Posted by Jay Reay on March 26, 1998 at 22:15:39:

In Reply to: Your questions posted by Denham on March 26, 1998 at 10:47:52:

Rupert and Denham
This has been a fascinating dialogue to follow - thank you. Taxonomy is difficult to agree on because knowledge and its management (in a business sense) is so all-embracing, and because we all legitimately bring our own perceptions. IT experts understandably want to have agreed definitions, and certainly that enables clear thought in a philosophical sense too, but can be restrictive in this context. I gather that is the conclusion Rupert is reaching, as his changing language shows.

In creating and providing practical solutions for clients, though, the need is less critical. What they need is solutions which can be articulated much more simply, in language with which they are comfortable, if we are to carry everyone in the organisation along this complex and sometimes challenging path.

I agree that these solutions are probably going to be bespoke in most cases. For very small businesses, though, a generic approach can be valid, providing it is flexible, relevant, and originally created with sufficient rigour. Our work in this environment has spin-offs for our work with mega-corporations too, as we take the view that knowledge becomes unfocused across very large numbers of people. The systemic approach (Senge et al) which knowledge management requires is best achieved in smaller groups, with peer communication linking them across the corporation. We find that the cultures and the specific business needs are substantially different within large organisations to make a single approach untenable anyway

I completely agree with Denham about the two mindsets. Your second approach - the systemic, organic, enabling attitude in which knowledge is not chopped up and "sold" but is grown and shared, to be grown again, fits very well with our perception of what our clients need and respond to. IT companies, and accountancy-based management consultants too, would benefit (as would their clients) from a little less speed-to-market and a tad more discussion across the whole field.

Good thread - I'd like to observe more. Jay

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Follow Ups:

• Re: attitudes to providing KM services Rupert Whitehead 11:01:20 3/31/98 (2)
  • Re: desert island bookshelf Jay Reay 07:24:18 4/01/98 (1)
    • Re: desert island bookshelf Rupert Whitehead 11:03:59 4/17/98 (0)

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