project Management
- Supplier Quality
- Plant Operations
- Product Development
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Quality
To help organizations understand more about the approach, how it works, and how it’s used, Auros Knowledge Systems is offering complimentary Knowledge Aware Consultative Briefings and knowledge management solutions with their lead knowledge management consultants.
What is a Knowledge Aware Consultative Briefing?
A consultative briefing is a 60-minute consultation with an Auros lead consultant who has the highest level of technical experience in the Knowledge Aware industry. From this briefing, your team will have a better understanding whether the Knowledge Aware approach is right for your organization and gain a better understanding on how your organizational knowledge can be more effectively be captured, shared, and reused. The consultants will also answer questions and assess their organization’s current knowledge management approach.
Click here to schedule a consultative briefing on the Knowledge Aware approach
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