NEWS IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

CHANGE MANAGEMENT - HR ARGUES BETTER BUSINESS ANALYSIS FIRST
A Canadian HR expert warns that new business tools adoption should only proceed when old methods have proven ineffective. Otherwise, the costs can far outweigh the benefits, bringing disrepute to management and to the new tools like KM. See more...

KM PROCESS - CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS IN KM - PRELIMINARY FINDINGS
Can basic Best Practice in KM Implementation be determined ? Researchers examined possible critical success factors in KM implementation from 8 UK companies that from previous research had demonstrated some advanced KM initiatives. The researchers are atleast now satisfied that a set of factors for each of the five dimensions has been identified.. See more...

KM PROCESS - PROFESSOR'S REVIEW OF MEASURING INTANGIBLES
An Australian professor of business, Professor Malcolm Rimmer at Deakin Business School, Melbourne, Australia, reviews two recent major contributions to measuring 'intangible' assets characterised in knowledge management practices. See more...

KM TRENDS - ENGLAND'S USE OF KM - SURVEY RESULTS 2001
Researchers in England examined KM activity in 60 of 100 top UK publicly listed companies (FTSE). Although the activity findings are few years old, they provide a contrast with current KM trends. See more...

KM TRENDS - AUSTRALIAN HR EXPERTS DECLARING KM GROWING ATLEAST IN IMPORTANCE
How far is KM practice lagging from KM awareness in companies ? With KM being now largely emphasised as needing Human Resources involvement, is this happening ? One PhD researcher discovered some encouraging signs but also gaping holes in KM involvement in Australia. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING - E-LEARNING NOT THE PANACEA
Wilson discovers that e-learning on its own is not returning value to an organisation. Face-to-face along with self-paced e-learning programs, ie., a hybrid learning model, continues to be the favoured model ...even by e-learning vendors ! See more...

KM TRENDS/ KM PROCESS - KNOWLEDGE WORKER PERFORMANCE FINDINGS
Manual labour productivity was the vision of the industrial age movement exemplified by the likes of Frederick Taylor and Henry Ford. How are we going now with the birth of a newer vision - knowledge labour productivity ? Davenport and colleagues decided to find out. They discovered five key issues that must be addressed if KM is going to be part of the DNA of the company. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING - PATIENTS' KNOWING-DOING GAP EXPOSED
Does knowledge acquisition equate to skill development ? Amongst a group of motivated individuals, volunteer diabetes patients, researchers tried to find a positive correlation between quality of disease knowledge and quality of therapy-compliant behaviour ('compliance'). This study confirms a KM rule-of-thumb...knowledge is PERSONAL...that needs psychology as much as anything else ! See more...

KM TRENDS/KM PROCESS - KNOWLEDGE WORKER PERFORMANCE FINDINGS
Manual labour productivity was the vision of the industrial age movement exemplified by the likes of Frederick Taylor and Henry Ford. How are we going now with the birth of a newer vision -knowledge labour productivity ? Davenport and colleagues decided to find out. They discovered five key issues that must be addressed if newer business disciplines like KM are to have any chance in growing. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING - PATIENTS' KNOWING-DOING GAP EXPOSED
Does knowledge acquisition equate to skill development ? Does a one-day training program produce automatically competent professionals ? Does intellect translate into action ? This study examined voluntary diabetic patients from Hong Kong. Could researchers find a positive correlation between quality of disease knowledge and quality of therapy-compliant behaviour ('compliance'). Another lesson in human motivation and psychology. See more...

KM TRENDS - STATE OF THE KM UNION BY PETER SENGE
25 years on since Argyris and Schon's milestone book on 'Organisational Learning' was published Senge reviews its impact on corporate mainstream cultures and gives implications to KM's role. There is progress but it is likely to take ...another generation or two of managers ! See more...

CHANGE MANAGEMENT - AUSTRALIAN CEO CHANGES TO CHANGE CULTURE
The myth was that you cannot create your destiny... and you certainly cannot change significantly the culture of a company without pulling it all down and starting again. This is a fallacy and this study from an Australian brewery, Lion Nathan, proves it... but it requires a new set of competencies....personal ones, rarely cultivated in our school or work upbringing. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING - WORLD FIRST - AUSTRALIAN STUDY ON SUCCESSFUL ONLINE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
An eight week, highly structured therapeutic program for young women employed either an online community of practice or a face-to-face community of practice model. Both therapeutic delivery modes produced major positive attitudinal changes, giving the first scientifically validated evidence worldwide for the credibility of online structured communities of practice. See more...

CHANGE MANAGEMENT - RUSSIA'S ANTI-SHARING CULTURE TRANSFORMED BY AUTOCRATIC LEADERSHIP
Researchers from Denmark studied six Russian companies, all of which had severely defective knowledge sharing cultures. Obstructive beliefs and practices were identified and change management recommendations were made.To turnaround a dysfunctional culture, chronically disempowered knowledge workers not only need autocratic leadership but they desire it ! See more...

KM TRENDS - AUSTRALIAN KM CHAPTER DEBATES SHARING VS COMPETING DILEMMA
Over 50 KM proponents packed into a Melbourne pub in frosty June to participate in a structured debate about whether real knowledge sharing practices can survive in a competitive environment. Guest debaters came from both industry and academia. The audience verdict based on the provided arguments was unanimous. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING - AUSTRALIAN STUDY OF ASTUTE KNOWLEDGE WORKERS IN HEALTHCARE
Three Melbourne-based emergency paramedics, recognised by peers as astute knowledge workers were studied closely to determine how they acquired advanced levels of expertise in their complex, often non-routine, work roles. Key discoveries of the likely mental processes of astute knowledge workers are presented. See more...

