consultkm

Knowledge Management and Futures Thinking: Using Insights to Plan for the Future

We often use Knowledge Management (KM) insights to help adapt and adjust projects and programmes to increase their efficiency and effectiveness. But a hidden power of those insights is that they can serve as the basis for and inform long-term plans and strategies, and spark creativity and innovation. The practice of futures thinking involves anticipating,Continue reading “Knowledge Management and Futures Thinking: Using Insights to Plan for the Future “

Why Knowledge Management is at the Heart of Learning

Knowledge and learning are inextricable. It is through learning that individuals and organisations acquire knowledge. Knowledge is an organisation’s most important intangible asset. An organisation must be willing to invest in Knowledge Management (KM) to harness the power of collective knowledge and learning. KM focuses on knowledge processes which include creation, acquisition, storing, sharing, andContinue reading “Why Knowledge Management is at the Heart of Learning”

Embracing Failure

In project reports and other publications, the focus is usually on the successes – how many people reached, overall impact, changes achieved. Failures, mistakes, or underachievement are often seen and presented as difficulties, challenges, or unforeseen negative effects. They are also often understated or covered up, instead of being acknowledged as failures with clear lessonsContinue reading “Embracing Failure”

Where Does KM Sit (or Should Sit) within an Organisation?

KM experts are often asked where KM is best placed within an organisation, with no definitive answer. Experience shows that KM does not have a clear place of its own and is often placed in very different units. The key point is that KM is very much cross-functional and affects every unit and team inContinue reading “Where Does KM Sit (or Should Sit) within an Organisation?”

Knowledge Management in a Remote or Hybrid Workplace – Which Tool to Use?

There is no denying that remote and hybrid work is changing the way we work. For many organisations, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a rapid evolution of technologies enabling communication and collaboration. For the most part, the technologies existed already, but they were slowly gaining ground in organisations. The pandemic forced a rapid adoption process, whichContinue reading “Knowledge Management in a Remote or Hybrid Workplace – Which Tool to Use?”

Reporting Best Practices: Treat Reporting as a Continuous Cyclical Process

Reports usually come in at the end of an activity or a project, and the job of a report writer isn’t easy. Digging up tons of information from the very beginning is rather burdensome, especially if the project ran during a number of years and many things, including staff, may have changed during this time.Continue reading “Reporting Best Practices: Treat Reporting as a Continuous Cyclical Process”

Skills Building and Knowledge Management. Is There a Connection?

There is nothing new about the fact that employers want employees who know how to do things rather than employees with a lot of book knowledge and limited experience in how to apply that knowledge. There is also something inevitable about new generations of employees lacking experience in applying knowledge and needing to acquire “know how”Continue reading “Skills Building and Knowledge Management. Is There a Connection?”

Five Steps to Creating a Lasting Impact through Storytelling

Storytelling in the development world is a powerful communication technique used to inspire and connect the audience with an organisation’s mission, vision and values. It may be used to illustrate the impact of a project or programme, provide evidence of project achievements to donors and stakeholders, raise awareness, and call to action. Indirectly, storytelling canContinue reading “Five Steps to Creating a Lasting Impact through Storytelling“

Four Key Reasons Your Organisation Needs Knowledge Management

Knowledge in any organisation, including in the international development and non–profit sectors, is a highly valuable but often under-utilised asset. It flows in and out through various mediums, from reports, policies and procedures, to databases, stories, and most importantly, the people. In the era of innovation, combined with uncertainty and a fast-paced, constantly changing environment,Continue reading “Four Key Reasons Your Organisation Needs Knowledge Management”