Knowledge management is an increasingly key focus in business, which makes sense given how knowledge management (KM) correlates to productivity and efficiency. This comprehensive blog delves into the core of knowledge management and its pivotal role in enhancing productivity. We'll also explore insights from our leading knowledge management eBook, offering valuable resources for those looking to deepen their understanding of KM practices.
A study recently published by Baltic Journal of Management finds that knowledge creation and utilisation have a positive and statistically significant impact on knowledge worker productivity.
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Knowledge management "is managing the corporation's knowledge through a systematically and organizationally specified process for acquiring, organizing, sustaining, applying, sharing and renewing both the tacit and explicit knowledge of employees to enhance organizational performance and create value,” according to Davenport & Prusak (2000).
A little more simply put, knowledge management involves managing the knowledge that creates value for the organization.
At ClearPeople, you often hear us talk about making the right knowledge available to the right people at the right time.
The concept of employee productivity varies. To some, employee productivity means how much quality work is done in certain time (a day, a week, a year). Peter Drucker defines it as “a balance between all factors of production that will give maximum output with the smallest effort.
The European Productivity Council meanwhile, says: “Productivity is an attitude of mind. It is a mentality of progress, of the constant improvement of that which exists. It is the certainty of being able to do better than yesterday and continuously. It is constant adaptation of the economic and social life to changing conditions. It is the continual effort to apply new techniques and method. It is the faith in human progress.”
At ClearPeople we think of productivity as how effectively organizations, and the people working in them, produce value from individual and collective contributions. We’re always working on ways to enhance employee productivity, including:
The point is that knowledge management and productivity go together.
It makes sense. Happy, healthy employees are productive. Productivity is the basis of a company’s success. A healthy work environment where people can work productively impacts an employee’s sense of purpose and wellbeing and has a spill-on effect for the level of customer service people are motivated to provide.
Improved productivity means increased output for the same amount of work – or less. And understanding productivity helps you see what may be preventing employees from completing tasks on time.
At the heart of knowledge management is the understanding that knowledge is a key contributor to productivity. When team members have easy access to the organization's collective intelligence, they can perform tasks more efficiently, solve problems more creatively, and innovate more effectively. Knowledge productivity, therefore, is the measure of how effectively an organization's knowledge is utilized to improve performance and outputs.
Knowledge management involves centralising the collective intelligence of an organisation and making knowledge easily available so that all employees have what they need to do their work.
Here are some ways good knowledge management has a positive impact on productivity:
Here are some examples of how knowledge management can be implemented:
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Our Knowledge Management e-book is a comprehensive guide to knowledge management and knowledge productivity. |
Establishing a knowledge-sharing culture: Encourage a work environment where sharing information is valued and rewarded. This culture fosters collaboration and continuous learning.
Leveraging technology for KM: Implement technology solutions like knowledge bases, intranets, and collaboration tools to facilitate easy access to information.
Continuous learning and development: Invest in training and development programs to ensure employees’ skills and knowledge are up-to-date.
Encouraging cross-departmental collaboration: Break down silos by promoting interdisciplinary teams and projects, enhancing the flow of information across the organization.
Measuring and analyzing KM efforts: Regularly assess how KM initiatives are contributing to productivity and make adjustments as necessary.
Organizations can improve knowledge access, productivity, and the overall employee experience with these 4 key areas.
There is a reason why search engines such as Google are so popular – they make it simple to find an answer to your question. Most of the time.
For example, our product Atlas enhances Microsoft search in Teams or SharePoint to surface all content for all types of users, even guest users, from a single interface with pre-configured search scopes. This intuitive search experience is accessible directly from users’ homepage.
Accessing this direct search enables search across all sorts of pre-configured business or information architecture verticals. This works even without typing any keywords as you can just go straight into a search listing page and start refining using a wide range of taxonomy and metadata filters, uncovering information sitting in data silos as well.
Within each search listing Atlas is capable of providing different types of content providing a unified user experience to reach any type of content in a single place.
For guest users, that can’t search at all within Teams, Atlas provides a great experience within the context of each Team they have access to. Atlas enriches each Team with additional features like access to the home page from a Teams tab in the General channel. Providing access from within Teams to the full Atlas Search for guest users, increases productivity and engagement of your extranet users.
It is worth noting all access through Atlas is permission trimmed ensuring the same level of compliance as from the native Microsoft search while providing a consistent experience and unleashing your user’s productivity.
Democratized knowledge management gives everyone the opportunity to contribute, refine and consume knowledge. Importantly, for the principle of knowledge management to work, the ability to access and share knowledge needs to quick and intuitive, requiring little or no training.
And for your legal, compliance and IT teams, this democratization of knowledge needs to happen within a governance framework they know is secure and robust.
Atlas is specifically designed to help users easily contribute and share their knowledge and is full of features that assist one or several aspects of this. Atlas' tool called Add It, for example, is a straightforward tool that allows people to easily add information so that everyone within the company can access it.
By breaking down silos and fostering a culture of collaboration, Atlas ensures that valuable insights and expertise are shared across the organization, enhancing team productivity and innovation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changer in the world of knowledge management. AI-powered knowledge tools can help you introduce learning and knowledge-sharing practices to the entire organization and embed them in everyday working practices.
For example, Atlas' AI Assistant is a smart chatbot that leverages your organization’s collective knowledge stored in Microsoft 365 and other enterprise sources. Employees engage with AI Assistant within popular Microsoft 365 applications like SharePoint or Teams, or through the Atlas AI interface. With AI Assistant, employees obtain immediate answers to critical questions and create authoritative content, all with the assurance of accuracy and validity.
Driven organisations are always looking at how to improve employee engagement and spread knowledge. Our work with hundreds of companies has led us to a clear, concise answer: focus on learning.
For too long an organization’s knowledge, if it’s captured at all, is wrapped up in long, tough-to-digest documents heavy on text and light on engagement. We all know a picture paints a thousand words, so why don’t we apply that?
Atlas' HoverPoint tool is a powerful, easy-to-use tool for creating interactive images in Microsoft 365 which makes learning and sharing knowledge so much simpler and more effective.
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The HoverPoint tool allows for interactive images where you can hover over elements to get more information:
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This blog provides a comprehensive look at how knowledge management can enhance productivity in the workplace. For more detailed and specific strategies, readers are encouraged to explore the wealth of knowledge available in e-books and other resources dedicated to knowledge management. These resources offer a deeper dive into the tools, techniques, and trends shaping the future of KM.
As we embrace the digital age, where information flows faster than ever, understanding and implementing effective knowledge management practices is not just beneficial—it's essential for any organization seeking to maintain a competitive edge.
Remember, in the realm of knowledge management, the journey is as important as the destination. It's about continuously adapting and learning, staying ahead of the curve, and ensuring that knowledge remains a vibrant and valuable asset in your organizational toolkit.
For those eager to explore further, a plethora of knowledge management blogs and ebooks are available, providing deeper insights and strategies tailored to various industries. Embracing KM is not just about keeping pace with the digital world; it's about leading the charge in innovation and efficiency.