Teaching KM
I’m starting my second semester teaching “Foundations of KM” in DIT School of Computing as part of the MSc in Computing (Knowledge Management). I took this class as part of my masters course three years ago.
The first semester was DT209, a full-time class. It went ok (I was given good notes), but was a bit rough around the edges.
This semester is DT217, a part-time, evening class. Lectures run from 18:30-21:30. This semester I will be focusing much more on putting KM into action. There will be added emphasis on case studies and gaming-out hypothetical KM strategies. Furthermore, there will be considerable focus put on the benefits of KM (“Show me the money!”). Less talk, more walk.
In an effort to share resources, links, and KM-related information I will posting more regularly to this blog again.
OSS Barcamp Dublin
There’s an OSS Barcamp in DIT Kevin Street tomorrow focusing on the latest developments in the open source software world. Some very interesting topics being discussed.
Check it out:
Semantic Web: From Web 2.0 to Web 3.0
FYI…
Semantic Web: From Web 2.0 to Web 3.0
7 Apr 2009
The Institute of International European Affairs present
Round table with Liam Ó Móráin, Digital Enterprise Research Institute.
Liam Ó Móráin, representing the Digital Enterprise Research Institute, will discuss the work of DERI on the semantic web and the transition from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0. Liam Ó Móráin develops DERI’s industry links and is working on semantic web startups.
The Semantic Web is the future generation of WWW technology that envisages information from diverse sources being easily combined and used in profoundly different and more powerful ways. This “Web 3.0″ will use additional information about concepts, terms and relationships, rendering what appears in websites easily understood – rather than simply displayed – by a new generation of Web applications. This capability will mark a major change in the Web environment for users, developers, and service providers. This round table meeting is an essential meeting for those interested in any aspect of the Web.
Wiki Patterns
I finally purchased Wiki Patterns by Stewart Mader.
It was recommended to me by Colin Mooney months ago but I never got around to picking it up. I’m looking forward to reading it. I’m hoping I’ll get even more out of now that I’m 6 months into a major client wiki development (plus several personal experiments).
I’ll update more as I get into the book. Meanwhile, here’s a video of Stewart in an action.
UNESCO language map
This study and resulting map certainly increases the knowledge of the earth’s languages:
Safeguarding endangered languages
Interactive Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger ©UNESCO
Intervention logic
I heard about “intervention logic the other day at a KM networking event.
The gist of it, as it was explained to me, was that by breaking things down to their constituent elements, you can then see why you are doing things and make clear choices on where you will intervene.
There’s very little info on it from what I can see. It seems particularly big in New Zealand. I’ll be on the look out for more info on this topic.
KM conveyor belt
An organization’s knowledge and information is constantly changing, in a constant state of flow. The closest approximation to what I’m selling is a conveyor belt for knowledge. Once the conveyor belt is set up, I then train people how to get stuff on and off. It is assumed that people already have knowledge to put on the system. They need help organizing it and moving it around.
The conveyor belt system is varied, made up of rollers, magnets, rubber, etc. Each bit of the system does something different. They have different attributes, offer different benefits and designed for different things. They’re all intended to move things around – different things, in different ways.
To my mind, KM is the practice of moving knowledge and information around an organization. The aim is to make sure that it is available to people whenever then need it. The challenge is to anticipate what people will need and when (which is pretty much impossible). The solution is to have constantly updated/revised information and the appropriate mechanisms to deliver it . Most commonly the mechanisms are computer based, but not always, e.g. debriefings, CoPs, sharing sessions, etc. The most important element are people. IT systems are nothing without the right inputs and usage.
It’s not about the conveyor belt. It’s not even about the packets that are moving around the belt. It’s about the people putting on and taking off the packets. Eveything else is just a mechanical process.
ECKM – call for papers
The 10 European Conference on Knowledge Management, which is taking place in Italy on September 3-4, 2009, is currently calling for papers to be considered for presentation:
http://www.academic-conferences.org/eckm/eckm2009/eckm09-abstract-submission.htm
KM – defense/offense
KM is part defensive and part offensive
D = trenches, foundations, barricades, walls… knowing what you know/what you’ve got
O = innovation, collaboration, obsolescence, … using what you know to make new stuff, knowledge, products, etc.
Wikinomics – How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
I picked up this book the other day. It’s a treasure trove of ideas and information. I highly recommend it. More detailed review coming soon.
The chapters are:
- Wikinomics
- The Perfect Storm
- The Peer Pioneers
- Ideagoras
- The Prosumers
- The New Alexandrians
- Platforms for Participation
- The Global Plant Floor
- The Wiki Workplace
- Collaborative Minds
- Enterprise 2.0
Authors website: http://www.wikinomics.com
on Amazon
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Atlantic Books (1 Jun 2008)
ISBN-10: 184354637X
ISBN-13: 978-1843546375
