Best practices for knowledge sharing and employee collaboration using Knowledge Management (KM) should focus on creating a culture, process, and system where knowledge is easily captured, shared, and reused.
From fostering a knowledge sharing culture to using a Knowledge Management system which will underpin these practices with the right features and configurability, embedding best practices into daily processes will transform your employee’s work environment.
Here are key best practices:
Fostering a Knowledge-Sharing Culture
From the outset of the project, leaders should model and reward knowledge sharing. Championing the use of a KM tool with a clear communication plan as to why this is being implemented, ensuring the benefits are clear for the target user base. Many KM tools will allow the measurement of user contributions, which will allow for recognition and incentives by acknowledging contributions to the KM effort.
Use the Right KM Tools and Technologies
Selecting a Knowledge Management system which will be flexible enough to meet your needs now and in the future is key. The KM system should allow for a centralised knowledge repository, including leveraging other document repositories if required. Collaboration tools should be available for users to provide feedback, escalate a request for new knowledge and discuss content.
Look for tools which allow for high levels of configurability – personalising the user experience and building workflows which match your business processes will help achieve high levels of user adoption.
Capture Tacit and Explicit Knowledge
Knowledge can be formal (explicit) or informal(tacit) and both should be available to be included in your knowledge base. Explicit content is essential in Knowledge Management because it provides a structured and accessible foundation for knowledge sharing, learning, and decision-making within an organisation. A well-designed Knowledge Management System can facilitate the capture of tacit knowledge by providing tools, platforms, and processes that encourage knowledge sharing, collaboration, and documentation among employees. It helps transform implicit knowledge into explicit knowledge that can be accessed and leveraged by others within the organisation.
Make Knowledge Accessible and Consumable
Use templates, infographics, short videos, and summaries to make information digestible, a user friendly format is essential for understanding the content and its context. Look for a KM tool which will allow you to build templates to make content structured and styled in a consistent way.
Ensure your KM system is mobile-friendly so employees can access knowledge on the go. Localisation is also key to be able to adapt the interface and/or content for regional teams.
Integrate KM into Workflows
Align KM with daily tasks, onboarding, project management, and customer service workflows. Ensure the KM system allows you to configure a different environment for the different teams who will be using the system and allow you to build content approval workflows which are specific to different teams.
Continuously Improve KM Systems
Best practice dictates that both ‘In the Workflow’ and periodic reviews are essential for maintaining a relevant and up-to-date knowledge base. Every time a user views a document they should be able to provide feedback or request a change to the article owners. Use the Knowledge Management System metrics to understand document usage, user contributions and potential knowledge gaps. Using analytics to track content usage, contributions, and user adoption levels will help you understand where improvements can be made to make sure knowledge is kept accurate and relevant.
Best practices are important for successful Knowledge Management (KM) because they provide proven, repeatable methods to effectively capture, share, and apply knowledge within an organisation. Best practices help maintain high standards in how knowledge is curated, stored, and disseminated, ensuring the information is reliable and useful. By providing a structured approach, KM best practices will help minimise knowledge loss and duplication of effort, ensuring the best possible outcome for your knowledge management investment.
