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The Power of KM: Harnessing the Extraordinary Value of Knowledge Management
The Power of KM provides a clear and concise introduction to Knowledge Management (KM). Brent Hunter explains the basics of Knowledge Management and provides a step-by-step, comprehensive, integrated, holistic and universal KM strategy that can be utilized in any organization. Hunter continues by explaining how Knowledge Management can be used to enrich and optimize our personal lives and at all levels of society. By the time you finish this book, you will learn that knowledge is power, that KM is extraordinarily valuable and how the power of KM can literally change the world.
- GenresBusinessNonfiction
254 pages, Paperback
Published August 8, 2016
About the author
Brent N. Hunter
11 books81 followersAuthor of The Power of KM, The Rainbow Bridge, The Pieces of Our Puzzle, Nuggets of Wisdom and More Nuggets of Wisdom
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 7, 2017
I had higher expectations for this book, but it's simplistic. I don't mean simple, I mean simplistic. The author seems to believe that KM is a world-wide panacea for everything (maybe even stopping a nuclear explosion, who knows). His ROI assumptions are ludicrous confusing cash and non cash costs, and his assertion the foreign exchange market would add value with KM is nonsense. That market creates no value whatsoever (he needs to read George Gilder's The Scandal of Money). Another idiotic claim is that poverty is the root cause of terrorism. Really? Poverty has been the natural condition of man, and terrorism didn't seem to be endemic. Osama Bin Laden was wealthy, as are a lot of terrorists, who are even college educated (in engineering mostly). I love the topic of KM, and have even written my own book on it (Mind Over Matter), and I know that Wealth = Knowledge. But what Hunter seems to misunderstand, or at least not discuss, is that Wealth also equals the past. The future depends on learning, innovation and creativity, and that cannot be captured in a KM bank. There are far better books out there on KM than this one.
November 25, 2023
This is one of the books that i found while searching for Knowledge Management books, it's titled "The Power of KM" and written by Brent N. Hunter, who published it in 2016.
The book is approaching the discipline and concept of Knowledge Management from several aspects, using - overwhelmingly - a simplified language and the "concept of Seven" (where he outlines each topic/Chapter/tool of knowledge in main 7 points)
"The book's tools of knowledge management:
1. Seven Key Facets of KM
2. Seven Key Practice Areas of KM
3. Seven Key Pillars of KM
4. Seven Key Lenses of KM
5. Seven Step KM Strategy" Page 3
Brent is Emphasising on the importance (on every level: Organisation or personal) to adapt and implement an efficent knowledge management model that allows for capturing, maintaining and optimally using this knowledge in the decision making process.
Knowledge, according to Brent, is the information that is being put in context that resulted from the experience of the human beings, where wisdom represents the optimal utilisation of that knowledge.
The summary of Brent's tools and techniques can be found in the following quotes.
Nevertheless there are some issues worth mentioning regarding this book, first, this book is filled with Golabalisation propaganda and Repetitions; secondly, The terrorist example in Pages 142-143 is reflecting ignorance and racism, while ignoring the actual terrorism crimes committed by the US Imperialist occupation and hostile interventions or the Zionist occupation terrorist crimes, including but not limited to, commiting sequence of genocides and ethic cleansing crimes since 1936 up to 2023 (where the root cause is not poverty, it is westren imperialism, colonial occupation, invations and exploitation of the world's populations).
The book can be considered as an introduction to the knowledge management concept, methodology, and applications.
Quotes:
"In an economy where the only certainty is uncertainty, the one sure source of lasting competitive advantage is knowledge."
