Keeping knowledge flowing in a downturn: Actions for knowledge and information managers

Abstract

A knowledge rich or knowledge enabled organization is one in which knowledge flows — through creation, sharing, transfer and retention activities — seamlessly from the parts that have it, to the parts that need it. Any restriction or blockage to the flow of knowledge can cause partial or total failure of the organizational system. Equally, any restriction or blockage to the flow of knowledge within an organization’s supply chain, including its business partnerships and relationships with others, can cause a partial or total failure of the organizational environment in which it operates. Knowledge is the lifeblood of an organization and knowledge and information managers have a key role to play in keeping knowledge flowing, used and retained in their organizations. This role is particularly important during difficult economic times. The impact of budget cuts, office closures, voluntary and compulsory redundancies, falling demand and reductions in bank lending can each have unintended consequences, including acting as barriers — the restrictions or blockages — to the flow of knowledge. This article identifies some of these barriers and highlights the knowledge transfer and retention actions that knowledge and information managers should consider to avoid knowledge loss and keep knowledge flowing in their organizations during a downturn.