Navigating the Minefield: A Practical KM Companion

This book was written for anyone who is interested in using their knowledge more effectively to optimize operations. This knowledge can be their own, that of the teams in which they work, or the knowledge of the wider communities and teams in which they participate.Whether you are a recently appointed knowledge management (KM) staffer, an experienced KMer’ who feels stagnant and stuck, or a senior manager with KM oversight responsibility looking for ways to improve the use of knowledge in your organization, this book was written for you. It is based on interviews with individuals who have created and managed successful KM programs around the world. The authors examine and analyze diverse KM programs and tactics, using quotes, insights, and stories to show why these programs are successful and how they improve both knowledge capture and knowledge flow.The book examines 19 KM programs, including those at Airbus, ARUP, Cadbury Schweppes, Hewlett Packard (HP), the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, (CIAT), Lloyds Register Marine, NASA, MPM PETRONAS, U.K. National Health Service Digital, and the U.S. Army.Praise for Navigating the Minefield: ＂Having worked with Paul both in person and at workshops across the globe, I’ve found him to be an incredibly insightful individual. Paul has the rare ability to bridge varying points of view within a room, find the commonality, and carry the debate forward through insight and ingenuity. Patricia’s experience working through the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is a fascinating read, and draws the depth of both knowledge management and an engineering background to the fore. This combination is felt throughout the read, and the incredible experience and expertise both Patricia and Paul bring is felt throughout the pages. The breadth of scope covered is truly compelling, illustrating not just innovative approaches towards cost savings and efficiencies from an organizational knowledge sharing sense, but also quality of life, quality of culture, and in a very literal sense, saving lives as illustrated through narrative regarding the U.S. Army. Navigating the Minefield is a fascinating read, and a must for the global knowledge professional.＂ Eric HunterbrDirector of Knowledge, Technology, Innovation Strategies, Bradford & Barthel, LLPRand Executive Director, Spherical Models, LLC＂Whether you are starting out in KM or have more KM experience, there is something for you in this KM companion. Some of the ideas were new to me and I found much to inspire my own KM efforts. It’s good to learn lessons from other KMers, learning from both good and bad KM experiences.What I like about this companion is that it has a range of realistic up-to-date examples both on how to start KM in an organisation and also how to sustain KM. The examples are drawn from 19 KM programmes from diverse organisations, from government and industry sectors from across the world, and provide great stories to encourage KM in organisations. There are useful anecdotes that you can reuse to sell KM in your organisation.＂Karen McFarlaneCILIP Trustee, CILIP Board ChairFormer UK Government Head of Profession for Knowledge and Information Management