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Friday, August 29, 2008

Knowledge Sharing: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

In the KM-circles we hear a lot of talk about sharing knowledge and making it available as wide as possible. However, I would like to know what views people have on the importance of keeping [some] knowledge in "silos." How do we educate people to understand that sharing knowledge is a fine and noble goal, provided it is balanced with the need to protect that which gives an organisation it's edge.

Sharing knowledge is a great idea, however setting oneself up for professional harakiri is not. Let's begin with the premise that not all knowledge can be shared. In other words, not only is it a matter of generosity or nobleness, but of the very nature of the beast, that is, knowledge being embedded in experience and [potential for] action.

Often knowledge sharing has some implicit or tacit goal. For instance, many of us are here to share knowledge: let's grant that many of us are truly benevolent and would like to share ALL that we know. However, most of the regular contributors seem to be here because of some [of many other] reasons which may not be mutually exclusive:

1. pursuing a vision of what we think of "knowledge management" and trying to spread the word;
   
2. trying to make sense of various aspects of "knowledge management" while understanding fully well that each of us may have a different 'angle' on it: through the process of sharing our premises we are trying to challenge [and refine] our assumptions based on the diversity of perspectives;
   
3. trying to relate the process of dialoging to our professional goals - such as education, research, project management, marketing, selling - which again may not be mutually exclusive, and,
   
4. trying to feel a part of a community spread around the world, which is tied by common concerns and issues and has some level of sensitiveness toward the shared concerns.
   

Most of us may refer to abstractions of our knowledge and our ongoing professional and personal involvements in our lives, however, we don't see many messages relating to the next greatest strategy or tactical approach [and the related modus operandi] to be used by one's organization for creating or leveraging the next "killer app." And that seems perfectly natural.

However, this informal community "sounding board" of sorts provides many of us with expressing the issues that may often not have a "listening ear" in some other structured organizational functions and units. This may often be a matter of the prevailing organizational culture, or of the specialization of functions in which most of us are [intentionally or inadvertently] operating in "silos." In addition, this "sounding board" also provides an open forum where questions and concerns are floated hoping that those with shared interests and expertise may be willing and able to provide their perspective on such issues. [We have discussed theoretical details underlying the mechanics of such processes, such as the distinction between "formal teams and community of practice" in earlier dialog. Those interested may peruse the archive of discussions.]

A key concern seems to be the complexity of issues that may have significant implications for our professional lives regardless of the transparent boundaries between our professional titles, practices and disciplines. In an era of dynamic and radical change, there seems to be a critical need for ongoing reassessment of our theories, premises and assumptions. A non-threatening environment such as this forum, Knowledge Management Think Tank, often provides an environment for explicating and addressing such issues.

Envision a picture of the "global village" within which we gather around the "bonfire" and chat about issues of shared concerns trying to help ourselves by often helping others in the process. We are less bounded by the boundaries of time and space, as well as the structures that often restrict unrestrained flow of ideas. Unlike many formal environments motivated by notions of risks, rewards and professional threats, this "commune" seems to offer a less overwhelming environment that facilitates a relatively free flow of ideas.

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