^The APQC Blog

Amid the widespread changes of the last few years, organizations have a higher-level of understanding of the value process and performance management disciplines provide.

In 2021, battered and bruised supply chains got back in the game. In retrospect, it looked a lot like what the sports world calls a “rebuilding year”—one with a lot of change, a lot of attention, and muted expectations.

It feels like everything has changed in the past few years, and knowledge management is no exception. KM is generating renewed interest, and KM teams are taking on more strategic and varied roles as they capitalize on technology innovations and address emerging business needs. 

Media coverage of supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic has made the “average Jane or Joe” more aware of what supply chains are than ever before. Port congestion has been an almost-nightly topic on the news. But reverse logistics, or returns, is much less talked about.

Good process work requires addressing three core components: process design, managing performance (including data and analytics, measurement, and strategic planning), and project management.

Collaboration is like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets. And research is clear that organizations and teams with a collaborative culture feel better and produce more. So, how do you create and strengthen a collaborative culture? 

As the benchmarking authority, APQC is often asked: Which measures should I track? In the human capital management space, members ask: 

We’ve made it through 2021, and 2022 is already 8 percent complete. Crazy? That is, I think we may all be a bit crazy after the insane year we just finished.

Knowledge management teams can be captivated by the beauty of their own methodologies, but KM is pointless unless it provides concrete value to the business. What “value to the business” means varies widely, however.

Due to some conflicts and a general desire to keep things simple, my husband and I decided to spend New Year’s Eve at home this year. As could be expected, we started the evening by taking stock of 2021 and what we wanted to prioritize or do differently in the new year.