Skills Required for Knowledge Management

In this blog we will explore the skills for a career in knowledge management drawing from a variety of sources and perspectives. Knowledge Management is important in successful organisations.  Different roles in knowledge management emphasise aspects of the field and have a different need. Leadership positions prioritise skills in management, influence and organisation while technical roles focus more on expertise in IT. Over time different approaches have defined these skills.

Now, lets delve into the skills that knowledge managers require.

To be a knowledge manager there are key skills that you should focus on developing;

• Delegation; Learn how to delegate tasks to ensure workflow and productivity.
• Decision making and problem solving; Enhance your ability to make decisions and solve problems efficiently.
• Strategy and Business; Understand how to align knowledge management with business objectives and implement strategies.
• Communication; Improve your verbal communication skills adapting your style for audiences and contexts. Also become efficient, in using communication tools.
• Technology; Master the use of knowledge management tools such as intranets and content management systems. Develop information architecture skills as a good understanding of software applications and IT tools.

To enhance your skills as a knowledge manager consider the following avenues;

• University Degree; Pursue a degree in business administration or information technology to gain credibility and deepen your knowledge.
• Certifications; Explore certifications like PMP (Project Management Professional) CKM® (Certified Knowledge Manager) or ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) to acquire expertise.
• Gain industry recognition. Online Courses; Take advantage of courses offered by platforms such as edX, Coursera or Udemy for cost learning opportunities in the field of knowledge management.

Getting the skills can be done through education and certifications while non technical skills are developed through hands on experience, with the guidance of mentors and co-workers. Depending on the role, you may have to pick a combination of the two.

Understanding Knowledge Management (KM)

Knowledge management is a process wherein an organisation gathers organises, shares and analyses its knowledge to ensure access for its employees. This knowledge encompasses resources frequently asked questions, training materials, well, as interpersonal abilities. The KM process involves delivering information to users through data mining and operational methods that make it easily accessible. Developing a KM plan involves evaluating objectives and carefully examining both technological tools that can meet the companys needs. The challenge lies in selecting or creating software that aligns with the plan and encourages employees to participate in sharing information. This in turn helps the organisation set themselves up for a successful future. Developing this plan can help you to only gain more knowledge over time making you more resourceful. This is a great way to avoid future issues.

The Objectives of Knowledge Management

The goals of knowledge management are to improve efficiency and store knowledge in an easily accessible format. Productivity is key. The aim is to provide the information to the people at the right time. This is accomplished by; Knowledge management involves capturing and organising information, in a system specifically designed for business tasks and projects. It also includes sharing knowledge with those who can benefit from it improving processes and technology to make accessing knowledge easier and encouraging the creation of knowledge to foster learning.

The purpose of knowledge management is to break down barriers between parts of an organisation by centralising information for all employees. It acts as a repository for accumulated knowledge ensuring that important information is not lost when employees leave the company. It is so important to develop this area as knowledge equals previous investment.

There are three types of knowledge; explicit, tacit and embedded. 

1. Explicit knowledge; This type of knowledge is documented and easily accessible through sources like documents, databases and instructional materials.
2. Tacit knowledge; Tacit knowledge is intuitive and based on experience and practice. It can be challenging to extract or transfer because it often resides with individuals who need to document or communicate it.
3. Embedded knowledge; This type of knowledge exists within processes, routines, structures and cultures. It can be formal or informal, in nature. Might require effort to recognise its significance.

Knowledge Management Systems; Examples and Their Benefits

A knowledge management system, which is also known as a knowledge base is a content management system that stores and retrieves knowledge. It provides users with information, through channels like FAQs, webinars, training programs, case studies and forums.

The Process of Knowledge Management.

Knowledge management involves four processes

1. Gathering Knowledge; This includes entering data using optical character recognition and scanning techniques retrieving information from sources and continuously searching for relevant data.
2. Storing and Organising Knowledge; Content within the knowledge management system is. Indexed to ensure access. Links to information are also included for user convenience.
3. Distributing Knowledge; Users can access information through FAQs training resources, white papers, manuals, etc.
4. Applying Knowledge; Users are encouraged to apply the acquired knowledge in their tasks.

Benefits and Challenges of Knowledge Management

Implementing knowledge management brings many benefits such as cost reduction in operations increased productivity levels, minimised duplication of information improved accessibility to information, across the organisations members or departments alike standardising processes while fostering collaboration. However, it does come with its set of challenges. These challenges include motivating employees to embrace practices staying updated with evolving technology ensuring robust security measures and keeping information up, to date.

When it comes to knowledge management there are best practices that can be followed:

Understand the organisational culture and customise the knowledge management system to align with employee capabilities. Plan a well thought out implementation strategy that includes comprehensive training for employees at each step. Encourage and reward employees for actively sharing their knowledge. Implement a system where employees receive recognition for their contributions through document ownership. Establish a policy for knowledge exchange to ensure transfer of information when employees transition out.

To successfully create and implement a knowledge management framework careful planning is crucial. This involves;

• Defining program objectives.
• Documenting both term and long term goals.
• Involving employees in the implementation process by appointing champions who can drive the initiative forward.
• Developing procedures. Including industry best practices into your framework.
• Assessing technology requirements while considering any existing tools or resources within the organisation.
• Building a roadmap for implementation with leadership support and adequate funding.
• Executing the program according to the defined plan.
• Continually measuring success through performance evaluations, quality assessments, compliance checks and value assessments to identify areas of improvement over time.

Our qualified trainers and facilitators can help design a tailored training program to help you understand Knowledge Management and its useful benefits. Contact our team for more details.