Knowledge management is the practice of generating, organizing, storing, and sharing vital information, so that everyone can benefit from its use
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In job interviews the panels sometimes pose the question: “Describe an example of how you have utilized the knowledge and skills of others in the past.” . Such questions are used by interview panels to examine the candidate’s expertise in knowledge management. Knowledge management is the practice of generating, organizing, storing, and sharing vital information, so that everyone can benefit from its use . The question challenges the candidate to demonstrate his understanding and expertise in data or information gathering (generation), processing, categorization and establishing linkages between sets of information (organizing), storing information in retrievable form, sharing information, and application of information to solve simple or complex issues. The candidate or employee can join the knowledge management chain at any of the steps of knowledge management i.e. generation, organizing, storage, sharing (dissemination) or application of knowledge (use).
1. Generation of knowledge
Generating credible information and knowledge products requires a systematic process of conceptualization, analysis, critical reviews and feedback. It entails the critical stages of all research, documentation of good practices and lessons learned that will culminate into a knowledge product. Generation of knowledge often involves identification of knowledge gaps, collecting data on the gaps, synthesizing information and linking the information to situations to draw logical conclusions and provide options or recommendations to address the gap.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text][vc_column_text]2. Organization of knowledge
Organization of knowledge entails identifying the significant pieces of data or information, sorting the pieces by components, sub components, sequences or events and/or priorities and linking the categories or patterns obtained to the situations to draw logical conclusions and provide options or recommendations to address the issue or situation.
“The process of knowledge management (Generation, processing, organizing, storage, dissemination, and application of data and/or information) must be linked to achievement of objectives. If you cannot link the activities to the achievement of business or organizational goals, then it is not real knowledge management. The interview question can thus be rephrased to read “When was the last time you used organizational knowledge to contribute to or achieve organizational objectives?”
3. Storage of Knowledge
Knowledge is stored in various ways and forms. These may include storage in form of documents, as abstracts, text books, in computer data bases, e-books and file systems etc. Information storage and retrieval is the systematic process of collecting and cataloging data so that they can be located and displayed on request
4. Dissemination of knowledge
The overall objective in disseminating knowledge is to identify and reach stakeholders, including end users and the public, in order to raise their awareness regarding the knowledge in question and to encourage them to apply or use
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]the knowledge in their day to day work and to solve problems and/or achieve set objectives. The dissemination of knowledge will take several forms and use a variety of media. A number of key dissemination tools can be employed including organizational websites, personal communications (email and telephone), flyers and posters, newsletters, publications (journal articles), policy papers, media communication and Press releases, workshops, presentations at external events and conferences, and social media including twitter and blogs
5. Use of knowledge
Knowledge management would be incomplete if the knowledge generated, organized, stored and/or disseminated is not used. A person who uses knowledge generated through research or other means to make informed decisions about policies, programs and/or best practices is a knowledge user. Knowledge users are participants in knowledge management programs. They fill the dual roles of applying knowledge in their work tasks and contributing their own knowledge and insight to the organization’s knowledge content or base. Using information from various sources the knowledge user is able to develop conceptual and analytical frameworks and or models to explain situations and address issues. Click here to see tips on answering interview questions on knowledge management.
For more information about knowledge management and how this can enhance your career, visit our Email coaching program at http://www.expressexpertise.com/lesson/getting- started/ and make a coaching request. You can also join our Express expertise career club at http://www.expressexpertise.com/join-club-2/ and get access to a wealth of career building tools and materials
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