Avoiding security paranoia

Yet another story out of the UK is troublesome to the overall direction of KM and threatens a fit of paranoia around the world that could throw a wet blanket over the growing interest in more open communication.
I’m referring, of course, to the recent HM Revenue & Customs loss of two CDs containing the personal and financial details of 25 million people, which according to one report could be worth £6bn to criminals.
Knowledge sharing isn’t really about stolen personal information or identity but when companies get in the ‘security’ mode, it often affects everything. And so, we worry.
In this issue three writers discuss both sides of security issues popping up not only in the UK but around the world, all with the warning that an organisation cannot allow security concerns to freeze operations behind steel doors.
From Spain, Milton Sousa (page 18) tells us of a growing and positive movement from internal Research and Development (R&D) to ‘Connect and Develop’ (C&D). The trend opens doors for companies to reach beyond their core competencies to collaborate externally in order to adapt to a changing and increasingly complex environment.
From the UK, David Cole (page 32) writes about an elusive search for a security utopia in the EI section and concedes that people, not technology, represent the biggest security threats. But at the same time he asks and answers the question: “What can be done to deliver better employee security without constraining the capabilities of today’s typically devolved, non-hierarchical organisation?”
And EI’s last word columnist, Doug Miles, urges readers to “secure data but share it around”. From AIIM market surveys, Doug concludes that ‘data in motion’ is much harder to secure than ‘data-at-rest’, but what good is data-at-rest? He reviews the issue of ‘control or share’, comes down on the side of share and suggests ways to practice ‘secure collaboration’.
All that and I haven’t even mentioned the KM giants giving good counsel in this edition of Inside Knowledge – Brook Manville, David Ulrich and Tom Davenport (described by another KM expert as the next – if not the new – Peter Drucker).
Now, don’t think that’s all there is! Victoria Axelrod and Jenny Ambrozek are back with Part II of the Masterclass begun in December; this one on KM’s role in prediction markets. Also back: Lynda Rathbone (website woes) and, as always, David Gurteen (going social).
Enjoy!

Jerry Ash, Editor

Features

Security utopia? This article is for subscribers only
As the dust settles over last year's HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) security breach, DNV IT Global Services consultant David Cole argues that companies are never going to be safe from information security threats - but better planning and education could make the difference.

Masterclass part II: prediction markets This article is for subscribers only
Knowledge sharing and collaboration tools are driving interest in prediction markets. Historically organisations have difficulty getting the 'truth' out of employees regarding critical business questions like 'how soon will this product be ready to go?'.

Open innovation models and the role of knowledge brokers This article is for subscribers only
The movement from internal R&D to external connect and develop opens the door to companies - large and small - to reach beyong their core competencies to remain competitive in an increasingly complex, uncertain and changing environment. This report explains the phenomenon, the process and provides examples and case report.

The knowledge solution This article is for subscribers only
Beset by a fading business model, dwindling funds, rising donor expectations, an explosion of competition including rivals on the internet, United Way of Ameruca turns to a knowledge management pioneer to help move from its traditional role of fundraiser to results oriented community impact leadership, targeting root causes that drive the need for charity.

Regulars

The last word: secure your data - but share it around Free
Most implementations of content security and document management are lacking in the ability to balance harsh control versus open collaboration. Security is an important part of content management, but enablement for collaboration and business process is an equally valuable requirement.

Workshop: maximising SOA investment Free
This workshop addresses foundation business imperatives underlyong service orientation, refines the discussion of SOA by enumerating seperate perspectives within a 'SOA Triad', and recommends actions to begin a successful SOA adoption journey.

Opinion: make KM fun Free
Some knowledge leaders shun the idea of 'selling KM'. Not the chief architect of India's award-winning KM programme MindTree consulting. He tells us to lighten up when speading the message; keep it fresh.

The Knowledge: Tom Davenport Free
Best remembered for his role in the development of business process reengineering and many of the other 'big ideas' of the past two decades, Tom Davenport is an icon in business thought leadership around the world whose credibility in the business community bridges the gap between knowledge management and business executives.

Planes, trains and snowmobiles Free
Web-based technology has come so far and yet not nearly far enough.

Book review Free
Knowledge Mobilization in the Social Sciences and Humanities: Moving From Research to Action
Authors: Alex Bennet and David Bennet
Publisher: MQI Press
ISBN: 978-0-9798459-0-1
Publication date: 2007
Reviewed by Arthur Shelley

The Gurteen Perspective: KM (2.0) goes social Free
WITH THE advent of social tools, KM is poised to undergo a transformation. I’d like to take a brief look at what is going on.
In the early days, KM was primarily about capturing all the messy unstructured information in an organisation, making it searchable and easily accessible to employees. It’s still what most companies mean when they talk about KM – so much so, that many IT managers think this is all there is to KM.

Thought leader Free
Talent is to knowledge like an actor to a script. The script (knowledge) defines what needs to be delivered; the actor (talent) determines how the script is interpreted and produced. Actors bring scripts to life just as talent turns knowledge into productivity.