Visit Knovolution at the North East Expo – 27 April 2023

Looking forward to attending the North East Expo again on April 27th – I’ll be at stand C1! Pop over to discuss how a knovolution could transform the way you get knowledge to where it is needed.

Whether you are looking to improve operations, develop new capabilities, do the day-to-day work better or get your knowledge into the world, Knovolution can help move your mission forward. Find out how you can push the frontiers of what you, your team, or your organization can accomplish.

(oh, and there’s also some cool swag 😉)

My support crew and I will be more than happy to chat to you about your unique circumstances and how knowledge management can push you forward. Even if you are just curious to learn what all this ‘knowledge stuff’ is about, pop along and let us blow your minds!

  • For managers, business leaders and operational staff, find out how developing your custom knowledge management strategy and practices could transform how your organization gets results.
  • For small-medium organizations, find out how a knovolution could help you build essential knowledge management practices into your DNA so that you circumvent the pitfalls that larger organizations face.
  • For experts, discover how to navigate the complexity of the knowledge economy and get your unique knowledge into the world.

We have a range of free resources you can grab at the event. If you can’t make it to the event, download your digital event swag bag or feel free to get in touch for a chat.

The North East Expo is the ultimate event for small and medium sized businesses across the Tyneside, Wearside and Northumberland areas. I think it is a great way to be inspired by business services, make contacts, and get to know companies directly.

Book your free delegate ticket at www.northeastexpo.co.uk. It’s your opportunity to talk directly to company representatives, attend one of the 12 insightful seminars, and grow your network. Plus there’s free parking, easy transport links and on-site cash catering so you can make a day of it!

Hope to see you there!

Start levelling up how you manage knowledge

Is your team or small-medium-enterprise ready to level-up on how you get the knowledge in your organization to who, and where, it is needed?

It sucks when we don’t know:

  • the next step to take;
  • who knows the answer;
  • what happened the last time we did this task;
  • what to do when Fred isn’t here to save the day;
  • where that really important document is;
  • how we just do the thing as…well…we just do it and can’t really explain it to anyone;
  • how to get new people in the crew up to speed;
  • how to share all this experience with someone else so they can avoid the holes we fell into;
  • what to do in the event of a totally unexpected curveball that no-one round here has ever seen before!

How we create, share and apply what we know influences personal and business success. It can make the difference in getting the work done, delighting customers, controlling costs, shortening learning curves, making faster and better decisions…and ultimately creating organizations that rock!

Check out these services for inspiration on how Knovolution can help you implement better knowledge management practices to make work easier and create a more intelligent, responsive and successful organization.

Image: Man Wearing Brown Jacket and Using Grey Laptop, Andrea Piacquadio, Pexels. Embellished with Knovolution graphic assets.

Free Consultancy Opportunity for a North East England Enterprise – January 2022

Are you a small-to-medium-sized enterprise based in North-East England and wanting to level up your performance in 2022? Take part in my knowledge mapping case study and get new insight to help your business succeed in 2022

I’m working on a case study and looking to work with a small-medium-sized organisation based in North-East England from January to February 2022 to help you uncover hidden value that you can convert to business success! 

You will get new insight into your business operations to improve areas such as decision-making, risk management, quality, collaboration, and organisational learning for example.

What’s involved?
  • When: 10-15 hours between 17 January and 11 February 2022
  • Where: online & in-person sessions depending on Covid guidelines.
  • Who: a dedicated contact person, and the relevant team or workgroup.
  • What: the OK from your boss
  • Cost: totally free, just your commitment to attend the sessions and a testimonial at the end!

What will you get? Remarkable new insight into how your business ticks, a plan to make improvements, a copy of the case study.

INTERESTED?

Is there a team or workgroup in your company that could benefit from this free consultancy?

Email me at janine@knovolution.com to discuss further

You will need to be available for 10-15 hours between 17 January to 11 February 2022 to participate in the workshops. Deadline to apply is 7th January 2022.

Why is this relevant to your business?

The magic that drives what you do, what you deliver, how you perform, and how you are perceived in your market all stems from the way you put your organisation’s intellectual capital into action.

When was the last time you thought about how you create and use your organisation’s intellectual capital to drive commercial success, excellence, and risk management in your business? Do you know what intellectual capital is critical to help you achieve your business mission?

Think about your organisation’s knowledge, skills, experience, insight, methods, and relationships:

  • Are they being used effectively to achieve the business results you are committed to?
  • Are you effectively activating and deploying your organisation’s intellectual capital to overcome your commercial challenges?
  • Do your people have all the insight and understanding they need to deliver their best work efficiently and with impact?
  • Are you converting your deep experience to help you be the best provider for your clients?

Why do I need to think about my organisation’s knowledge?

Your intellectual capital is what makes your organisation brilliant at what it does…your products, services, delivery, quality….it’s your competitive advantage and why people come to you rather than anyone else.

The knowledge, methods, social relationships, experience, and information in your organisation is at the root of how you:

  • Deliver excellence to your customers
  • Solve problems
  • Innovate
  • Avoid mistakes
  • Maintain quality
  • Sustain your efficiency
  • ….oh, and make your money!

These things are all at risk if we don’t take steps to nurture our stock and flow of intellectual capital.

Consider these scenarios for example:

  • John isn’t here to do Task X so it takes twice as long and costs more money as his teammates don’t have the level of understanding he has built over his 25-year career.
  • Sunitta moves jobs and takes her project experience with her. The rest of the team aren’t aware of the subtle lessons and insights Sunitta has developed so the project is delayed.
  • Team A and Team B do the same work in different parts of the world, but Team B somehow manages to do it quicker without any rework so their region wins more jobs.
  • A once-in-a-lifetime event happens (…erm…Covid?) and the world changes. The business must deal with extraordinary challenges and draw on its network of expertise to survive. How quickly can it bounce back…and thrive?

What is knowledge mapping?

Knowledge mapping is a practice to help you understand:

  • where critical knowledge exists in your business,
  • how knowledge flows to help your business do what it does, and
  • highlights the opportunities to make better use of your intellectual capital to drive your business forward.

The goals of knowledge mapping are to:

  • Spot the operational pain points around how your organisation uses its knowledge and information.
  • Identify the cultural behaviours that are impacting how your organisation uses its knowledge and information;
  • Create knowledge maps and help you identify the opportunities and risks associated with knowledge use.
  • Draw up a high-level action plan to help you improve how your organisation uses its knowledge and information.

It is an important first stage when introducing knowledge management interventions into your organisation as it pinpoints the areas to focus on and informs the bigger strategy…as opposed to relying on guesswork and hunches that may not deliver value.

How do I take advantage of this free opportunity?

If you are interested in working with me on this free consultancy to understand how you can improve the way you use your intellectual capital to drive your business success, please email me at janine@knovolution.com. Then:

  • I will arrange an introductory call where we can discuss this opportunity and make initial preparations.
  • Between 10th-14th January 2022 I will arrange some brief check-in sessions to warm us up for the mapping sessions.
  • We will spend 10-15 hours with each other between 17th January – 11th February (online or in person depending on Covid guidelines) in workshop-style sessions to do the mapping exercises.
  • I will provide you with the written case study for your reference.
  • You will provide me with a testimonial.

Key requirements:

  • A dedicated contact person.
  • A team or workgroup who can be available for 10-15 hours between 17th January – 11th February.
  • An open mind and willingness to engage consistently in the activities.

Note that there will be no pressure to follow-up with any further consultancy unless you would like to. This is a purely explorative and free opportunity that gives you a wealth of new insight and helps me to build a case study.

I want to help a small-medium-sized enterprise kickstart their journey to activate, grow and sustain their intellectual capital for better business performance.

Let’s lead your Knovolution!

Interested?

Is there a team or workgroup in your company that could benefit from this free consultancy?

Email me at janine@knovolution.com to discuss further

You will need to be available for 10-15 hours between 17 January to 11 February 2022 to participate in the workshops. Deadline to apply is 7th January 2022.

I, Knovolutionist

…my (short-ish) story

I’m a former intrapreneurial knowledge manager who led a small band of kindred colleagues and global groups of advocates on a mission to embed knowledge management practices into the front line of our organizations. Those days of accelerating, unblocking and preserving the flow of critical knowledge to help our colleagues across the business get the job done, shaped my approach to knowledge management.

My mother always said I was on a quest for knowledge from a young age. Somehow that girl managed to turn her passion into her profession…

After 13 years of ‘consulting on the inside’ and deep-diving into the deepest corners of this somewhat misunderstood field, I decided to fulfil my burning ambition to fly the nest and start my own thing.

I’ve spent too many hours seeing people completely baffled by the concept of ‘knowledge management’, which has ultimately excluded them from reaping the benefits that await them – I’d like to change that. It’s frustrating to see talent, experience, opportunities, time and money go to waste. It’s disconcerting to see the blockers preventing people from connecting with each other, finding information they need, building competence and quite frankly…just getting the work done. It pulls at my professional heart strings to see people lost for solutions and approaches to overcome challenges. Workers, customers, and business performance suffer and I don’t think that is acceptable, given all the tools and practices we have at our disposal to make a difference.

But, it’s tricky when you don’t know how… or why… or if it is worth the effort – I feel your pain!

I discovered the art and practice of knowledge management by accident. In fact, I might have even chuckled a bit at the idea of ‘knowledge’ being ‘managed’ – how on earth was that even possible and what did it mean? More to the point, what exactly is knowledge? And when people ask me what I do for a living, what do I say?!

People, I give you Knovolution! My answer to helping you summon knowledge into action, using all the experience, connections, information and tools around you, to drive your progress and success.

Knovolution n. /nov-uh-loo-shun/

A mental rebellion against problems; a countermove against blockers to action; a crusade to push the boundaries of our understanding; a voyage through our world to connect with those who hold the answers…

(ok, I’m off my soapbox now!)

The concept of a Knovolution has been shaped from my experience in knowledge management strategy development; communities of practice; content creation and curation; approaches to lesson-learning; intranets and digital workplace technologies; training and facilitation; improving collaboration; and technical communication…to mention a few. Read more in my LinkedIn profile.

I am committed to pushing the frontiers of my professional ability. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking at conferences and on discussion panels, writing papers, and being associated with some forward-thinking groups. I am currently pursuing my Chartership in Knowledge Management through CILIP, which has been an incredible journey of professional growth, knowledge discovery and nostalgia.

When I’m not creating knovolutions, you can find me enjoying my rustic/technical life on the glorious Northumberland coast. If I am not adventuring with my dogs or cooking up a culinary masterpiece, I’ll be either playing in my rock bands or on the back of a motorcycle. My favourite moments however are settling by the log fire with two tired terriers and feeling the cold North Sea breeze fade away. It’s even better when I have a steaming hot cup of tea, listening to an eclectic spectrum of music and expanding my mind on all things knowledge-management-related!

At the atomic level, my philosophy is this: if we don’t know what, why, how or when to do something…how can we make any progress? We need ways to summon knowledge and capability from within and around us to succeed.

Let’s incite your Knovolution – Knowledge to our People!