Define
There are a lot of good questions with no one, true answer:
How many bedrooms does a house need?
How should we celebrate birthdays?
What ingredients are needed for the best tacos?
The answers to these questions will be influenced by preference, conditions, life experiences, etc.
Similarly, “What is knowledge management?” doesn’t have a singularly agreed upon answer or definition. There are hundreds of definitions out there. Most are held together by the people, process, technology (PPT) framework, but some omit the people; some go more abstract; some get really specific, etc. It depends on who is asking, and who is answering. What are the goals? What are the obstacles? Is the preferred solution probably going to be centered around the content and technology, or the people and their experiences? (It’s all there, though, whether you choose to include it in your definition or not.)
I think when you’re working in KM, you need to define it for yourself (what you want to be able to do with it, and accomplish in your work), as well as define it within the scope of your organization specifically.
For me, a big part of KM’s power comes from the more equitable environment that it helps create. Sharing knowledge helps create a level playing field. Silos are barriers that people have to overcome, and they may never be given the tools, resources, or access to do that, even though they may have insights that could lead to great innovation.
In that same vein, and building off my last post, the flow of knowledge is another key element for me. I want to encourage and facilitate the flow of knowledge to educate people. And in a lot of cases, I think that will align nicely with most business goals. We can improve efficiency, encourage innovation, or provide excellent customer service in a lot of the same ways, that we nurture the flow and educate.
I like the fluidity that the absence of a true definition provides. It means we can be flexible based on existing conditions and desired end results. Much like the required ingredients list for a delicious taco will almost definitely include a tortilla of some kind, a KM definition will likely include the knowledge and its journey, in some capacity. I haven’t settled fully on my definition, yet, but I’m enjoying the process. What is your definition?*
*I would also be willing to discuss tacos.