Page 0 *IKUJIRO NONAKA author of The Knowledge-Creating Company
"The cultivation, harvesting and utilization of knowledge through the science and art of Knowledge Management (KM) is extraordinarily valuable. Well-implemented KM allows organizations and people to make better decisions that produce more effective results, with greater efficiency and productivity, often with significant cost savings, in all areas of our lives." Page 2
"According to the International Knowledge Manage- ment Institute, KNOWLEDGE IS UNDERSTANDING GAINED THROUGH EXPERIENCE." Page 9
"Knowledge is divided into two categories: explicit (can be codified) and tacit (in people heads, difficult to codify and store) knowledge." Page 9
"The more tacit knowledge can be converted into explicit knowledge, the greater the value our organization gains." Page 11
" Converting tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge is one of the most important goals of KM." Page 11
"As can be seen from the pyramid above, Data is at the base of the pyramid. Above Data is Informa- tion, which is Data in context. Above Information is Knowledge, which is understanding gained through experience. Above Knowledge is Wisdom, which leads to knowing, and to better decisions and outcomes." Page12
"Knowledge Management involves the process of collecting, storing, retrieving, devel- oping, leveraging and sharing of institutional knowledge." Page 14
"Knowledge Management is roughly 70% people and culture, 20% process and 10% tech- nology. That is, KM = People + Process + Technology, in that order." Page15
"KM is about using our human capital and knowledge in a manner that solves problems and produces the best possible outcome for the largest number of people." Page 15
"Seven Key Facets of Knowledge Management:
1. Assess Information/Knowledge
2. Collect/Capture Knowledge
3. Store/Update Knowledge
4. Find Knowledge
5. Synthesize/Create New Knowledge
6. Leverage Knowledge
7. Share Knowledge." Page 22
"KM initiatives found within the Seven Key Practice Areas will put you well on your way to implementing highly effective KM. These include:
1. On-Boarding and Off-Boarding
2. Facilitate Continuous Learning
3. Identify, Implement and Share Best Practices
4. Knowledge Repositories
5. Increase Innovation
6. Share and Collaborate
7. Measurement / Analysis." Page 33-34
"To help ensure that knowledge doesn't "walk out the door" with employees who are leaving, it is wise to facilitate continuous learning and improvement through knowledge captured during an exit interview process." Page 38
"A learning organization is one whose people con- tinually expand the capacity to grow and create the results they truly desire. It's a place that nurtures new and expansive patterns of thinking, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continu- ally learning how to learn together." Page 43
"Enterprise-wide innovation Award Program." Page 60
"A powerful way to help transition tacit into explicit knowledge, collaborate and share at the same time is through knowledge networks such as KM Champions Teams, Communities of Practice, Communities of Interest and Communities of Action-all of which can take place within the company, in person or online." Page 62
"The general idea is to use the Seven Key Pillars of KM to identify, create and implement various KM ini- tiatives. Ideally, we would create one or more initiatives within each of the seven pillars-which are as follows:
1. Reduce Knowledge Discovery Time
2. Improve Knowledge Processes
3. Foster Knowledge-Based Teamwork
4. Integrate/Leverage New Knowledge
5. Collaborate / Share Knowledge
6. Manage Knowledge Risks
7. Promote 3-Way Enterprise Knowledge." Page 70-72
"Undocumented mission-critical tacit knowledge should be transitioned to documented explicit critical knowledge, otherwise it is a knowledge risk." Page 82
"The Seven Key Lenses of Knowledge Management:
1. Business
2. Organizations and Institutions
3. Projects
4. Personal Lives
5. Local Communities
6. Global Community
7. Culture/Society." Page 91-92
"To paint the picture further, the real power of KM lies in our ability to establish KM Communities of all types in all lenses, including communities of practice, communities of interest, communities of purpose, communities of action, amongst others--and then linking these communities together." Page 112
"It is a simple thing to make things complex, but a complex thing to make things simple."
