Generation of Knowledge Management: Second and third generation of KM

How far we have moved in our knowledge management program? Let us make an assessment and find out where we are. Moving from one generation to another depends on where we are at present.

Knowledge Available :: First generation of Knowledge Management

Are we aware of all the knowledge required to execute our day to day jobs?

First Generation KM

Ensure what is required to know must be available with little effort.

Community of practice, Discussion board, Portal, FAQ etc

The KM system should able to deliver all the required knowledge to the Knowledge worker as and when required with a little effort. The best practices should be shared among all the employees to improve productivity. There should be a way to discuss or access the systems for Lesions learnt, root cause analysis, success stories etc. Knowledge workers must learn from each other experiences and would able to discuss freely with all other member of the organization. All documents, procedures, maintenance practices, system tools etc should be available and can be easily access by the knowledge workers as and when required. Experts yellow page, community of practices encourages knowledge workers to innovate and share the experiences. Frequently Asked Questions on various rules and procedures will help in reducing time and efforts of different sections of the organization.

A free flow of information and knowledge is what targeted here.

Know what we don't know :: Second generation of Knowledge Management

Are we good in all the areas? Where we are lagging ? How to bridge the knowledge gaps ?

Second Generation KM

K-Gaps are identified and benchmarking standards are always raised to new levels.

These are the questions the second generation of knowledge management will try to address. Organizations must always evaluate its own performance with others and find out the scope of improvements. All K-gaps need to be identified in a regular basis and to be presented to the knowledge workers for discussion and innovation. The target is not only to bridge the K-gaps but to move ahead with the experience gained in the process.

The door is always kept open for new learning to improve the standard. The organization can't confined itself only to facilitate required knowledge flow for its knowledge workers on their day to day activities but will make it more challenging to explore the best possible way to do the same job. Benchmarking standards always raised to new heights.

Knowledge for the future :: Third generation of Knowledge Management

Can the organization find out what is going to be the next technology in coming years ? What the customers are going to looking for the product and services in future ?

Third Generation KM

Product and services are developed keeping in view the future requirements. Organization flexibility to change plays important role.

What is working today for the organization is going to work tomorrow also ? How fast the organization will realign itself to change in market ? All these falls in third generation of knowledge management. Here all innovations, learning's are targeted to future market requirements. Organization must find out the future requirement without any visible indication from the present environment. Products are developed to set new standards. No one has asked Sony to produce Walkman, neither they found the demand for such a product from any market research. Market may not be knowing that such a product is required. MS Office developed by Microsoft keeping an eye the growing use of PC in everyday life and long before they anticipated the requirement.