A safe pair of hands

MOST OF you will be familiar with Jerry Ash. The founder and chief executive of the Association of Knowledgework (AOK), Jerry has also been a regular and valued contributor to Inside Knowledge for some years now, impressing us all with his demonstrable passion and commitment to advancing the field of knowledge management (KM).
His articles for this month’s issue are no exception. The first, ‘Measuring the impact of KM’, looks at how executives at business intelligence software company Teradata can be 100 per cent sure that the company’s KM programme has improved margins, boosted revenues and reduced risk – because they have the metrics to prove it.
The second, ‘KM + DM + KPI = ROI’, asks an important question of those organisations that, unlike Teradata, are still in the dark about how to measure the impact of KM: If you can’t tie KM to the bottom line, then how can you justify further investment when competing for corporate budget?
We’re sure that, like us, you’ll find these articles a real education – which is why we’re delighted to announce that, from next month, Jerry will assume the role of editor at Inside Knowledge, overseeing the development of content for the magazine and managing its strategic direction.
Jerry’s deeper involvement with Inside Knowledge is a highly welcome development, but at the same time, we know that he’ll be looking to the magazine’s readers for input on what you want to read and learn about. So do remember to let him know at jash@kwork.org. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this issue.

Jessica Twentyman, Consulting Editor

Features

A journey to the heart of usuability This article is for subscribers only
Now working at EDF Energy, Carolyn Clarke recalls how a previous employer notched up considerable website success by placing usability at the heart of its strategy.

New kid on the block This article is for subscribers only
EDI may be the established method for large organisations to exchange documents with their trading partners, but newer, XML-based options are increasingly providing a viable alternative for companies of all sizes.

Re-use strategies This article is for subscribers only
Knowledge re-use and capture is surprisingly challenging in project-based organisations. But there are some tools and techniques that can help to overcome any potential hurdles.

Share and share alike This article is for subscribers only
Mobile services provider O2 has implemented a collaborative solution to enable multiple business units to share knowledge in a rapidly changing business environment.

Measuring the impact of KM This article is for subscribers only
Consultants at software company Teradata can be confident that the company's KM programme has improved margins, boosted revenues and reduced risk - because they've got the metrics to prove it.

Personal knowledge management: up close and personal This article is for subscribers only
Could personal knowledge management (PKM) be the key to enhancing the productivity and effectiveness of information workers in your organisation?

The Knowledge: Ahmed Bounfour This article is for subscribers only
Professor Ahmed Bounfour believes that, in the battle for global social advancement, knowledge management is an invaluable weapon.

Regulars

An intellectual architecture for records management This article is for subscribers only
Many organisations fall inot the trap of not fully understanding the business drivers for corporate records management. Don't be one of them.

Jerry Ash: KM+DM+KPI=ROI This article is for subscribers only
If you can't tie KM to the bottom line, then how can you justify further investment when competing for corporate budget.

What I learnt about talent management from Marie Helvin Free
MOST TALENT management perspectives take a corporate point of view. A survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, for example, recently revealed that CEOs assign as much as 50 per cent of their time to talent management. Similarly, researchers at Ashbridge Management School describe talent management as a strategic imperative.

Book Review: New Business Models for the Knowledge Economy Free
OVER THE past decade, we have seen the emergence of an economy in which the digital component has become a constant presence. In this digital world, connectivity and communication are greatly enhanced and knowledge resources have superseded economic property in importance. In this increasingly knowledge-based economy, meanwhile, the old principles of business can no longer be applied.

The Gurteen Perspective: TYFSAK! TYFSAK? Free
I’D LIKE to tell you a story about an incident that happened to me almost 15 years ago, when I was working in the US. It hugely influenced me at the time and has stayed with me ever since.

Thought Leader Free
PUBLIC UTILITY service companies traditionally provide the backbone of any economy. They arrange the supply of energy in the forms of electricity and gas, water and sometimes waste disposal too, and are generally best liked when not really visible in daily operations.