Page 116 *ALBERT EINSTEIN
"The Seven Step KM Strategy consists of the following:
STEP 1: Assess Environment
STEP 2: Survey and Facilitate Existing KM Activities
STEP 3: Plan KM Initiatives
STEP 4: Implement KM Initiatives
STEP 5: Perform Change Management
STEP 6: Implement KM Governance
STEP 7: Socialize, Share and Collaborate." Page 118
"There are different ways to accomplish this - implementation of KM Governance - but the two most important parts are to ensure that KM is supported by the highest level of the organization and to create a governance group." Page 28
"The primary role of KM governance is to make sure that KM initiatives are producing effective outcomes. This includes removing challenges or "road blocks" whenever they arise." Page 31
"When we grasp the concept that everything that can be understood can be known but not everything that can be known can be understood, we move in the direction of deep wisdom. Another mark of wisdom is recognizing that given the near-infinite nature of reality, we actually know very little." Page 139
"We've learned that knowledge is understanding gained from experience. A step beyond knowledge is wisdom, which is the art of knowing. Knowing some- thing goes beyond understanding." Page 140
"Without top-down support, it's not pos- sible to implement the most effective KM across the entire enterprise in an integrated, holistic fashion." Page 161
"It is helpful to remember that the primary role of KM governance is to make sure that our KM initia- tives are producing effective outcomes." Page 192
The book is approaching the discipline and concept of Knowledge Management from several aspects, using - overwhelmingly - a simplified language and the "concept of Seven" (where he outlines each topic/Chapter/tool of knowledge in main 7 points)
"The book's tools of knowledge management:
1. Seven Key Facets of KM
2. Seven Key Practice Areas of KM
3. Seven Key Pillars of KM
4. Seven Key Lenses of KM
5. Seven Step KM Strategy" Page 3
Brent is Emphasising on the importance (on every level: Organisation or personal) to adapt and implement an efficent knowledge management model that allows for capturing, maintaining and optimally using this knowledge in the decision making process.
Knowledge, according to Brent, is the information that is being put in context that resulted from the experience of the human beings, where wisdom represents the optimal utilisation of that knowledge.
The summary of Brent's tools and techniques can be found in the following quotes.
Nevertheless there are some issues worth mentioning regarding this book, first, this book is filled with Golabalisation propaganda and Repetitions; secondly, The terrorist example in Pages 142-143 is reflecting ignorance and racism, while ignoring the actual terrorism crimes committed by the US Imperialist occupation and hostile interventions or the Zionist occupation terrorist crimes, including but not limited to, commiting sequence of genocides and ethic cleansing crimes since 1936 up to 2023 (where the root cause is not poverty, it is westren imperialism, colonial occupation, invations and exploitation of the world's populations).
The book can be considered as an introduction to the knowledge management concept, methodology, and applications.
Quotes:
"In an economy where the only certainty is uncertainty, the one sure source of lasting competitive advantage is knowledge."
Page 0 *IKUJIRO NONAKA author of The Knowledge-Creating Company
"The cultivation, harvesting and utilization of knowledge through the science and art of Knowledge Management (KM) is extraordinarily valuable. Well-implemented KM allows organizations and people to make better decisions that produce more effective results, with greater efficiency and productivity, often with significant cost savings, in all areas of our lives." Page 2
"According to the International Knowledge Manage- ment Institute, KNOWLEDGE IS UNDERSTANDING GAINED THROUGH EXPERIENCE." Page 9
"Knowledge is divided into two categories: explicit (can be codified) and tacit (in people heads, difficult to codify and store) knowledge." Page 9
"The more tacit knowledge can be converted into explicit knowledge, the greater the value our organization gains." Page 11
" Converting tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge is one of the most important goals of KM." Page 11
"As can be seen from the pyramid above, Data is at the base of the pyramid. Above Data is Informa- tion, which is Data in context. Above Information is Knowledge, which is understanding gained through experience. Above Knowledge is Wisdom, which leads to knowing, and to better decisions and outcomes." Page12
"Knowledge Management involves the process of collecting, storing, retrieving, devel- oping, leveraging and sharing of institutional knowledge." Page 14
"Knowledge Management is roughly 70% people and culture, 20% process and 10% tech- nology. That is, KM = People + Process + Technology, in that order." Page15
