Knowledge Sharing is a key issue for Knowledge Management and for organizational success. But real Knowledge Sharing requires an open mindset and continues to be a challenge for many organizations. In fact, it can be difficult to even get people to talk openly to one another other about their specific corporate interests, opportunities and responsibilities.
One way of energizing an organization to achieve real Knowledge Sharing benefits is the use of Knowledge Cafés. A Knowledge Café is an effective vehicle for opening up conversations and discussions that lead to sharing.
One way of thinking of the Knowledge Café is as a tool that is used to share tacit knowledge. It can be used within teams or Communities of Practice to question entrenched assumptions, to help facilitate learning from others and gain a deeper collective understanding of a subject - through conversation.
It is not just about talking and networking though these are secondary benefits but allowing people to engage each other in "dialogue" with the aim of learning from each other rather than entering into unproductive debate and attempting to impose their views on the other which invariably end in failure and frustration.
Specifically a Knowledge Café can:
gain improved understanding of a complex issue
get buy-in for a new initiative
flush out problems and issues in a department or project especially ones of lack of communication that can then be acted on and resolved
help build consensus around a proposed plan of action
improve the way that people work together by gaining a deeper understanding of each others perspectives on issues
jointly develop a policy document e.g. a code of practice (done in conjunction with say a wiki)
a tacit transfer mechanism between young and retiring workers
more widely share individual expertise
help merge two cultures after a take-over
improve inter-personal relationship and thus ability to work together effectively
In effect the Knowledge Café is an easy, low cost way to make Knowledge Sharing really work for you and your organization.
Video: David Gurteen: Knowledge Cafe Briefing
Dan Remenyi has a conversation with David Gurteen on the benefits of a knowledge cafe and how to run one. (30 mins)
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