"Capitalizing on knowledge" refers to the process by which an organization actively collects, organizes, stores and shares the knowledge, skills, experience and expertise accumulated by its employees. Today, on average, only 20% of corporate knowledge is formalized!
By capitalizing on knowledge, a company can avoid losing crucial information when people leave, promote rapid problem-solving, speed up decision-making processes, encourage continuous innovation and strengthen its resilience in the face of market changes. It's a strategic investment that greatly contributes to an organization's operational efficiency and sustainable growth.
Let's discover together the keys to success for capitalizing effectively on corporate knowledge!
The first key to effective knowledge capitalization is to create a corporate culture that encourages collaboration and continuous learning. Employees need to feel encouraged to share their knowledge and learn from each other. Regular brainstorming sessions, online discussion forums and experience-sharing events can foster this collaborative culture.
Microsoft has set up internal mentoring and training programs to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between experienced employees and newcomers. This practice strengthens intergenerational collaboration and contributes to knowledge retention within the company.
Choosing the right knowledge transfer tool for your organization is crucial to capitalizing on knowledge. In many companies, the oral culture is still predominant, and a great deal of knowledge is lost simply because it has not been formalized, often for lack of time. Knowledge-sharing platforms can help employees to formalize their knowledge more easily and quickly.
Komin.io, for example, can be used to create knowledge transmission playbooks integrating video, voice and quizzes to make learning paths more fun, clearer and more engaging for employees.
Last but not least, knowledge transfer tools provide a framework for the transmission of knowledge, monitor the progress of trained employees and ensure that knowledge has been assimilated.
Leadership plays a crucial role in the success of knowledge capitalization. Leaders must set the example by actively participating in this process and encouraging their teams to do the same. Active support from management reinforces the importance of this initiative within the company, and motivates employees to contribute fully.
To get management buy-in, it's important to show how knowledge capitalization aligns with the company's strategic objectives. Highlight how capitalizing on knowledge will contribute to achieving the desired business results!
Knowledge capitalization is a dynamic process. Regular evaluation is essential to measure its effectiveness. Collect data and feedback, take account of technological and market changes, and adjust your approach accordingly. Adaptability is the key to maintaining a knowledge capitalization system that meets your company's constantly evolving needs!
Knowledge capitalization is not simply a step to be taken, but an ongoing journey! By investing in knowledge capitalization, a company is investing in its future. It creates an ecosystem where continuous learning becomes the norm, where mistakes are opportunities for improvement, and where every team member contributes to the collective success.
"With Komin, we have documented our operating procedures 10x faster than with paper"
- J. Cerruti (Methods & Industrialization Manager)
