Managing Knowledge: A Practical Web-Based Approach (Addison-Wesley Information Technology Series)

By Wayne Applehan and Wayne Applehans

Managing knowledge is a new and vital skill for corporations. In the information economy, the organization that knows the most about itself and its business is best positioned for success. But, how do... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 020143315X
• ISBN13: 9780201433159
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley
• Length: 115 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.3" x 0.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Action Plan for Managing Knowledge

"Managing Knowledge - A Practical Web-Based Approach" is an easy to read and apply guidebook for a complicated process. The book breaks down the daunting task of getting the "right knowledge, to the right people at the right time" so you can get started in applying knowledge management. This practical guide to implementing knowledge management techniques can be used on one process or an entire organization. Though, the authors do recommend picking one process/cycle to begin the implementation process. The authors are straight forward in explaining that the nature of their book is not to explain knowledge management. It is assumed that you have read other books on knowledge management prior to using this guide. I found the book was well written enough that you really just needed some basic understanding of knowledge management, along with the foresight and desire to improve the formation and flow of data, information and knowledge. The book's subtitle states "a practical web-based approach", yet many principals of this book can be used in non web- based applications. Before I finished the book, I was convinced that my organization should implement the needed changes for managing knowledge, and that my organization would benefit greatly from retooling its self for the information economy. The authors should have included a quick reference page for the numerous abbreviations that were used. Some of the abbreviations may have another meaning in other industries.

It Really Is "A Practical Web-Based Approach"

The authors are quite specific when explaining for whom Managing Knowledge has been written: "This book is for those people who have read some of the academic literature on KM [Knowledge Management] and who (along with their bosses) are convinced that they need to go down this path....Our purpose is not to address the nature of knowledge. Rather, we want to help you get the right information to the right people so that they can take effective action....Everything we say in this book assumes that you are (or are going to be) leveraging Web-based technologies to move data, information, and knowledge." Their purposes could not be clearer.The book is divided into four sections:Part One: Getting Started (Strategy and Profiling People)Part Two: Organizing Around Information (Storyboarding Knowledge and Mapping the Knowledge Network)Part Three: Knowledge Architecture (Hiring People, Mobilizing Content, and Building the Technical Architecture)Part Four: The Ninety-Day Action PlanThis book provides both the structural design and the operations manual needed by any organization to achieve these objectives:1. To evaluate the information it now has2. To identify the information it needs...but does not (as yet) have3. To formulate a Web-based system to manage knowledge more effectively4. To set in place those best qualified to manage that system5. To facilitate and encourage knowledge sharing throughout the organizationIn Part Four, the authors wisely recommend that an organization choose a single business cycle that can be improved and begin the "Ninety-Day Action Plan" with a knowledge audit; next, begin building a core team and select an appropriate technology (or technologies); then during Day 61-Day 90, explain your team's efforts throughout the organization ("to communicate the benefits of a KM system and to sell the concept of the knowledge architecture") while constantly updating the content under management.Given its stated purposes, I rate this book very highly. It is well-organized, well-written, and comprehensive in terms of material covered. Contrary to what some reviewers may suggest, I think it provides the knowledge needed to manage knowledge effectively. If your organization has the aforementioned five objectives and has not as yet achieved them, I suggest that its key executives read this book immediately and then launch a collaborative effort to implement the "Ninety-Day Action Plan." Why wait?

Hits the mark - One of the few practical treatments ...

A Review and Synopsis of Managing Knowledge - A Practical Web-Based Approach by Wayne Applehans, Alden Globe, and Greg Laugero In knowldgWORKS News Volume 1 Number 12 KnowBits pointed you to a series of World Wide Web links on the Microsoft Web Site. The links consisted of a series of case studies offered by Microsoft as examples of how their technology could be used as the basis of knowledge management efforts. Most of the case studies had very little to do with knowledge management, but quite a bit to do with Microsoft technology. One of the case studies distinguished itself. This was the case study describing the knowledge management effort at J.D. Edwards. The description of the effort was so rich that I sprang for the book by the people responsible for the work at J.D. Edwards. My overall opinion: BUY THIS BOOK ! Without equivocation this book is the best compact description of what knowledge management is about. The book consists of practical information and advice about conducting a knowledge management effort. It is short, to the point, and has lots of great diagrams. Here is a synopsis. This book begins with a series of assumptions. They are as follows:Assumption 1: (my favorite) "Knowledge management does not have to be profound." Assumption 2: You have a champion and are figuring out how to get started. Assumption 3: Document management concepts, technologies, and procedures provide the basic disciplines to kick off a successful effort. Assumption 4: Yours is a mid to large size company with an intranet and extranet and an internet presence. Assumption 5: Your business is consciously preparing for the internet economy. The parameters of the discussion are clearly set forth by these assumptions. But consider that even if you don't meet all of the assumption criteria, the information contained in this book is still extremely valuable. One of the challenges of any knowledge management effort is explaining why your organization might want to do knowledge management. Consider adopting these reasons :1. Ease of partnering 2. Ease of managing expertise turnover 3. Ease of decentralizing decision-makingEach of these reasons represents a competitive imperative. Any book about knowledge management needs to define the term. Remember my own definition goes, "Knowledge Management is the process of controlling, using, manipulating, and communicating that which enables us to do things." Consider the authors's definition of knowledge."Knowledge is the ability to turn information and data into effective action."The authors go on to say this is a tactical definition "because they are not interested in esoteric debates about the nature of epistemology." (Hooray ! ) With regard to managing knowledge, Applehans et al give the following definition."managing knowledge means delivering the information and data people need to be effective in their jobs." This book does not mince words. It tries to keep things fairly

Excellent "Practical" Guide on Managing Knowledge....

This book offers a no-nonsense practical approach to managing knowledge in todays WWW based platform. KM is on everyone's radar screens as of late and this book cuts to the chase giving excellent real world examples and solutions including an implementable 90 day action plan! Excellent resource...Marcus P. Zillman, M.S., A.M.H.A. CEO BotTechnology.com, Inc.

Learn how to transform information into knowledge.

Information anxiety is today's constant challenge for every person working in the fast-paced, ever-changing world of business. Recommended for anyone with an interest in knowledge management, "Managing Knowledge: A Practical Web Based Approach", is a highly graphical, how-to guide, offering step-by-step advice on how to transform information into a strategic business asset: knowledge. I gained valuable insights on how to apply the principles in the book to my non-profit organization.