Effectiveness and efficiency of employees depends on many factors that may include knowledge. It is rather obvious that possession of knowledge may enable team members to be more familiar with their daily duties and even lead to greater effectiveness and efficiency. However, the mere knowledge may not be the only determining factor.
In many instances familiarity with daily tasks and duties can assist in greater effectiveness and efficiency. The role of knowledge in those instances is clear; knowledge of those particular tasks may eliminate time lags in performance that decreases effectiveness. Similarly a lack of that particular knowledge may lead to ineffectiveness. However, the mere possession of knowledge may not necessarily create those advantages. Hence the question becomes as how to assure that knowledge that assists in creating and maintaining effectiveness and efficiency can be acquired and maintained.
Knowledge in its most basic terms is a subjective issue. It is ever changing, evolving and mutating. Yet the basics of human knowledge of fundamentals rarely changes. Hence, the vital task of knowledge management teams can and should be to emphasize a uniform knowledge based on specific industry. The most effective way to achieve such uniform and fundamental knowledge is certainly a HR task by hiring those that have the knowledge via education or experiences. It is not to say that a lack of such uniformity in applicant or hires is the only way; minimal steps such as in-house training could rectify a lack of education or experience. Yet the cost of such internal training may justify adjusted hiring procedures.
Once the uniformity of knowledge and expertise has been achieved or is in process of being achieved, the next task is certainly more complicated. In this particular stage, knowledge and knowledge management will and should emphasize the industry specific topics and issues that may intervene with daily tasks and duties. Though one may wonder if the on job training which is the core of integrating new employees is the most appropriate venue, the final judgment may depend on many factors including industry, economic and social issues as well as organizational vision.
Nevertheless, the combination of on job training and industry specific knowledge can be a positive factor in increasing effectiveness and efficiency. Yet it is difficult to make recommendation and suggestions that would be uniformly true for all industries at any given time. The mere fact that informational technology is an ever evolving field that influences virtually every industry, it is rather ineffective to suggest any particular methodology without considering factors such as organizational vision and strategy, management and its respective attitude and capabilities, employee ability and willingness as well industry related issues.
Brought to you by: World Consulting Group — Your premier management consulting firm .
The post Management of Knowledge first appeared on World Consulting Group.