Far Wise in Knowledge Management

Eiger Trail E35 - our Swiss adventure

The decision to run the Eiger Trail in Grindelwald (Switzerland) was made a year ago. We then hesitated so long with registration that the 51 km that Emiel had wanted to run was already full. We both signed up for the 35 km (E35) at MudSweatTrails. Well enough in advance to think how we should train for a mountain trail. Just look at the elevation (2500m+), how do you train that in our flat country? We took every opportunity to run (powerwalk) hills, including on the so-called Rotterdam Alp. Running this ski hill up and down a good number of times. We also visited the French mountains for a week for the necessary meters elevation. Would it all be enough for the Swiss adventure? July 14, we would know the answer ...

 

Going offline

Is it me or is there a trend of people who (temporarily) get rid of their smartphone or social media, for real or as experiment? Maybe it's because I just read two books about this topic and I suddenly see many news items about the same topic. Within a few days after reading these books, I read in EllE Magazine that author Zadie Smith has no smartphone and the Dutch newspaper NRC has started an experiment in which 8 people change their smartphone for 6 months for a simple Nokia mobile phone.  I'm sure there is a name for this phenomenon, just like when you buy a red car, suddenly there are red cars everywhere.

One book I read (in Dutch) tells the experiences of a guy (Johan van Houten) who went offline completely for a year. (Sidenote: another trend, I think, is doing something weird for a whole year and write/blog/insta about it). His experiences are sometimes funny, sometimes ironic (when a company refers him to the website for more information). Is it doable, a year without internet and mobile phone? According to this book it is, although it's not easy. Is it the solution to stress, distraction and so on? I don't think so. There is value to having internet and mobile access. It's just our behavior that's off. The author agrees and suggests a balanced online and offline life.

That's where the other book I read becomes useful. Catherine Price suggests in her book "How to break up with your phone" a 30-day plan to get into a better relationship with your phone. Both books are aimed at making us aware of our mobile phone behavior and changing it so it becomes more healthy and less stressful.

Personally, I think I'm less attached to my phone than both authors describe. Maybe it's because I have many offline distractions (running, reading, knitting) and didn't have TV for many years (we have Netflix now). On the other hand, I use my smartphone a lot for e-mail, searching for information (for example, train departure times), social media and online banking. I wouldn't want to do without it, but i don't feel addicted. Still, it's good to become aware of one's behavior and I'm probably more hours online than I think now. Of the two books, the second book is most practical with a plan instead of a range of tips.

About networks

A long time ago (the year 2000), some colleagues and I wrote an article in which we compared task groups to communities and networks. Unfortunately I can't find the article online, so I'm not able to link to it. I was reminded to our comparison when I was reading a Dutch management book about networks.

In our description, a network was about connections and had a 'loose' shape, its boundaries are not fixed. Compared to a community or a task group that has more fixed boundaries. With this in mind I found it hard to read the book initially, as I was constantly comparing the way network was described in the book and our thoughts about it.The definition of a network in the book was: "a joint effort of individuals, organisations or small groups that are connected temporarily and equally to an assignment, a theme or challenge". Interestingly enough, the definition suggests to be in the area where we would position communities or even task groups.

The examples confused me even more. They were a mix of all three types that we tried to distinguish. I think the book took a far more overarching definition of network, anything that connects people and has a purpose. A community is a network, as well as a task group. It's about connections.

Of course, it's a comparison of definitions and nobody is right or wrong here. To be able to read the book, I really had to let go of my old picture of networks. For example, when the book discusses the topic of 'leadership'. In my image of networks, there is no real leader, although I agree that each group will have an implicit leader.

(Note that the picture I selected reflects my 'definition' of a network, the picture of the authors of the book would be different)

 

Problem solving styles and Design Thinking

I just started reading a Dutch book about Design Thinking (as far as I know the only book in Dutch), "Design Thinking: Radicaal veranderen in kleine stappen" (in English: Radical change in small steps) by Guido Stompff. He starts with explaining different approaches to tackling a problem, which I found so interesting that I thought to share it here. It's only Chapter 1 of the book, so that sounds promising!

The art of procrastination (book John Perry)

As someone who procrastinates big tasks, I like to read articles and books about this topic, hoping that it helps me to overcome this bad habit. I really liked the book "Eat that frog", which I reviewed a few years ago for Managementboek (Dutch management book site). The thin book "The art of procrastination; A guide to effective dawdling, lollygagging and postponing" by John Perry was brought to my attention. I read the book in Dutch, it was an easy light read, but it left me a bit unsatisfied.

KM thought leaders

I was flattered to see my name in the list of 200 KM thought leaders, composed by Stan Garfield. I see many names and people that I know, some in person, but 'thought leader' is too much honour! My friend Lilia is in the list too (we're the only from the Netherlands, as far as I can see). The list of KM consultants, also from Stan Garfield, is interesting with many blog links. I feel that I probably should be in this list (the company I work for is mentioned), but for now I'm enjoying the thought leader title!