"KM is about using our human capital and knowledge in a manner that solves problems and produces the best possible outcome for the largest number of people." Page 15
"Seven Key Facets of Knowledge Management:
1. Assess Information/Knowledge
2. Collect/Capture Knowledge
3. Store/Update Knowledge
4. Find Knowledge
5. Synthesize/Create New Knowledge
6. Leverage Knowledge
7. Share Knowledge." Page 22
"KM initiatives found within the Seven Key Practice Areas will put you well on your way to implementing highly effective KM. These include:
1. On-Boarding and Off-Boarding
2. Facilitate Continuous Learning
3. Identify, Implement and Share Best Practices
4. Knowledge Repositories
5. Increase Innovation
6. Share and Collaborate
7. Measurement / Analysis." Page 33-34
"To help ensure that knowledge doesn't "walk out the door" with employees who are leaving, it is wise to facilitate continuous learning and improvement through knowledge captured during an exit interview process." Page 38
"A learning organization is one whose people con- tinually expand the capacity to grow and create the results they truly desire. It's a place that nurtures new and expansive patterns of thinking, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continu- ally learning how to learn together." Page 43
"Enterprise-wide innovation Award Program." Page 60
"A powerful way to help transition tacit into explicit knowledge, collaborate and share at the same time is through knowledge networks such as KM Champions Teams, Communities of Practice, Communities of Interest and Communities of Action-all of which can take place within the company, in person or online." Page 62
"The general idea is to use the Seven Key Pillars of KM to identify, create and implement various KM ini- tiatives. Ideally, we would create one or more initiatives within each of the seven pillars-which are as follows:
1. Reduce Knowledge Discovery Time
2. Improve Knowledge Processes
3. Foster Knowledge-Based Teamwork
4. Integrate/Leverage New Knowledge
5. Collaborate / Share Knowledge
6. Manage Knowledge Risks
7. Promote 3-Way Enterprise Knowledge." Page 70-72
"Undocumented mission-critical tacit knowledge should be transitioned to documented explicit critical knowledge, otherwise it is a knowledge risk." Page 82
"The Seven Key Lenses of Knowledge Management:
1. Business
2. Organizations and Institutions
3. Projects
4. Personal Lives
5. Local Communities
6. Global Community
7. Culture/Society." Page 91-92
"To paint the picture further, the real power of KM lies in our ability to establish KM Communities of all types in all lenses, including communities of practice, communities of interest, communities of purpose, communities of action, amongst others--and then linking these communities together." Page 112
"It is a simple thing to make things complex, but a complex thing to make things simple."
Page 116 *ALBERT EINSTEIN
"The Seven Step KM Strategy consists of the following:
STEP 1: Assess Environment
STEP 2: Survey and Facilitate Existing KM Activities
STEP 3: Plan KM Initiatives
STEP 4: Implement KM Initiatives
STEP 5: Perform Change Management
STEP 6: Implement KM Governance
STEP 7: Socialize, Share and Collaborate." Page 118
"There are different ways to accomplish this - implementation of KM Governance - but the two most important parts are to ensure that KM is supported by the highest level of the organization and to create a governance group." Page 28
"The primary role of KM governance is to make sure that KM initiatives are producing effective outcomes. This includes removing challenges or "road blocks" whenever they arise." Page 31
"When we grasp the concept that everything that can be understood can be known but not everything that can be known can be understood, we move in the direction of deep wisdom. Another mark of wisdom is recognizing that given the near-infinite nature of reality, we actually know very little." Page 139
"We've learned that knowledge is understanding gained from experience. A step beyond knowledge is wisdom, which is the art of knowing. Knowing some- thing goes beyond understanding." Page 140
"Without top-down support, it's not pos- sible to implement the most effective KM across the entire enterprise in an integrated, holistic fashion." Page 161
"It is helpful to remember that the primary role of KM governance is to make sure that our KM initia- tives are producing effective outcomes." Page 192
October 17, 2016
Knowledge Management is very important for being successful. I felt the necessity of manageing knowledge in my organization but could not do myself. Finally I got the book "The Power of KM: Harnessing the Extraordinary Value of Knowledge Management " In the book, the author, Brent Hunter, simply describes the basics of Knowledge Management and provides a step-by-step, comprehensive, integrated, holistic and universal KM strategy.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews