A quick history of knowledge management is provided. KM is then explained in the context of the South Asia Urban Knowledge Hub, an initiative of researchers aiming to influencing policy and practice in the urban development sector. The focus is on how the K-Hub can use KM to enhance their ability to facilitate positive change.

1. KM: What’s the Big Idea
?
Michelle Laurie
Knowledge management specialist
South Asia Urban Knowledge Hub
12-14 March 2015, Kathmandu

2. KM Session Outline
1. Evolution of KM
2. Context for K-Hub
3. Definitions
4. Tools and processes
5. KM in the South Asia Urban K-Hub

4. 1/3 of
World Bank
PDFs never
read!

5. The big idea…

6. “We always know more
than we can say, and
we will always say
more than we can
write down.”
-Dave Snowden

7. 1. KM is evolving
1995 2000 2008
Information
(written down)
Experience
(talk about it)
Ideas
(emergence)
Complexity
Collection ConversationConnection
2013
Use
(experiment)

8. Cynefin
Complexity

9. 2. Context for K-Hub KM
• Getting knowledge into the hands of decision makers
– Research should NOT sit on the shelf or in your head only
• Building relationships with decision makers and ‘bridgers’
– You don’t have to it all yourself
• Generating solutions for range of important challenges
– Often complex
– Collective intelligence needed
– No time to reinvent the wheel
• Learn and share
– Legacy for our institutions, countries and region
– Adapt to changing environments

10. 3. Some KM Definitions
“Knowledge management is the process of capturing, creating,
distilling, sharing and using know-how.”
– Davenport (1994) / Collison&Parcell (2001)
“Knowledge management is the art of transforming information
and intellectual assets into enduring value for an organization’s
clients and its people.”
- Stan Garfield, Deloitte (2014)

11. 3. KM Definitions cont’d
“Knowledge management is about ensuring that conversations
and documentation help us learn to be more effective,
innovative, relevant, purposeful, connected and connectable.”
– Ewen Le Borgne (2012)
“It is what makes us more resilient, adaptive and innovative,
beyond the immediate challenge we are facing.”
– added in 2014

12. 4. KM Processes
– Codification, systematization of information, systems,
operations
• Explicit knowledge, lessons learned, collection
– Sharing, creating via experience, conversation,
reflection, improvement
• Tacit knowledge, connecting people, connection
– Reflecting, learning, adapting and applying
• Resilience, complexity (collection + connection)
– Networking and collaborating
• Collective intelligence, connection
– Visualizing
• Making the invisible visible, sense-making (creation)

13. My KM Processes/Tools
Conversations
Time for
reflection &
documentation
Sharing

14. see, hear , do…

15. Activity: After Action Review
Peer Review Process for ‘Knowledge Product Concept
Notes’
– What was intention?
– How is it going in reality?
– Strengths/Weaknesses of system
– Improvements or ideas for moving ahead
Volunteers: facilitator, recorder, timekeeper (15 minutes)
Ref: http://www.kstoolkit.org/After+Action+Review

16. Questions I ask with my KM hat on:
• How are we learning as individuals & how can
the K-Hub learn as a network?
– What legacy are we leaving?
– What happens if ‘Bob’ leaves?
• Are we re-inventing the wheel?
• What tools can help facilitate change?
– And quickly!
• How can we cope with complexity?

17. KM the big idea

18. 5. KM in the K-Hub
Where might KM help overcome challenges
and achieve your aspirations for the future?
Activity:
1. Looking back at our journey map, assign a
KM star where you think a tool or process
might be helpful.
2. Volunteers to share ideas…

19. Resources on KM
• Nancy Dixon presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/SIKM/km-3-eras-
nancy-dixon-slides
• Dave Snowden blog post: Rendering knowledge
• Stan Garfield presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/SGarfield/km-
basics-5115699
• Ewen Le Borgne Blog: https://km4meu.wordpress.com
• Great presentation on collaboration (Eugene Eric Kim):
– http://www.slideshare.net/eekim/delightful-communities-and-powerful-collaboration
• Great presentation on collective intelligence (related to philanthropy
however main message is relevant and presentation is very good too)
– http://www.slideshare.net/eekim/achieving-collective-intelligence