Draft knowledge management systems standard (ISO 30401)

A lot has been said already about the knowledge management systems standard (ISO 30401). I've read the draft globally, when it was open to the public, till January 16. And I've read some of the discussion about it in the SKIM leaders community (not everything, because I was sick at that time and most is posted when it's night for us). If you want to know more about the standard, you can look at the webinar recording published here.

Overall, I think it's good that the effort was done. I've often wondered why there was no standard, especially because the KM area is not new any more. Reading too that there is a standard for Innovation management, I think it's about time there is a standard for KM. I also feel that there isn't much new that is published about KM, which to me is another sign we're talking about a mature area. For the same reason, I disagree when some people say that it's not possible to put an area like KM in a standard, as it's (application) is too much dependent on the context. Whether this version is sufficient to be "the" standard, is a question I'm not certain to answer. It provides a very generic, but to me limited framework. Same for the choice of words and definitions, I sometimes wonder why this choice was made. The knowledge life cycle, for example, is debatable. Of course, I realize that this is a knowledge management system standard, and it's not a handbook (although the scope refers to "guidelines for establishing a KM system in organization"). I expect a high-level framework  and definitions of the elements to be in place for knowledge management, which each organization will fill in and work out in detail for themselves. I was a bit surprised it to be a mix of high level and at some points details that are worked out (I guess these are the guidelines). It feels like the committee couldn't make a choice.

Many comments and suggestions for change have been submitted and it's now up to the committee to make changes (or not). I believe there will be a voting too, so it's not even certain that this draft will become a final standard. I do understand it will be difficult to have a standard that satisfies everybody, but I hope the comments will improve the current standard to a document that in its base covers the area. And leaves the details to the organizations to fill in.

Better

All my good intentions to blog more often went off the rails when I got sick about two weeks ago. It started with a soar throat, then fever came and I had to stay in bed a few days, which is very unusual for me! Still coughing now and I can't talk too much, but I'm back into a normal rhythm. I'm back into running as well, although it doesn't combine well with coughing. In my mind I wrote several posts, so I hope to be back into a writing rhythm soon as well.

New year, new adventures

Happy New Year! I hope that 2018 will bring you good health and happiness. I always try to avoid posts that look back at the past year, so I won't do that. As well, I don't do resolutions, so you won't find those here as well. I like to think about the exciting things that 2018 is going to bring, at least for the first part of the year.

My eldest nephew is getting married in Windsor (UK) in July, so my sisters, my mother and I are already planning that trip and thinking about what to wear. Our big running race for 2018 will be the Eiger Trail in Switzerland. I've signed up for the 35 km (2500 m elevation) and will start my training for it soon! The training will involve hill training, wherever possible in my area, and strength training, next to the distance running. Another big event will be the Management Book of the Year 2018 Gala, as I'm member of the jury. I'm looking forward to the discussions with the jury team to come to the best Dutch management book. We're still reading the 2017 books and making a first selection for the longlist.

These are three major events already in my plans for this new year. Of course there will be other running races, vacation trips, work-related activities, that will make this year a - hopefully - exciting year!

Is Knowledge Management making a come back?

While for me knowledge management (KM) has never been "dead", I now read in several places that people feel it's making a come back (for example, here or look at the graphs here). A few years ago, Thomas Davenport wrote that " ... knowledge management isn't dead, but it's gasping for breath".

I agree that companies seem to be (more) aware that knowledge is their driving power, the way to make a difference and innovate. Developments like machine learning, artificial intelligence, big data, drive this need to re-think knowledge. Whether they call it knowledge management or not, organizations need a knowledge-related strategy. Is KM different now than it was in the earlier days?

Social media has changed how knowledge is transferred. When I started with KM, we didn't use social media as much as we do now and we didn't consider them in particular as a KM tool. Blogs, Twitter and even Facebook, to name a few, as well as enterprise social media like Yammer, have made it so much easier to access a wealth of knowledge in the company and from all over the world and to connect with peers, wherever they are. As people are using these tools in their private life, they will easily be adopted in the work environment. It's probably management that is more hesitating to use them than the workfloor.

The incremental use of data for decision making through the earlier-mentioned machine learning and big data, is also influencing on KM. The well-known pyramid with data-information-knowledge-wisdom seems even more applicable these days. Data is useless if it can't be turned into information and applied to get work done or make decisions (the knowledge level of the pyramid).

So, to my view, it's mainly the tools that have changed. I hope though that people, knowledge workers, are still the focus. "Collaboration is just another buzzword", I heard someone saying today. As if it will go away in 2018. My view on KM has always been around people, so collaboration, learning, coaching, sharing are part of that. Tools support this, not the other way around. For me this is what it was in my early KM days and what it will be.

If the KM comeback goes together with good strategy, around people, the work they do and the tools they use, I'm happy. Not a specialization, within one role, but for everybody who works with knowledge.