How are you doing?

It is almost two years since I had the great privilege of becoming editor of Inside Knowledge. In that time, it has been my pleasure to talk with the greats of the industry and read their insightful articles before anyone else.

But what has been most interesting and exciting is talking to people about knowledge management (KM) in their organisations – KM as it is implemented and practiced across the world, not the theory. I’ve talked to people in organisations where the budget for KM has been practically zero, yet their dedication and enthusiasm has carried them through and enabled them to make an appreciable difference.

At the same time, I’ve also spoken to people in charge of major KM budgets, enjoying the support of far-sighted bosses and chief executives and found out just how far a little investment can go – in the case of companies such as Fluor Corporation, the answer is a long, long way indeed.

I’ve also learnt about KM in some places where I never expected to find it – restaurant chains, architectural practices – and in parts of the world where, naively, I thought it might not be found or would never be part of the culture.

But time and again, it’s what you, the readers, are doing that fascinates the most, in organisations both large and small. That’s why, with IK now in its eleventh year – and not just bigger than ever, but with more subscribers than ever, too – needs you. It’s your stories, your projects, your experiences that make it truly unique.

Not just communities of practice, story-telling, knowledge transfer and other core KM concepts, but with the integration of Enterprise Information into IK, information management in its many forms, too. Please e-mail me at the usual address, gburton@ark-group.com.

Graeme Burton,

Editor

Features

EI case study: Herefordshire Council This article is for subscribers only
How do you raise the profile and importance of records management within a local authority? Herefordshire Council is undertaking a business-transformation programme in which records management will be key. Work has already started on changing the way in which staff view their records.

EI workshop: Intranet user requirements This article is for subscribers only
Whether it is a new intranet or part of a programme of consolidation, it is important to align the resulting system with user requirements. By Joanna Goodman.

Feature: Changing times This article is for subscribers only
Jan Wyllie explores the potential consequences of the rise of social-networking – and how taxonomies can help bring order to chaos.

Masterclass: Change management This article is for subscribers only
In the second of a two-part masterclass, Andrew MacNeil examines ways of engaging employees in the process and overcoming potential resistance.

EI workshop: Measured reaction This article is for subscribers only
What cannot be measured cannot be managed. So what metrics should an organisation use to measure the success of its intranet? By Stephen Musselwhite.

Case study: Allen & Overy This article is for subscribers only
How Allen & Overy has progressively rolled out social software – including wikis and blogs – to help staff work together better. By Ruth Ward.

EI feature: Data quality This article is for subscribers only
Poor data quality can infuriate customers and staff alike. But organisations are, at last, beginning to put in place technology and processes to deal with the problem.

Regulars

The knowledge: Manfred Bornemann This article is for subscribers only
Manfred Bornemann is a restless individual. Not just a pioneer of intellectual-capital measurement and a knowledge-management practitioner, but an entrepreneur and academic, too.

Knowledgeworks: Perfect partners This article is for subscribers only
Jerry Ash makes the case for a close relationship between information management and knowledge management.

The Gurteen perspective: Open and transparent? Free
When considering knowledge sharing or creating a more collaborative culture, we often talk about the need for people to be open and for more transparency. By David Gurteen.

Book review: The Secret Language of Leadership Free
Successful leaders have always needed to be good communicators, to inspire. But never more so than today, even in quite humdrum leadership positions, given the near-permanent state of corporate change that we all live in these days.

Case report: Oracle Free
Fast growth and multiple acquisitions can put a strain on any corporate knowledge management programme. But Oracle shows how such challenges can be dealt with. By Jerry Ash.

Thought leader: Sam Marshall Free
Just as the baby boomers leave, we’re looking to replace them with ‘generation next’. Not only is this a much smaller population to recruit from, but they have much higher expectations, too.

Book review: Net Work Free
Human networks are everywhere. Literally. We network at work (obviously); within the companies and industries that we work in; among various sets of friends; with family. And few specialists explain exactly how they work and add value than Patti Anklam.

Last word: Flood warning Free
What would happen to your organisation’s records – whether on paper or electronic – should your office or home become flooded? By Doug Miles.