Federal Knowledge Management Initiative Federal KM Working Group Neil Olonoff

Is “American know-how” disappearing from the Federal Government? We all know America is smart. Our government possesses a vast reservoir of information. But recent catastrophic “knowledge failures” prove we need to get better at sharing these huge knowledge assets.

We all know America is smart. Our government possesses a vast reservoir of information.

But recent catastrophic “knowledge failures” prove we need to get better at sharing these huge knowledge assets.

Costs of Failure to Share Knowledge Dangerous Knowledge Gaps Historically, failure to share knowledge has resulted in disasters. Which could have been averted with a “word to the wise?” The sinking of the Titanic? 9/11 attacks? Space Shuttle Challenger crash?

Dangerous Knowledge Gaps

Historically, failure to share knowledge has resulted in disasters.

Which could have been averted with a “word to the wise?”

The sinking of the Titanic?

9/11 attacks?

Space Shuttle Challenger crash?

Hurricane Katrina The Federal response to Hurricane Katrina was marked by now infamous failures to communicate

The Federal response to Hurricane Katrina was marked by now infamous failures to communicate

The Space Shuttle Challenger NASA engineers already knew the dangers of freezing the O-ring that failed, leading to the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

NASA engineers already knew the dangers of freezing the O-ring that failed, leading to the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

This is nothing new or particularly American … The location of the iceberg that sank the Titanic was spiked in the ship’s telegraph office.

The location of the iceberg that sank the Titanic was spiked in the ship’s telegraph office.

Even the 9/11 attacks … The FBI was already investigating foreign students learning to fly, but not land, large jet planes

The FBI was already investigating foreign students learning to fly, but not land, large jet planes

An Epidemic of Avoidable Error All these notorious disasters could have been averted with a “word to the wise.” Of course, it also happens quietly millions of times every day ..

All these notorious disasters could have been averted with a “word to the wise.”

Of course, it also happens quietly millions of times every day ..

We have the antidote Knowledge management A ten year old discipline that consists of .. a set of management practices, plus … culture change to instill attitudes of cooperation and collaboration

Knowledge management

A ten year old discipline that consists of ..

a set of management practices, plus …

culture change to instill attitudes of cooperation and collaboration

Federal KM Initiative Roadmap The Knowledge Imperative Why Knowledge Management is critically important for Federal government, right now The Way Forward The Federal KM Initiative Action Plan sets out actions to instill knowledge sharing in government

The Knowledge Imperative

Why Knowledge Management is critically important for Federal government, right now

The Way Forward

The Federal KM Initiative Action Plan sets out actions to instill knowledge sharing in government

Why is Knowledge Important? Silly question! It’s an enabler and multiplier But it doesn’t “flow through the pipes” very well. It’s “sticky.” Sticky? Why? Organizational “stovepipes” Human nature.

Silly question!

It’s an enabler and multiplier

But it doesn’t “flow through the pipes” very well. It’s “sticky.”

Sticky? Why?

Organizational “stovepipes”

Human nature.

Benefits of Sharing Knowledge Synergy and efficiency Quality & Value Enhancement Innovation Morale

Synergy and efficiency

Quality & Value Enhancement

Innovation

Morale

Government’s Critical KM Needs A central resource center for Knowledge Management Foster consistent knowledge sharing practices Build a knowledge sharing culture Solutions to meet the challenge of the Age Wave Retirement Crisis

A central resource center for Knowledge Management

Foster consistent knowledge sharing practices

Build a knowledge sharing culture

Solutions to meet the challenge of the Age Wave Retirement Crisis

Federal KM Initiative Action Plan Goals: Establish a Federal KM Center Create a Federal CKO Position Enact Policies, Standards & Practices Web Presence & KM Awareness Campaign Train Federal Workers in KM Skills Build a knowledge sharing culture Age Wave Retirement & Recruiting Programs Web 2.0 and social computing Recruit Generation Y employees

Goals:

Establish a Federal KM Center

Create a Federal CKO Position

Enact Policies, Standards & Practices

Web Presence & KM Awareness Campaign

Train Federal Workers in KM Skills

Build a knowledge sharing culture

Age Wave Retirement & Recruiting Programs

Web 2.0 and social computing

Recruit Generation Y employees

Establish a Federal Knowledge Management Center Central resource for Federal KM Provide impetus and consultation for the tasks in the Action Plan

Central resource for Federal KM

Provide impetus and consultation for the tasks in the Action Plan

Establish a Federal CKO Position Within the proposed Federal CTO office Coordinate with colleagues at each federal agency Demonstrate the benefits of sharing and collaborating across agencies

Within the proposed Federal CTO office

Coordinate with colleagues at each federal agency

Demonstrate the benefits of sharing and collaborating across agencies

KM Governance: Policies, Standards and Practices KM Governance Policies Standards Practices Specifying the decisions that need to be made, and those who should make them, to maximize the benefits and efficiency of knowledge management activities.

