Steve observes that knowledge management (KM) appears to have disappeared
into the gaping maw of information technology (IT). He cites a web site
ostensibly devoted to KM but seems to be little more than a technology
watch.
Frankly, it looks that way to me, too.
A similar thing happened with reengineering. It, too, got swallowed by
IT. A shame, actually, because the power of reengineering is now masked
by the cost of IT.
The underlying problem as I see it is the rapid commercialization of
innovation. As fast as a good idea (e.g., reengineering or knowledge
management) comes along, there are droves of folks who immediately attempt
to convert what is still an art form into standard practice.
Speaking personally, I have never met a piece of software that could
identify or map an existing process, let alone conceive of a different
one. Worse, I've met far too many process improvement consultants who had
absolutely no idea how to bound a process for the purpose of studying it.
Nor have I encountered a software package that knows a darn thing -- and I
certainly don't expect one to manage it for me.
More disconcerting than either of those two factors is this one: I've met
two CEOs who firmly believed that one day they would be able to run their
businesses by sitting in a room at a computer console.
If they're correct, then I'm a Luddite. If I'm correct, their thinking is
definitely out of kilter. What's so scary about that isn't the
particulars of the issue but that such flawed thinking winds up running
the show.
Just a few thoughts as the work week gets underway...
--Regards,
Fred Nickols Distance Consulting http://home.att.net/~nickols/distance.htm nickols@worldnet.att.net (609) 490-0095
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