Knowledge Management Governance
How is knowledge management governance distinct from knowledge management strategy?
Knowledge management strategy should guide your governance structure. Generally, strategy covers the following subjects:
- Who will be reading the knowledge in the KB?
- What kind of knowledge do the users need?
- Who will be providing the knowledge?
- Where and when will the users need to access knowledge?
Governance, on the other hand, covers ongoing best practices and their continual refinement, including:
- Formalizing or refining knowledge content creation and maintenance guidelines (and making them easily accessible)
- Advocating for correct usage of your knowledge base
- Looking out for repeats of old problems and solving for new ones
Who should be part of the knowledge governance structure?
A knowledge governance council should be made up of key enablement personnel. If it’s your job to set your team up for success, knowledge management is a key component of that. Regardless of the kind of enablement role you’re in, knowledge management is how you can ensure continuity of experience and information both within and external to your team.
Key takeaways 🔑🥡🍕
Why is governance important in knowledge management?
Governance is crucial because it ensures consistency, accuracy, and security in managing organizational knowledge. It helps in setting up clear guidelines for knowledge creation, storage, retrieval, and sharing, which enhances efficiency and prevents the duplication or degradation of information.
Who should be involved in knowledge management governance?
Knowledge management governance should involve stakeholders from various levels of the organization, including senior leaders, IT staff, knowledge managers, and end-users. This ensures a comprehensive approach that considers all aspects of knowledge management from a strategic and user-centric perspective.
What are some common challenges in implementing knowledge management governance?
Common challenges include:
- Resistance to Change: Employees may be hesitant to adopt new processes and tools.
- Aligning with Organizational Goals: Ensuring that the governance strategy aligns with the overall business objectives.
- Maintaining Data Quality: Keeping the knowledge base accurate, current, and relevant.
- Technological Integration: Seamlessly integrating new tools with existing IT infrastructure.
