 | By: Amrit Tiwana Binding: Hardcover Publisher: Prentice Hall ISBN: 013009224X ISBN-13: 9780130092243 Released: 29 Aug 2002 RRP: Average Rating:  |
The three introductive chapters form a good survey, pulling in key KM concepts such as:
· different types of knowledge that reside in organisations · use of IT in KM · development of a knowledge sharing culture.
Tiwana draws on previous work by well regarded KM exponents such as Davenport, Prusack, Nonaka & Drucker.
The introduction to KM is suitable as a refresher, or for someone new to KM. There is a very good survey of developments over the past few years, drawing on seminal sources & key players in the KM field.
The book then quickly moves onto the more practical aspect of implementing a KM strategy & system. Tiwana states that the book:
seeks to bridge the gap between KM theory & practice. It shows you how you can implement both a KM strategy & a KM system in your company.
Tiwana then goes on to introduce the "Ten Step Road Map" for implementing KM in an organisation. The steps identified in this "Map" are:
1) Analyse the existing infrastructure 2) Align KM & business strategy 3) Design the KM infrastructure 4) Audit existing knowledge assets & systems 5) Design the KM team 6) Create the KM blueprint 7) Develop the KM system 8) Deploy, using the results-driven incremental methodology 9) Manage change, culture & reward structures 10) Evaluate performance, measure ROI & incrementallly refine the Knowledge Management System/Strategy
Tiwana then explains each of these steps in detail, positing ways to approach each step. It is made clear that these approaches depend on the type of organisation the KMS is to be designed for.
There is a CD-Rom of forms included with the book. These are useful aids in following the "Ten Steps". For example, there are a series of forms containing suggested questions to pose when analysing the existing infrastructure (step 1).
However, there are some criticisms that can be made of the "Ten Steps". For example when analysing the existing infrastructure - this should involve any knowledge assets & systems that are already in place. However, Tiwana does not address this until step 4 which occurs after selecting the architecture & design for the KMS. Surely alll audit processes should be conducted at the initial stages, then re-visited as part of an ongoing evaluative strategy to improve & validate the KM implementation that takes place.
Nevertheless, this is one of the most in-depth & practical books on KM implementation published at present, & is proving a very popular read.
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