Principles for Knowledge Management

Workers own the means of producing their knowledge. They can sell, trade, or relinquish it for the benefit of the organization or other employees, but it will remain theirs. Therefore, how we manage this knowledge undergoes dramatic and fundamental shifts and fluctuations. To effectively manage knowledge within an organization, one must examine it through a magnifying lens, analyze its needs, and identify tailored solutions. Knowledge cannot be managed in a conservative yet effective manner; knowledge is more organic than mechanical, and it changes constantly.

Nevertheless, several fairly stable principles regarding knowledge are outlined below, which are worth remembering when managing knowledge:

1. Knowledge does not exist in isolation: Knowledge is connected to other components of data and information. It is impossible to make an absolute separation between it and the rest. In the world of knowledge, you cannot focus on just one factor and ignore the others.

2. Knowledge self-organizes: Knowledge is created and organizes itself around organizational structures or groups with identity and purpose. Look for it there.

3. The more you try to embed knowledge too deeply, the more it will slip away: The temptation to bind knowledge in the form of documents valued as laws in files, patents, libraries, databases, and so forth is great. On the other hand, excessive rigor, formality, and proliferation of procedures lead to the frustration of creativity. Therefore, one must find the middle path, and when it comes to managing knowledge, we must not forget to leave room for creativity and renewal.

4. There is no single solution: Each organization must have a solution tailored to its specific needs.

5. Knowledge does not last forever: One must remember that, ultimately, some knowledge will lose its validity, just as happens with every other aspect of life. Means for updating existing content must be ensured. Emphasis should be placed on breaking free from old ways of thinking, and disposing of entire blocks of knowledge will contribute to the vitality and development of knowledge.

6. No one is responsible: Knowledge is a process of sharing. Hence, when its management succeeds, it has many parents. In other cases, it is orphaned. Don't be surprised.

7. There is no silver bullet: There is no single leverage point or one good direction for advancing knowledge. However, the organization is not tolerant of mistakes. Try to integrate complementary methods.

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