CHANGE MANAGEMENT - "MY PROGRAM IS ABOUT TO BE CUT !" CRISIS PLAN.
This hypothetical scenario looks at when senior management have slated your program to be cut and how to respond in this emergency. Four recognised change management consultants analyse and advise on the necessary crisis steps to avert disaster. Surprisingly, there is some consensus among them. See more...

KM TRENDS - STATE OF THE KM UNION ADDRESS-THOMAS STEWART
Stewart is famous for his business-focused perspectives on KM over several years of writing. This year he became the Chief Editor of the respected Harvard Business Review. His 2001 book on KM reviewed various matters on KM and in particular its ten year progress and future promises. See more...

KM TRENDS - FINANCE WORLD IN EUROPE SLOW TO ADOPT KM
In arguably the largest KM study ever undertaken, Dore (2001) surveyed 300 of Europe's leading banks(200) and insurance companies(100) to deterrmine how pervasive KM practices are in these companies. KM has moved passed the fad phase for many companies but it is still not a well-understood process. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING - SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING MODEL AMONGST BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS
Do knowledge workers learn the same way ? Do knowledge workers know how they learn to optimise their learning rate ? Loo (2002) has found that relying on just a few learning methods is likely to hinder many professionals from optimal learning. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING - BUSINESS PROFESSORS RANK TEACHING METHODS INCLUDING ONLINE MODES
Armed with a variety of learning methodologies, including technology-centred ones, for several years now, 138 business professors rate their favourite ones. Kaupins (2002) has discovered that professors have strong preferences for some that largely exclude their own involvement ! See more...

INTERNATIONAL QUALITY, INNOVATION AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE MALAYSIA 2002
19 papers on knowledge management were presented at a combined Quality, Innovation and Knowledge Management conference amongst Australian and Malaysian universities . Key papers are reviewed. Interviews of presenters and participants are provided along with full transcripts and audio. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING - ONLINE TEAMS TOO DIFFICULT
Cramton (2002) has discovered five underlying serious problems to starting and maintaining online collaboration with dispersed members. Solutions are provided but require high member and participating organisation commitment. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING -UK STUDY FINDS LITTLE BENEFIT IN COMPUTER-AIDED LEARNING
Despite £1 billion investment in supplying England's schools with computer terminals and internet connection, in some subjects national test scores have fallen, causing great concern. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING -E-LEARNING PRACTICES SEEN INEFFECTIVE
University researcher explains limitations of electronic programmed learning, highlighting conducive learning attributes needed for adults. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING -E-LEARNING PRACTICES DEFENDED
Electronic programmed learning works well in association with other learning modalities and supported by proper facilitation, retorts key vendor in e- programmed learning software. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING -US STUDY ON DISTANCE LEARNING CHALLENGES
81 business professors who taught distance learning courses in the US were surveyed to identify strengths and obstacles in effective internet/online instruction. Recommendations were then provided. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING -US STUDY ON POWER OF CONCEPTUAL LEARNING
Is acquiring skills without adequate understanding of the theory and concepts acceptable ? This study tries to see if extended supervision through a graded homework option impacts conceptual learning and improves overall student performance. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING - NEW DISCOVERY FROM TRADITIONAL COURSE
UK researcher tested adult learning theories in the hard sciences by employing Arts students to study Physics. Traditional student selection procedures have been found to be too narrow and are excluding a large minority of students who otherwise can perform very well in the subject, providing further insight into human learning. See more...

BUSINESS DRIVERS - SPEED TO KNOWLEDGE ... NOT SPEED TO MARKET
Krell (2001) has discovered a phenomenon in a few KM-equipped sales/marketing geared companies of getting 'knowledge cycles' in line with product cycles. Failing to align these parallel processes has resulted in dramatic market share losses by first-into-market players like Johnson & Johnson to third-into-market competitors ! See more..

BUSINESS DRIVERS - ROI NOW OBVIOUS IN AUSTRALIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS GIANT
Pawle (2002) has discovered that Telstra Australia can no longer do without proper KM processes and practices. Michael Ossipoff, director of Telstra's knowledge management business unit, has seen a direct correlation between regular use of KM tools and high performing business units. See more...

KM PROCESS - COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE FOR PFIZER'S LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT GROUP Zielinski (2002) reveals a newer collaboration practice called communities of practice in the pharmaceuticals industry. Seen previously in R&D units, it has now moved into the learning and development function and has already produced real best practice transfer, major cost savings and an aligned, motivated global team. See more...

BUSINESS DRIVERS - AUSTRALIA'S MAJOR DAILY FINANCE NEWSPAPER DEVOTES 10 PAGES TO KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT The Australian Financial Review in May2002 has published seven separate articles on the current trends and profitability seen in applying KM processes and practices locally and overseas. Several articles are precised here, highlighting organisations, advisory firms and software vendors involved in KM. See more...

KM PROCESS - COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE - CLASSIC US CASE STUDY McCullough (1985) describes an inter-organisational professional support group that has been running for eight years, its key group dynamics discoveries and the tangible outcomes. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING - RETENTION BY ASSIMILATION NOT INJECTION De Leeuw and De Leeuw (1976) dismiss the assumption that modern learners are skilled at learning. They highlight a constructivist view of human learning based on sound observations. See more...

HUMAN LEARNING - PROFOUND LEARNING IS NOT NATURAL Adler (1940) discovers timeless truths about human learning from the negative learning experiences witnessed in his academic teaching. Even he finds reading an extremely taxing task. See more..

See also Case Studies section in Tutorials that highlights : Xerox Corporation, Samsung Corporation, Nucor Steel, Amadeus and BP Corporation