Knowledge Management Software

I will attempt to inform you on what Knowledge Management Software (KMS) is. I will also attempt to give you a brief history and specific benefits the KMS adds to our specific global organization.

First let's talk about knowledge management (KM), and define what it is? I had the opportunity to talk with three coworkers and for them to give me a definition that I myself had no idea about until I decided to do some research. Well, my first interview went with Tasha who's a Supply person. She had no idea; she thought it could not be such a thing as KM.

Secondly, I interviewed Michelle our unit secretary. She said she'd heard of it but couldn't possibly tell me what it meant. And lastly, I interviewed Tonya, our personnel specialist. Tonya said she knew what knowledge was. According to her, knowledge had something to do with knowing information and management according to her is knowing what to do with the information. Well, that gave me a starting point. Well, what is knowledge? Let's see, knowledge has two basic definitions of interest.

The first pertains to a defined body of information. Depending on the definition, the body of information might consist of facts, opinions, ideas, theories, principles, and models (or other frameworks). Clearly, other categories are possible, too. Subject matter (e.g., chemistry, mathematics, etc.) is just one possibility. In addition, knowledge also refers to a person's state of being with respect to some body of information. These states include ignorance, awareness, familiarity, understanding, facility, and so on.

Now that was a mouthful. Management on the other had has some of the similarities as Tonya mention above. When I researched the definition for management it means to manage or be responsible for controlling or organizing someone or something especially a business.

After reviewing both and putting those together KM means - the processes of finding, collecting and sharing information within an organization. This has taken the business community by storm in the last five years. It is about making optimum use of the intellectual capital (skills, ideas and knowledge) of employees.

The history of KMS has many faces. With continuously emerging work roles, the unlocking of an enterprise's information to members at every level has become essential to ensure that each has the knowledge, skills and authority to be productive. These new work roles demand that every individual have access to the correct data and knowledge in order to make their own effective business decisions. With the rise of organizations seeking ways to manage their knowledge there has come the desire to share strategies with peers.

The first conference in the United States that focused upon knowledge beyond the theories of artificial intelligence was entitled "Managing the Knowledge Asset into the 21st Century." It was convened by Digital Equipment Corporation and the Technology Transfer Society at Purdue University in 1987. The second conference on "Knowledge Productivity" was coordinated by Steelcase North America and EDS in April of 1992. Since then, the management of knowledge has become crucial within and among organizations. There have been a number of conferences focusing on different perspectives, each year growing more inclusive and comprehensive.

Who create these ideas you ask? Well you do. True knowledge is more likely to lie hidden and undervalued in the minds of individual employees. And it may dwell in the relationships your colleagues have with people at other companies.

Some benefits, sure KMS is a good way for individuals to share information as well as push an idea and possibly receive the credit for it. According to the case study article "Tapping Knowledge", Askme, enterprise said "we found that the way the experts were highlighted within the project was an implicated reward system. It made experts want to participate. The more active you are in the particular area, Askme highlights you as a featured expert. People in the innovation