Knowledge Strategy Development: Lessons Learned

A six-month project to develop knowledge strategy for an international organization has been completed.

As with similar assignments relating to  knowledge strategy, one is left with both a sense of accomplishment that the big job is finished and a certain sense of sadness that the job is no longer the focus of one’s professional life. Implementation will move forward, and change – both cultural change and structural change – will be managed with the expectation that organizational effectiveness will be enhanced. It is a good time for reflection, to think about lessons learned. And what might be shared with other KM/knowledge services professionals.

Below is a list of 12 “tips” – you might call them – for developing enterprise-wide knowledge strategy. Further comment about each of these can be found in the June 2010 SMR International Briefing, “June 2010 SMR International Briefing: Knowledge Strategy Development Project Completed – Lessons Learned.”

1. Establish clear terms of reference
2. Secure senior management sponsorship
3. Understand the framework
4. Focus on the big picture
5. Recognize that succinctness is a virtue
6. Prepare to be flexible
7. Expect total (or as total as possible) involvement
8. Understand working styles
9. Encourage communities of practice
10. Move outside the client organization
11. Lead by example
12. Develop enthusiasm

Finally: be proud of yourself. You’re changing people’s lives, especially their lives in the workplace. Once the knowledge strategy is in place and implementation begins – and continues – your client’s employees are going to work smarter (and work SMART). While the many elements of knowledge strategy development must be your focus (things like identifying the scope of the project, conducting the knowledge audit, identifying knowledge assets – and recommending new knowledge assets – describing the gaps and constraints that must be addressed, developing managerial and structural recommendations), never lose sight of the fact that your team’s work will make things better for everybody in the organization. Like what you’re doing and be pleased when you’ve done it.