Innovative solutions for a changing world
Are you drowning in information and thirsting for knowledge?
The most common solution to this problem is to deluge the drowning person in more information.
The last thing a drowning person wants is more water!
Of course the would-be rescuers who throw the bucket instead of a line don't recognize they are doing this because we have all been taught that more is better. However, with the glut of information that exists
and is constantly growing no one can know it all. Rather the best information for the specific goal must be selected and transformed into necessary knowledge.
Do you hand the knowledge-hungry an overwhelming smorgasbord or the right sized nutritious meal?
Do you baffle the decision-maker with baloney in long detailed reports or deliver sound alternatives with real meat?
Stanford Solutions offers techniques to transform the needed information into the necessary knowledge to
make wise decisions. To learn these techniques (some of which are described below) contact us for consultation, booking a course accessing our resource library or subscribing to KnowMap: The Knowledge
Management, Auditing and Mapping Magazine.
Some knowledge management techniques are as follows:
1. Knowledge AuditA
knowledge audit reveals much more relevant data than an information audit yet
tailors it to specific needs.
A knowledge audit asks: "What are the questions?" rather than assuming what
questions should be asked. It encompasses more than just facts by uncovering
uncertainties, opinions and issues. It identifies the decisions required and
links those decision needs to knowledge sources.
2. Knowledge MappingKnowledge
maps are methods of visually displaying results or alternatives to more
effectively communicate what decisions need to be made and what factors will
influence wise outcomes.
Knowledge maps have many uses such as knowledge elicitation, sharing,
creating and learning (see my Competency Map as an example). They have also
been used in conflict facilitation to foster common understanding and setting
or aligning goals. As strategic planning tools maps can be particularly
powerful.
In the attempt to keep pace with changing times, often
hasty or ill-informed decisions are made. Yes change is necessary but change is
not necessarily good.
To achieve benefit, change must not be made merely for
the sake of change but to foster prosperity. Making decisions without the
benefit of these knowledge-enhancing techniques could result in prosperity by
occasional accident rather than consistent design.
Yet some decisions often made without these techniques
are as below:
decisions are made without understanding or weighing the most important
consequences. Sometimes goals and strategies have not even been determined
before the solutions are chosen.
If so, these decisions can be costly and even fatal
mistakes.
Outsourcing may not maximize benefits or the functions
may require process improvements before outsourcing is considered. Perhaps the
process or function should simply be eliminated. The touted technology may not
meet your specific needs or improve your bottom line.
Knowledge auditing and knowledge mapping can
facilitate your decision-making before you are trapped in relationships where
costly divorces from outsourcers or technology platforms are inevitable.
Contact Stanford
Solutions for on-site consultation and decision-facilitation.
Or
To obtain additional reading material from Stanford Solutions, check out the
Resource Library: Your Doorway to Knowledge.
Or
Learn how to conduct a knowledge audit or what mapping techniques may be
useful for your organization by booking a Stanford Solutions course.
Or
Read more about knowledge mapping, auditing and other practical tools for
managing knowledge in KnowMap: The Knowledge
Management, Auditing and Mapping Newsletter.
Philosophy ~ Knowledge Mapping Course ~ Feedback
Course Bookings ~ Profile ~ Library ~ Contact
© 2000-02 Stanford Solutions Xenia Stanford
All material on this site is
the intellectual property of Stanford Solutions Inc. and may not be copied in
any way (whether in whole or part, intact or altered, printed or electronic)
nor used in any commercial or non-profit venture without the express permission
of the owner of Stanford Solutions.
Stanford Solutions is not affiliated
with nor sponsored by Stanford University.
The principal of Stanford
Solutions is named Xenia Stanford.
Last Updated: 29 Dec 2000
Are you drowning in information and thirsting for knowledge?
The most common solution to this problem is to deluge the drowning person in more information.
The last thing a drowning person wants is more water!
Of course the would-be rescuers who throw the bucket instead of a line don't recognize they are doing this because we have all been taught that more is better. However, with the glut of information that exists
and is constantly growing no one can know it all. Rather the best information for the specific goal must be selected and transformed into necessary knowledge.
Do you hand the knowledge-hungry an overwhelming smorgasbord or the right sized nutritious meal?
Do you baffle the decision-maker with baloney in long detailed reports or deliver sound alternatives with real meat?
Stanford Solutions offers techniques to transform the needed information into the necessary knowledge to
make wise decisions. To learn these techniques (some of which are described below) contact us for consultation, booking a course accessing our resource library or subscribing to KnowMap: The Knowledge
Management, Auditing and Mapping Magazine.
Some knowledge management techniques are as follows:
1. Knowledge AuditA
knowledge audit reveals much more relevant data than an information audit yet
tailors it to specific needs.
A knowledge audit asks: "What are the questions?" rather than assuming what
questions should be asked. It encompasses more than just facts by uncovering
uncertainties, opinions and issues. It identifies the decisions required and
links those decision needs to knowledge sources.
2. Knowledge MappingKnowledge
maps are methods of visually displaying results or alternatives to more
effectively communicate what decisions need to be made and what factors will
influence wise outcomes.
Knowledge maps have many uses such as knowledge elicitation, sharing,
creating and learning (see my Competency Map as an example). They have also
been used in conflict facilitation to foster common understanding and setting
or aligning goals. As strategic planning tools maps can be particularly
powerful.
In the attempt to keep pace with changing times, often
hasty or ill-informed decisions are made. Yes change is necessary but change is
not necessarily good.
To achieve benefit, change must not be made merely for
the sake of change but to foster prosperity. Making decisions without the
benefit of these knowledge-enhancing techniques could result in prosperity by
occasional accident rather than consistent design.
Yet some decisions often made without these techniques
are as below:
- We need to outsource.
- This technology is the best.
decisions are made without understanding or weighing the most important
consequences. Sometimes goals and strategies have not even been determined
before the solutions are chosen.
If so, these decisions can be costly and even fatal
mistakes.
Outsourcing may not maximize benefits or the functions
may require process improvements before outsourcing is considered. Perhaps the
process or function should simply be eliminated. The touted technology may not
meet your specific needs or improve your bottom line.
Knowledge auditing and knowledge mapping can
facilitate your decision-making before you are trapped in relationships where
costly divorces from outsourcers or technology platforms are inevitable.
Contact Stanford
Solutions for on-site consultation and decision-facilitation.
Or
To obtain additional reading material from Stanford Solutions, check out the
Resource Library: Your Doorway to Knowledge.
Or
Learn how to conduct a knowledge audit or what mapping techniques may be
useful for your organization by booking a Stanford Solutions course.
Or
Read more about knowledge mapping, auditing and other practical tools for
managing knowledge in KnowMap: The Knowledge
Management, Auditing and Mapping Newsletter.
Philosophy ~ Knowledge Mapping Course ~ Feedback
Course Bookings ~ Profile ~ Library ~ Contact
© 2000-02 Stanford Solutions Xenia Stanford
All material on this site is
the intellectual property of Stanford Solutions Inc. and may not be copied in
any way (whether in whole or part, intact or altered, printed or electronic)
nor used in any commercial or non-profit venture without the express permission
of the owner of Stanford Solutions.
Stanford Solutions is not affiliated
with nor sponsored by Stanford University.
The principal of Stanford
Solutions is named Xenia Stanford.
Last Updated: 29 Dec 2000
Photos used under Creative Commons from laffy4k, heyjoewhereyougoinwiththatguninyourhand, Unhindered by Talent
