Posted by Ross Hall on January 30, 2002 at 04:10:31:

In Reply to: Re: knowledge-transfer and IT posted by Akhil Shahani on January 29, 2002 at 00:00:14:

"study the London Taxi system, you would see a strong implicit culture running thru there which is immediately absorbed by new drivers."

Sorry to burst the bubble!

To earn the right to drive a London "black cab" takes about two years. They have to learn the entire road network within a six mile radius of central London, which they call The Knowledge. They are also heavily regulated, down to the price they set (by act of parliament if I remember correctly) and the standards of their vehicles (which are checked every 3 months).

(I've heard some so-called KM gurus glibbly use Black Cab drivers using The Knowledge as a metaphor for their own KM pitch without understanding the sheer effort that goes in to learning it!)

Minicabs (basically unregulated) are a different matter and many people will tell stories of having to navigate for a minicab driver!

My advice to a tourist in London is get a black cab if you're lost. It might cost a few extra quid, but at least the driver knows where to go!

Ross ;-))

• Ross Hall: consultant, writer, speaker

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Follow Ups:

• Re: knowledge-transfer and IT Akhil Shahani 00:19:46 01/31/02 (4)
  • Re: knowledge-transfer and IT Ross Hall 03:13:52 01/31/02 (3)
    • Re: knowledge-transfer and IT Nas 09:00:59 01/31/02 (2)
      • Re: knowledge-transfer and IT Ross Hall 10:13:01 01/31/02 (1)
        • Re: knowledge-transfer and IT Nas 10:26:36 02/01/02 (0)

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