This book presents practical guidance in a highly accessible format on how to improve the way knowledge is used in organizations to solve common organizational problems. It is intended to be a handy guide for whenever knowledge and learning are seen as a factor affecting organisational performance. The book provides organizations with tools to assist them in making connections between different areas of knowledge inside and outside the enterprise to keep ideas fresh and vital. It addresses practical ways to overcome the inevitable contradictions that arise when people work across interfaces in messy business contexts.
Book Details:
- Author: Christine van Winkelen
- ISBN: 9781119971085
- Year Published: 2011
- Pages: 328
- BISAC: BUS098000, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS/Knowledge Capital
About the Book and Topic:
This book presents practical guidance in a highly accessible format on how to improve the way knowledge is used in organizations to solve common organizational problems. It is intended to be a handy guide for whenever knowledge and learning are seen as a factor affecting organisational performance. The book provides organizations with tools to assist them in making connections between different areas of knowledge inside and outside the enterprise to keep ideas fresh and vital. It addresses practical ways to overcome the inevitable contradictions that arise when people work across interfaces in messy business contexts.
Although knowledge management has been prevalent in business and research for many years, its importance as a tool for improving organizational performance could not be more important in current turbulent business environments. Increased globalization and levels of outsourcing, as well as the impact of new technologies and economic disruption all lead to the need for more joined-up thinking and collaborative working practices within larger networks of stakeholders. Knowledge needs are constantly changing and the key to success for organizations is to ensure that knowledge flows to where it is needed at the time it is needed. Building organizational capability to manage knowledge effectively is more important than ever.
Platform: The book will be branded as a Henley Knowledge Management Forum book under the authorship of two knowledge management experts, both with excellent platforms they are well-known in the field (academically through their teaching and professionally through their work with Forum member organizations) and are regular speakers and commentators on the topic Case material: Based on ten years of applied research with leading knowledge management practitioners,the book is rich in industry based case material of best practice in managing knowledge effectively within the organization, drawn from the member organizations of the Forum and other sources. The material reflects both private and public sector areas, predominantly in the UK, although the content is international in flavour. Added Value: an accompanying website for the book that includes short videos of knowledge management in practice; downloadable questionnaires, models, frameworks and toolkits for each chapter.
About the Author
Christine van Winkelen has worked with the Henley KM Forum since its inception in 2000 and was the Director for five years until February 2009. Having led, or otherwise been involved in, a high proportion of the research projects completed by the Forum over the last decade, she is in a unique position to write this book. Previous experience includes fifteen years in various roles in high technology organisations (including research, human resource management and product management). She now pursues a portfolio career working for three UK business schools, carrying out applied research in the field of knowledge management, teaching MBA students and writing for academic and practitioner publications. She was on the Editorial Board of KM Review, a magazine for KM Practitioners, for three years until it moved to an online form in 2008. She speaks regularly at academic and practitioner conferences. Jane McKenzie has worked with the Henley KM Forum since its inception in 2000 and took over from Christine van Winkelen as Director of the Forum in 2009. Like Christine she has led or been involved in many of the research projects completed since 2000, and they have co-authored many papers together, as well as a book in 2004. She developed broad experience in a variety of financial, marketing and operations management roles during her 15 years in industry in both large organisations and SMEs, and working for a while as a consultant convinced her of the value of joining up the dots in organisations. As part of the professorial role at Henley, she is involved in a variety of networks, speaks at conferences and publishes in both academic and practitioner journals. Having run the MBA for some 8 years at Henley, she has strong links to many of the Alumni, who are in rising positions within many organisations.