ActKM - Canberra, 14 October 2004

The Future of KM

Ross DawsonCEO, Advanced Human TechnologiesAuthor, Living Networks andDeveloping Knowledge-Based Client Relationships

Where business is going...

The weightless economy

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1980 1990 2000

US$tn

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billion tons

GDPWeight

Source: US DoC;Cap Gemini Ernst & Young

We’ve come a long way

We are immersed in connectivity

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1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Internetbandwidth (Gbps)

Source: TeleGeography; NASDAQ

The first standard

Knowledge depreciates!

The emergence of the global brain

Shifting professional workflow

Business becomes transparent

Information and knowledge

Different domains

Information-basedEfficiency

Automation

Knowledge-basedSolutions

Human expertise

Carefully choose the frame you look through

Five frames for the future of knowledge management

Social networks

Collaboration

Relevance

Workflow

Knowledge-based relationships

Making friends through friends

The network organisation

Courtesy Patti Anklam, patti.byeday.net/sna

View of a network

= President

= Operations= Product Line A

= Small Accounts

Function

= Product Line B= Product Line C= HR/Finance= Large Accounts

I frequently or very frequently receive information from this person that I need to do my job.

Roles in networks

Peripheral Specialist

Central Connector

Boundary spanner

Information broker

Data collection

• Qualitative - surveys Information and knowledge flows -

frequency, type, means, trust, value/ usefulness, knowledge of resources etc.

• Quantitative - information flows Email, instant messaging, telephone,

meetings etc.

Performing social network analysis

• Interview key staff to determine the issues and desired outcomes

• Identify the relevant network• Survey network members to determine information and

knowledge flows• Use computer modeling tools to show critical aspects of

the network• Identify potential interventions• Design and implement activities to enhance the network• Follow up

Working together

Collaboration in action

US Joint Strike Fighter

• US$200 billion project

• 80 companies

• 40,000 professionals

• All tightly networked with 90 software tools

The flow of knowledge work

Workflow learning

Advanced Distributed Learning

The reconfigurable organisation

Creating happy accidents

Sharing recommendations

Types of services

• Black-box: customer receives an outcome, but is left none the wiser

• Knowledge-based: customer is left more knowledgeable, able to make better decisions, with greater capabilities

Knowledge to the masses

Enhancing knowledge-based organisations

1. Start from strategy

2. Enhance the networks in and around your organisation

3. Implement flexible, collaborative workflow

4. Rethink strategy in a blurred world

5. Implement from the top down

Are you an energiser?

How to energise your network

• Have and communicate a compelling vision

• Seek and acknowledge quality contributions

• Make and fulfil commitments

• Be a connector!

Help create the future of KM!