New Report Shows How to Boost Benefits from Learning and Knowledge Management
Five year study outlines an approach that can deliver multiple objectives and represents a quicker and more affordable route to high performance.
Peterborough, United Kingdom, July 24, 2013 --(PR.com)-- According to a new report by Adaptation chairman Professor Colin Coulson-Thomas organisations are capturing and sharing the wrong sort of knowledge. Based upon a five-year investigation, the report Transforming Knowledge Management sets out a more affordable route to high performance organisations.
“Knowledge management initiatives have been excessively general and overly complex, and they have not delivered hoped for results,” claims Coulson-Thomas. He continues “A more focused and flexible approach is required that can quickly impact upon performance, achieve multiple objectives and provide clear benefits to both people and organisations.”
According to Coulson-Thomas, “Many organisations just load material onto a corporate intranet. What is captured and shared is often ‘commodity knowledge’ that is available to others. It does not differentiate or represent a source of competitive advantage.”
Coulson-Thomas argues we need to distinguish between 'knowledge about things’ and ‘knowledge of how best to do things.' He explains: “There are people who know a great deal about the theory of accounting who I would not ask to prepare a set of accounts.”
The new 223 page evidence-based and A4 sized report questions ‘traditional’ approaches to knowledge management and sets out a more affordable route to greater returns on investment and achieving multiple objectives.
The report contains mini-case studies that illustrate a successful response to a generic challenge facing organisations. Each mini-case study briefly presents the problem addressed, what was done, the results achieved and subsequent situation, what made difference and main learning points.
Coulson-Thomas captures and shares what high achievers do differently. He believes “We need to step up from information management to knowledge-based performance support that helps key work groups to excel. Personalised help relevant to a particular job, issue or situation should be accessible 24/7 wherever people are, including when on the move.”
He continues: “Knowledge management needs to re-focus upon helping key work groups to adopt the superior approaches of high performers. Re-focused it can enable us to create high performance organisations and teams that remain current, competitive and vital.”
Many corporate initiatives promise jam tomorrow rather than measurable impact today. Coulson-Thomas believes “We need to shift the emphasis from ‘knowing’ to ‘doing’. Performance support can have a quick and direct impact on performance by focusing on knowledge of how to do things and - in particular - how to excel at difficult jobs.”
The new report shows how the benefits of knowledge-based performance support can include higher productivity, bespoke responses, reduced stress and evidenced compliance. The Professor concludes “It may be possible to simultaneously improve quality, cut costs and save time. Crucially we can do all this with existing people, cultures and structures.”
‘Transforming Knowledge Management’ (ISBN: 978-1-872980-24-9), published by Policy Publications in association with Adaptation, is available from: http://www.policypublications.com
Prof. Colin Coulson-Thomas, vision holder of successful transformation programmes and chairman of award winning companies, was the world’s first professor of corporate transformation. He has helped over 100 boards and management teams in over 40 countries to improve performance. He is also the author of Talent Management 2 and Transforming Public Services based upon the same investigation and Winning Companies; Winning People on helping average people to excel at difficult jobs and Developing Directors on building an effective boardroom team. He can be contacted via www.coulson-thomas.com
“Knowledge management initiatives have been excessively general and overly complex, and they have not delivered hoped for results,” claims Coulson-Thomas. He continues “A more focused and flexible approach is required that can quickly impact upon performance, achieve multiple objectives and provide clear benefits to both people and organisations.”
According to Coulson-Thomas, “Many organisations just load material onto a corporate intranet. What is captured and shared is often ‘commodity knowledge’ that is available to others. It does not differentiate or represent a source of competitive advantage.”
Coulson-Thomas argues we need to distinguish between 'knowledge about things’ and ‘knowledge of how best to do things.' He explains: “There are people who know a great deal about the theory of accounting who I would not ask to prepare a set of accounts.”
The new 223 page evidence-based and A4 sized report questions ‘traditional’ approaches to knowledge management and sets out a more affordable route to greater returns on investment and achieving multiple objectives.
The report contains mini-case studies that illustrate a successful response to a generic challenge facing organisations. Each mini-case study briefly presents the problem addressed, what was done, the results achieved and subsequent situation, what made difference and main learning points.
Coulson-Thomas captures and shares what high achievers do differently. He believes “We need to step up from information management to knowledge-based performance support that helps key work groups to excel. Personalised help relevant to a particular job, issue or situation should be accessible 24/7 wherever people are, including when on the move.”
He continues: “Knowledge management needs to re-focus upon helping key work groups to adopt the superior approaches of high performers. Re-focused it can enable us to create high performance organisations and teams that remain current, competitive and vital.”
Many corporate initiatives promise jam tomorrow rather than measurable impact today. Coulson-Thomas believes “We need to shift the emphasis from ‘knowing’ to ‘doing’. Performance support can have a quick and direct impact on performance by focusing on knowledge of how to do things and - in particular - how to excel at difficult jobs.”
The new report shows how the benefits of knowledge-based performance support can include higher productivity, bespoke responses, reduced stress and evidenced compliance. The Professor concludes “It may be possible to simultaneously improve quality, cut costs and save time. Crucially we can do all this with existing people, cultures and structures.”
‘Transforming Knowledge Management’ (ISBN: 978-1-872980-24-9), published by Policy Publications in association with Adaptation, is available from: http://www.policypublications.com
Prof. Colin Coulson-Thomas, vision holder of successful transformation programmes and chairman of award winning companies, was the world’s first professor of corporate transformation. He has helped over 100 boards and management teams in over 40 countries to improve performance. He is also the author of Talent Management 2 and Transforming Public Services based upon the same investigation and Winning Companies; Winning People on helping average people to excel at difficult jobs and Developing Directors on building an effective boardroom team. He can be contacted via www.coulson-thomas.com
Contact
Adaptation Ltd
Colin Coulson-Thomas
0044(0)1733361149
http://www.adaptation.ltd.uk
http://www.policypublications.com
Colin Coulson-Thomas
0044(0)1733361149
http://www.adaptation.ltd.uk
http://www.policypublications.com
Contact
Categories