Posted by Daan de Koning on August 24, 1999 at 04:50:14:

In Reply to: Re: the truth, the only truth and nothing but KM posted by Reilly Atkinson on August 23, 1999 at 22:08:42:

Reilly,

Indeed I have a thirst for knowledge. As an individual, the more knowledge I have, the more I become aware of how little I actually know. And sharing knowledge with others is one way of trying to catch up.

One KM assumption is: Large organizations are not as flexible and adequate in adapting to market dynamics as small organizations are. KM is the attempt to flexibilize large organizations (shorter time-to-market, shorter product-life-cycles, shorter time for return-on-investment).

Say, for the argument, that this is what KM in business is about, then your conclusion is:
large organizations do not have the time, the money, the resources, nor the commitment needed to do KM (except at a superficial level). Or, in other words (my words): (Large) organizations do not work, at least not effective and efficient.

This, however can be tested in reality, for we just have to look at what happens today in the business world. In many markets todays trend is the merging of companies: the oil industry has recently seen a merger, in France this week the birth of one of the largest banks is about to happen, the automotive industry (Chrysler/Daimler), the plane industry (both the builders as the airlines), the IT industry, in all the industries you see that the little ones are eaten by the big ones.

What is the paradox we stumble upon here? For even you claim that for knowledge sharing I have to deal with smaller organizations, while the business trend is companies growing larger and larger? Or is the basic assumption (increased dynamics in markets) wrong?

If little is good (knowledge-wise spoken) then why is large percieved as valuable (at the market)?

Best Regards
Daan

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Follow Ups:

• Re: there are exceptions (small fish eating the bigger fish) Kees de Vos 17:53:26 8/25/99 (0)
• Less is More Martyn R Jones 12:16:12 8/24/99 (5)
  • Re: Less is More Reilly Atkinson 19:55:59 8/26/99 (4)
    • Re: Less is More Richard 07:29:03 8/29/99 (3)
      • Re: Less is More Reilly Atkinson 20:25:28 8/29/99 (2)
        • Re: Less is More Richard 15:00:08 8/31/99 (1)
          • Re: Less is More Reilly Atkinson 16:05:02 9/01/99 (0)

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