Sharing knowledge – C of P

As a member of a local Community of Practice of knowlege management practitioners I offered to share of my informal learning unworkshop experience.

Trying to synthesize and provide an overview was indeed a challenge!  The feedback was positive, but I expect I did try and cover too much ground in talking about the experience of the unworkshop as well as sharing some of the content.  Some of the comments and discussion did indicate that people are starting to talk and grapple with the whole issue of blogs and wikis at work.  One member talked about a situation where the use of wiki is being initiated rather than weekly update f2f meetings – started as some people couldn’t be there in person…..

the recurring theme is that we need to be careful about introducing too many gizmos and gadgets – has to be linked to clear purpose and intent that adds value in getting work accomplished.   Don’t expect to “build it and they will come”, but do need to create the structure and supports to make it simple from the end user perspective.   I do hope I have at least stimulated a conversation that will continue within our KM network.

making sense of the survey responses

The mix of responses in the survey for the unworkshop does not surprise me.  We all signed up for the unworkshp from different places and spaces in terms of understanding of and working with web 2.0.

From an HR perspective, it reminds me of our exhortations to leadership to remember that followers need time to catch up.  In any significant change initiative, the passion and focus of the team may be engaging to get people initially on board, but there is a time lag of those who are following to become fully conversant and sustain a change in behaviour.

Some days I may feel comfortable riding up the hills; others I feel like I need training wheels even to get out on the level pathways…..although at times, it feels like inefficient trial and error learning – learning is happening…..