Framework for a cross-organisational comparison of

Knowledge Management

An IKM Emergent Working Group 3 project (in progress)

What do we want to know with this study?

• Identify case studies• Literature review of KM benchmarking

approaches • Find a structure around case studies • Incorporating multiple knowledges into the

framework• Find a structure

Preliminary investigation results

• No integrated framework• Various frameworks and objectives…• …following KM generation 1, 2 or 3?• These frameworks serve aims…• …And look at knowledge processes• They help to assess or to improve• They look at vision, people, process,

technology

Under the magnifier

• Different contexts, different needs:– Big Bang / Campfire– Corporate / development-focused– Mainstreamed / specialist– Large or small organisation– ICT / HRM / all in between– North South (??!?)– Others (Sub-sectors?)

The models considered

– Knowledge Value Chain by Weggeman– The Learning NGO questionnaire by Britton– Five competencies framework by Parcell and Collison– Most Admired Knowledge Enterprise assessment by

Teleos for the ADB– Group process indicators and self-assessment tool by

Folley and by Alford– Organisational Knowledge Assessment by the World Bank – Strategic information and knowledge management inquiry

by Schueber– Knowledge Management Maturity Model By Siemens– Knowledge audits (by various, this method by

Ramalingam)

Issues towards a framework

– Define: knowledge / KM / learning?– Decide: do we need a KM strategy?– Develop: scale up and out or specialise?– Defend: gather management support– Dig deeper: barriers to learn and share in

research, education, political circles? – Dim it: the risks of big bang

Where to go from here?

• No consistency• Why a framework?• What is still true:– Quest for understanding (assessment)– Quest for application (strategy)

• Questions to help?• Organise a detailed matrix• Develop a questionnaire• Test it out with various organisations?