Benefits Tree

Benefits Tree of Knowledge Management


“A diagrammatic representation of cause-effect relationships from knowledge processes to business outcomes”

Benefits tree is a simple but effective tool for showing interdependencies between different types of benefit. In the current scenario, not every organization used Knowledge Management concept or have any department for that. This Benefits tree make them understand the importance of knowledge management or provide a clear understanding of the 'bottom line' benefits of knowledge management before they invest. Knowledge initiative is a project where the cost is visible, but the benefits are diffused throughout the organization or there are long term benefits and qualitative not quantitative. A benefits tree relates the immediately visible benefits, through a series of steps to those understood by senior executives.

The following tree has been created from the outputs of three separate situations and highlights some commonly found benefits.

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.

Introduction

This blog is all about my resarch and understanding on Knowledge Management activities