Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Knowledge Map
A visual representation of the knowledge of an organization or the knowledge
underlying a business process.

What is Knowledge Mapping?
A process that defines where Knowledge Assets are in an organization, and how the knowledge flows operate in the organization? Evaluating relationships between holders of knowledge will then illustrate the sources, flows, limitations, and losses of knowledge that can be expected to occur. It identifies business-critical knowledge assets – the processes, gaps, sources, flows, barriers, dependencies and knowledge at risk if key employees leave. A knowledge map is displayed as a tree or graph, where the nodes are the names of knowledge assets or classes of assets.

Steps in Knowledge Mapping
1. Understand the value of its existing knowledge;
2. Locate knowledge stewards
3. Identify gaps, cross-functional dependencies and barriers
4. Identify knowledge-sharing opportunities.


Key Questions:
Before starting the process organization should have an answer of below questions.
® What knowledge is needed in a business process?
® What is the gap between what is needed and what we have?
® Who has the knowledge?
® Who uses it?
® In what form is it produced?
® What systems produce it?
® Where is it?

Knowledge mapping is commonly used to focus a KM program, support mergers and acquisitions, reduce time-to-competence for new recruits, and ensure knowledge retention and knowledge continuity in times of personnel flux.






3 comments:

  1. nice starting here, good job Shail, keep writing

    ReplyDelete
  2. A nice topic to write on..we ll be lukg fwd to hear more frm u.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shail said-

    Thanks Rohit,
    From my experience knowledge mapping is very important in today’s cut edge competition. When I was first hired I often didn’t know where to find the knowledge. I frequently had to “reinvent the wheel” and figure out my own solutions. If there was an effective knowledge map in place, I would have solved my problems quickly.

    ReplyDelete