An IKM Awareness Checklist: Part 2 of 10

Corporate Memory:  How easy is it to find out what we know?

How accurately do the statements below describe the organizational entities in which we work?  The statements illustrate typical circumstances in typical workplaces; no value judgment is implied. My purpose is to invite examination of the practices we follow - with the goal of identifying information and knowledge related opportunities.

2a. Employees manage the information objects (documents, presentations, bookmarks, emails, etc) they need in personal files according to organizing principles they find intuitive.

2b. There is a central repository or document management system housing the department's files, routinely used by everyone.

2c. The entity is small enough and/or the external contacts are so well defined that everyone knows "who to go to" when there are questions.

2d. A directory or similar tool tracks who is in charge of what subjects or projects so it is straightforward for a new team member to identify the best person to approach.

2e. There are formal mechanisms for sharing information (for example, at staff meetings or through tools such as wikis) or informal channels through which information flows naturally.

2f.  When an employee retires or leaves, a procedure ensures information handover to any successor.

2g. Additional mechanisms for protecting corporate memory include ...

Next in the series: Current Awareness

Comments

[Rebecca Jones]

Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge about knowledge management (wink). You are so articulate & so experienced. Thanks Ulla. And thanks to Laura who brought this to my attention (& SLA's attention!)
Beck