Thanks for all the thoughts shared in this forum. I find it very
interesting.
Phillip Capper had this great initiative to define various words used in
the discussions. In fact what he gave us was a glimpse of his images of
the world. I guess (using his definitions of data etc.) that he would
describe what he gave us as being 'knowledge'. Thus during reading his
email a part of his knowledge became mine. After reading I stored his
email carefully in a folder. Lately I discussed the issue with a colleague
who is also interested in KM. Now (a few weeks after reading) I can only
regard the stored email as being "just another piece of information". Why
has it changed in status? I think that it is because no new images are
added so the created image is static. There are no new thoughts (on the
issue of definitions, which Phillip raised) to questing. To me knowledge
is something dynamic. It happens everywhere a person receives new
information that is not (yet) part of the stored information of that
person. The information is than questioned by the receiving person and
checked against what he already has stored. New knowledge is created
during the process.
Since (to me) gaining knowledge is typically a process that happens when
persons are interacting, it should be possible to have a computer
facilitating this process (As long as people stay involved). This is what
I would like to introduce in this thread.
Gareth Morgan (In his book 'Images of Organization') explains how a ritual
called 'Ringi' is used in some companies to test the "robustness of policy
initiatives and other developments". A document (with a certain statement
or policy) is circulated among people who can change it or add new items.
This process is repeated until everybody agrees to the contents of the
document.
A discussion on paper (or a computer) can temporarily postpone an
interaction and store the 'thoughts' until another time. In doing so it
facilitates (manages?) the process of interaction and thus knowledge
management. We are talking about KM as something distant. Why don't we try
to manage our knowledge (as gained in this thread) as it is being created.
I would like to initiate a process similar to Ringi in this thread. The
idea is to copy the following part (between the lines) and change it
whenever you disagree or feel that there is more to it. That means that,
as the discussions continue, the following statements are developed and
will give a pretty good idea of what we think KM is all about. You can add
rules (or delete/change them), definitions (or delete/change them) or
initiate a different approach how to practice KM ourselves. Anything is
possible. The idea is that the section will represent an example of KM
while helping us to share the definitions etc.
I will start with coping the initiative of Phillips and add some of my
thoughts.
-------------------- ABOUT KNOWLEDGE----------------------------
RULE 1 amend this section whenever you feel like it. Then copy the
complete section into your email.
RULE 2 keep arguments and motivations excluded from this section.
DATA is fragmented statements about the world. 'This is a spanner' is
data. So is 'This is a nut'.
INFORMATION is data in context. 'The spanner is used to manipulate the
nut' is information.
KNOWLEDGE is created through the application of information to the
solution of problems and the achievement of goals. 'We use the spanner to
tighten the nuts so that the machine does not break down' is knowledge.
KNOWLEDGE CREATION happens whenever there is interaction between people.
KM means knowledge management. Facilitating that knowledge can be created
and shared by more people in different time frames and places.
WISDOM is the understanding of the underlying purposes of the goals we
set. 'If we don't maintain the machine and keep it from breaking down the
company will suffer and we all might lose our jobs' is wisdom.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Best regards,
Anko Gils
[Host's Note: OK, let's give it a try... COPY the part between the lines
and update it. Put the arguments and reasoning in text outside the lines.
...Rick]
--"Anko Gils" <ankogils@gironet.nl>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>