Wout Steurs, 10-Mar-03 @ 14:19PM

The levels of adoption

The most important issue for KM practitioners is to know where their peers in the organisation are. Use of a common vocabulary simplifies the initial contact. We need to acknowledge that different players are at different stages in the adoption process of new technologies and ways of working. Language is mostly a barrier in this respect. Trust can only be established when peers exchange experiences using their vocabulary. This process can be long and various actors can be involved. A story-telling exercise or even a corporate story "encyclopedia" might be the solution.
Measuring these levels of adoption can be a valuable metric system to convince people of the benefit of such an exercise.

Anne Jubert, 10-Mar-03 @ 11:13AM

Nothing new, just a practical tool for better understanding

Dear Denham,
We do not want to make something new and/or different. Just to have a list of the most useful terms with a simple definition of the terms for people who want to implement KM in organisations. We need to speak the same language as the users the practical guide for SMEs that Philippe mentionned, otherwise the guide will not be very useful

Anne

Philippe Perez, 10-Mar-03 @ 09:33AM

answer to the Denham's comment

Dear Denham,
You are perfectly right. Trying to define a common terminology with very sharp definitions is very time-consumming. The objective of the terminology is more important than the terminology itself. This glossary which is presented here will be attached to a "European Guide to good practices in KM" which target particularly the SME. the objective of this glossary is before all pedagogical.I hope that this statement answer to your question. I invite you to contribute to the CEN work by attending the dedicated CEN online workshop that will take place on the 13/03/03 and the 27/03/03 the (at 11H00 CET).
Many thanks for your comment,
Philippe

Denham Grey, 03-Mar-03 @ 04:21AM

Agreement on definitions or understanding distinctions

Terminology or more broadly language use is indeed a key knowledge practice. In my work, I find too much attention being paid to finding consensus around finely crafted definitions when the real learning & leverage in language comes from increased group understanding of key distinctions. It is the need and the rationale, for having a separate term / idea / concept, that conveys deep knowledge, not the text attached to the definition.

Now to some, this seems like splitting hairs - but this is exactly my point - spend your time getting shared understanding around distinctions that make a difference rather than going round and round on the exact wording of definitions.

So where do you stand?

Wout Steurs, 27-Feb-03 @ 09:13AM

The point of view of KM practioners: Keynote 25 March 2003

As I am interacting with various knowledge workers around the KPMG globe on a daily basis I will share with you how I have created an environment in which people feel comfortable to work. As the community of internal change agents grew the need for a common terminology emerged. As we are moving into areas of collaboration with other knowledge workers and communities whether large or small such as clients, suppliers and partners, a simple knowledge management terminology helps our change agents to "understand" the synergies between strategic knowledge management programs.