Welcome to OrbitalRPM. Skip directly to: main content, navigation, search box.


Blog

Archive for January, 2009

6 Tools for Knowledge Capture

I recently returned from a trip to a client’s site in the Andes just outside Cajamarca, Peru.  We were there with an elusive mission…capture knowledge.  Can it get more vague?

As we plow further into an economy centered around knowledge and the exchange of it, this exercise will become much more commonplace (I predict) but for us we needed to explain to our client that in order to facilitate the exchange of tacit knowledge, first we had to be able to show some of it.

Of course tacit knowledge, by definition, can’t really be adequately captured so we were looking for things that would serve as the catalysts of conversation, as indicators that people around the globe in similar positions were facing like challenges and developing complementary solutions.

To accomplish this I brought along six tools:

  1. Videocamera: probably the most important of them all.  The power of video cannot be underestimated as a means for transferring tacit knowledge, building relationships/trust and just providing a consistent (and quick) means of getting others up to speed on complex situations.
  2. Camera: For situations where video wasn’t allowed or suitable a still camera was utilized.  It has similar benefits as a videocamera…just a slightly different application.
  3. Audio recorder: This was used to capture the conversations we had with people.  It was a great resource for us to go back later and revisit our conversations and hear verbatim what the person was saying as well as their tone when saying it.
  4. Flash drive: Not everything we encountered was tacit knowledge.  Explicit knowledge that was contained in documents and spreadsheets is certainly valuable as well and we were easily able to snag it via the USB drive.
  5. Laptop: While technically not critical for capturing, my laptop served as peace of mind that we could download our loot from the day and know it was safely saved for later use.  It also allowed us to see our pics and videos from the day and refine our strategy for the following days.
  6. External hard drive: This was also for peace of mind as well as video storage.  It’s a 500 MB durable drive that I dumped video into each night.  It’s nice b/c it didn’t take up space on my laptop and it can take a beating.

This was a great trip because it yielded many tangible (or at least viewable) examples of the knowledge that people had as well as what they were seeking.  This provided the foundation for several excellent conversations with our project sponsors – it’s nice to be able to transition from talking about things such as ‘knowledge workers’, the ‘knowledge economy’ and ‘knowledge transfer’ and show a video of real-life examples of this happening at one of their locations.

What tools have you used to capture the knowledge in your organization?

January 25th, 2009 No Comments »

3rd Annual International Learning & Performance Conference – ASTD

3rd Annual Int’l Learning & Performance Conference – ASTD
When: Thursday, March 19 – Sunday, March 22, 2009
Where: Beijing, China
Event type: Symposium/Conference
Additional Information: Please see web link for more details
 
Sponsoring Organization: ASTD.org
Registration Link: www.astd.org…
Note:

Hear from industry experts and learn how to gain competitive advantages through leadership development and strategically managing the learning function. Finding and keeping leadership talent has risen to the top of the CEO’s agenda—trumping business growth, innovation, and customer loyalty. In fact, the majority of senior leaders expect their businesses to suffer due to an insufficient supply of management talent.

We’ll confront those issues head on by drawing on the results of our new Global Leadership Forecast, in which we surveyed HR professionals and more than 12,200 leaders in nearly 1,500 organizations worldwide. Moreover, by contrasting the typical to the very best quality leadership development programs, we’ll explore what really works. We’ll address frontline to senior leadership and cover special topics like high potentials, succession planning, and multinational leadership.

Link: www.astd.org…

January 3rd, 2009 No Comments »

CLO Breakfast Club, Chicago

CLO Breakfast Club, Chicago

When: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Where: University of Chicago Gleacher Center
450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive
Chicago, IL 60611
Event type: Breakfast Club
Price – High: 54.95
Price – Low: 49.95
Presenter: N/A
Additional Information: please see web link for more details
 
Sponsoring Organization: CLO Media
Registration Link: guest.cvent.com…
Note:

In the 2009 Breakfast Club series, our panel of industry experts will lead conversations in cities across the United States about the role the learning organization plays in leading growth and innovation, even in tough economic times.

Link: www.clomedia.com…

January 3rd, 2009 No Comments »

International Sunbelt Social Network Conference

International Sunbelt Social Network Conference

When: Tuesday, March 10 – Sunday, March 15, 2009
Where: Bahia Resort Hotel
998 West Mission Bay Drive
San Diego, CA 92109
Event type: Symposium/Conference
Additional Information: see web link for more information
 
Sponsoring Organization: INSNA
Registration Link: www.insna.org…
Note:

The International Sunbelt Social Network Conference will provide an interdisciplinary venue for social scientists, mathematicians, computer scientists, ethnologists, and others to present current work in the area of social networks.

Workshops and conference sessions will allow individuals interested in theory, methods, or applications of social network analysis to share ideas and explore common interests.

Link: www.insna.org…

January 3rd, 2009 No Comments »

Talent Management Magazine’s Strategies 2009: Innovation to Impact

Talent Management Strategies 2009: Innovation to Impact

When: Monday, February 23 – Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel —
Dana Point, California
Event type: Symposium/Conference
Price:  
Additional Information: Please see web link for more details.
 
Sponsoring Organization: Talent Management
Registration Link: guest.cvent.com…
Note:

Join us at Talent Management Magazine’s Strategies 2009, the industry’s premier event, bringing together HR executives, talent management experts and industry thought leaders for a high-level meeting dedicated to developing and implementing an integrated talent management strategy. We’ll explore innovative strategies and practices that leverage the power of the organization’s talent for optimal impact and dramatic results.

Link: www.talentmgt.com…

January 3rd, 2009 No Comments »

Training 2009 Conference & Expo

Training 2009 Conference & Expo

When: Monday, February 9 – Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Where: Georgia World Congress Center
Atlanta, GA
 
Additional Information: please see web link for more details
Event Type: Conference & Expo
Sponsoring Organization: Training Magazine
Registration Link: www.trainingconference.com…
Note:

As the source for professional development, this year’s conference promises all of the in-depth content and practical insights you’ve come to expect from Training magazine . . . and much more.
This year, you’ll hear from New York Times-bestselling authors Dan Pink (A Whole New Mind), Chester Elton (The Carrot Principle), and Jeffrey Zaslow (The Last Lecture). Plus, comedienne Wendy Liebman will share her prescription for laughter in life . . . and in business.

Link: www.trainingconference.com…

January 3rd, 2009 1 Comment »

ASTD TechKnowledge 2009

ASTD TechKnowledge 2009
When: Wednesday, January 28 – Friday, January 30, 2009
Where: Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino
3700 W. Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV 89103
Event type: Symposium/Conference
Additional Information: Please see web link for details
   
Sponsoring Organization: ASTD
Registration Link: tk09.astd.org…
Note:

Since 2001, ASTD TechKnowledge® has provided attendees with the latest information, best practices, and learning technology resources available. Experienced practitioners, and an EXPO full of leading suppliers provide tangible results that can be implemented immediately upon returning to work. The educational program includes more than 80 sessions including hands-on computer labs and corporate case studies.

Link: www.tk09.astd.org

January 3rd, 2009 No Comments »

What is this?

You are currently reading the blog of Orbital RPM. These are the most recent blog posts. If you'd like to see more posts click on the category links or view the monthly archives.

Blog Categories

Tag Cloud

Most Popular Articles

Monthly Archives