KM Governance

Policies

Standards

Practices

Specifying the decisions that need to be made, and those who should make them, to maximize the benefits and efficiency of knowledge management activities.

Web Presence and Content Distribution To support all the activities of the Federal KM Center Awareness medium Content Distribution point Demonstration site for blogs, wikis, and social network tools

To support all the activities of the Federal KM Center

Awareness medium

Content Distribution point

Demonstration site for blogs, wikis, and social network tools

Build Awareness of KM Resources Differentiating KM from IM & IT Awareness Communications Campaign

Differentiating KM from IM & IT

Awareness Communications Campaign

Train Federal Workers in KM Skills Anyone can learn knowledge work competencies. Plus, there’s a valuable bonus: Knowledge work competencies bring deeper understanding and appreciation of the value of knowledge sharing. This, in turn, supports culture change. Work with OPM to recognize the discipline, establish appropriate Position Descriptions, competency maps, and professional advancement

Anyone can learn knowledge work competencies.

Plus, there’s a valuable bonus:

Knowledge work competencies bring deeper understanding and appreciation of the value of knowledge sharing.

This, in turn, supports culture change.

Work with OPM to recognize the discipline, establish appropriate Position Descriptions, competency maps, and professional advancement

Build a Knowledge Sharing Culture in the Federal Government Leadership Support Explicit Knowledge Sharing & Collaboration Policies Proactive Support and Consultation KM Competency Training Build Awareness of KM Resources

Leadership Support

Explicit Knowledge Sharing & Collaboration Policies

Proactive Support and Consultation

KM Competency Training

Build Awareness of KM Resources

Meet the Challenge of the Retirement “Age Wave” Vast numbers of Federal workers from the “Baby Boom” generation will soon retire. Knowledge Retention programs are aimed at offsetting this “brain drain” Web 2.0 programs support the recruiting of Generation Y employees

Vast numbers of Federal workers from the “Baby Boom” generation will soon retire.

Knowledge Retention programs are aimed at offsetting this “brain drain”

Web 2.0 programs support the recruiting of Generation Y employees

Establish Web 2.0 and Social Computing Policies Under the auspices of the Federal CKO Coordinate with cyber security specialists to mitigate security concerns Demonstrate the need to establish Web 2.0 and social computing technologies Establish “rules of behavior” for federal employees, including participating in virtual worlds Bring Facebook-like environments to the federal intranets

Under the auspices of the Federal CKO

Coordinate with cyber security specialists to mitigate security concerns

Demonstrate the need to establish Web 2.0 and social computing technologies

Establish “rules of behavior” for federal employees, including participating in virtual worlds

Bring Facebook-like environments to the federal intranets

Attract and Recruit Generation Y In coordination with OPM, create campaigns to attract “Gen Y” Then, support the proliferation of social computing by providing them Web 2.0 tools Allow them the freedom to operate and thrive within federal bureaucracy

In coordination with OPM, create campaigns to attract “Gen Y”

Then, support the proliferation of social computing by providing them Web 2.0 tools

Allow them the freedom to operate and thrive within federal bureaucracy

Summing Up We discussed reasons why KM is critically important for the Federal government. Bottom-Line Imperative Quality & Value Enhancement Innovation Morale

We discussed reasons why KM is critically important for the Federal government.

Bottom-Line Imperative

Quality & Value Enhancement

Innovation

Morale

Action Highlights The action plan contains specific recommendations, including: Create a Federal Knowledge Management Center Develop and implement Policy, Standards and Practices Build Awareness for KM Support Knowledge Work Competencies

The action plan contains specific recommendations, including:

Create a Federal Knowledge Management Center

Develop and implement Policy, Standards and Practices

Build Awareness for KM

Support Knowledge Work Competencies

Can We Afford This? We began by discussing the “cost of not sharing knowledge.” In an office the cost can be computed in labor hours or dollars. In a war or emergency, the cost may be paid in human lives. There is a cost to this effort, as well. But considering the stakes, our question is not “Can we afford to do this?” It is, rather, “Can we afford not to?”

We began by discussing the “cost of not sharing knowledge.” In an office the cost can be computed in labor hours or dollars. In a war or emergency, the cost may be paid in human lives.

There is a cost to this effort, as well. But considering the stakes, our question is not “Can we afford to do this?” It is, rather, “Can we afford not to?”

Get Involved! Join the Federal KM Working Group . No dues are involved. To join the listserv , send a blank e-mail to [email_address] Read the Roadmap on our Wiki page http://wiki.nasa.gov/cm/wiki/Federal%20Knowledge%20Management%20Working%20Group%20(KMWG).wiki/home/home.html Sign the Petition by emailing the presenter, Neil Olonoff [email_address]

Join the Federal KM Working Group . No dues are involved. To join the listserv , send a blank e-mail to [email_address]

Read the Roadmap on our Wiki page

http://wiki.nasa.gov/cm/wiki/Federal%20Knowledge%20Management%20Working%20Group%20(KMWG).wiki/home/home.html

Sign the Petition by emailing the presenter, Neil Olonoff [email_address]