The Know-Net Method

Know-Net's view is that knowledge management is not an abstract proposition for the future. Its full realisation is a long-term goal, but implementing the practical solutions that are available today is not a case of following the latest management fad; it is a vital aspect of world-class management in today's business environment.

Know-Net supports firms to design, develop, implement and measure their knowledge management competencies.

To this end Know-Net has developed a phased approach to fully implementing Knowledge Management in an organisational setting.

Phases of a KM initiative

Know-Net's services aim to help companies move from determining the value of knowledge management activities to defining an integrated solutions path that builds capability. Included in these services are high-level consulting on the concepts and components of knowledge management (strategy, people, processes, and technology).

A clear, phased approach contributes to supporting the strategic orientation of the company concerning knowledge management forms the core of Know-Net's perspective to Knowledge Management.

The Know-Net phases of a knowledge management initiative are the following:

• Awareness about the benefits of knowledge management and its relationships to strategic as well as operational and day-to-day issues in the corporate environment.
• Stage I: Plan refers to the Knowledge Management Strategic Planning phase.
• Stage II: Develop is the phase in which an organisation transforms itself to a knowledge intensive company based on the company-specific KM value proposition derived in Stage I.
• Stage III: Operate is the phase in which an organisation rolls-out a company-wide implementation plan with a holistic approach to KM.
• Measurement of the level of leveraging of knowledge assets with a KM effort.
• Training of both the knowledge workers to the new processes and technologies as well as of the staff to take up new knowledge-related roles (e.g. CKOs, knowledge analysts).

The Know-Net method proposes the above-mentioned phased approach to enable structured thinking and planning for a knowledge management project.

The method is designed to be modular so that an organisation can choose to start at different levels depending on its readiness, needs and requirements.

In Stage I of "Strategic Planning for Knowledge Management" an organisation determines

• The vision and readiness for a knowledge management initiative and
• The scope and feasibility of the project

Stage III is the company-wide implementation of the KM initiative, while the Measurement part of the method aims to provide consistent support for measuring the creation, sharing and use of knowledge assets within the company.