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2023 Predictions for Knowledge Management
An unexpected upshot of the chaotic 2020s is that more leaders see the connection between knowledge management and business success. Well-documented and accessible knowledge helps get new hires up to speed, develop and engage employees throughout their careers, and spur the innovation needed to…
KM Makes Knowledge Workers More Productive and Less Stressed Out
Each November APQC is invited to speak at multiple “KNOWvember” events, and it’s a great opportunity to think about the issues most relevant and animating to knowledge management. This year I’m talking to member organizations about the relationship between KM and productivity, which has only…
No More Butts in Seats? Measuring Productivity in a Hybrid-Work Environment
Productivity is an enduring hot topic among macro-economics nerds and managers in charge of operations, quality, and improvement programs. But current trends—notably remote work, rapid turnover, and the controversy over “quiet quitting”—have gotten more people thinking about what productivity…
Small KM Teams Can Thrive with the Right Business Support
When business leaders tell me they want to pursue knowledge management, one of the first questions I ask is about staffing. You can’t make things happen with no one running the show. Focused attention is paramount: At the very least, one full-time person needs to be dedicated to developing the KM…
The Most Critical KM Skills Are the Hardest to Teach
The knowledge management field has become increasingly professionalized in recent years, with more standardized job requirements and degree programs targeted at KM roles. But a lot of KM is about creative problem solving, relationship building, and trust—and there’s no step-by-step handbook to get…
Where Should a Busy KM Program Focus Its Attention?
Smart knowledge management teams cultivate close relationships with their stakeholders out in the business. This helps KM stay aligned with strategic priorities, anticipate ever-changing user needs, and advise business groups on how to apply KM tools and approaches to solve problems. As…
How Do You Avoid Knowledge Silos?
A knowledge silo occurs when information does not flow between different groups or parts of an organization. One team, function, location, or business unit knows something useful, but others outside that group cannot access the knowledge—usually because it is stuck in team members’ heads, local…
Come Together: The Power of People and Partnerships
In Mid-May, knowledge, process, and performance management professionals came together in Houston for APQC’s 2022 conference. This year’s event—Building the Roadmap Together—focused on ways for process and knowledge to solve problems and support new business models, strategies, and organizational…
In KM, the End User Experience Is Everything
“Build it—and they won’t necessarily come” is one of my favorite sayings about knowledge management tools. Fancy technology makes zero difference if no one uses it. For KM to make an impact, it must make sense to end users, solve problems they care about, and draw them in. Elevations…
How KM Can Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are hot topics in U.S. organizations right now. As leaders commit to building more equitable workplaces, they are realizing how structural bias can derail even the most well-meaning DEI vision. They’re also seeing connections between inclusion and employee…