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Need advice on technology refresh #tools

Linda Hummel
 

Hello, Fellow SIKM'ers,

I have been tasked with delivering an improved KM system for 2012. The current KM infrastructure has been around for 4 years.  There have been enhancements to the existing platform, but much has changed in the tools industry since deployment.  Therefore it is time for a KM technology refresh.  I am looking for lessons learned and advice from people who have been through this process recently.

The goals of the program are to drive productivity of teams by providing more efficient access to the latest information, processes, tools and expertise.  The current KM infrastructure is an html knowledge portal for navigation with a Google Search appliance and an expertise locator built on corporate profiles/groups from homegrown social media platform.  

All comments are welcome. Here are some specific questions as well:

1.       What was your process for revamping?

2.       Did you engage an agency to review your requirements and suggest platforms/solutions? Or did you do a technology review yourself?

3.       Is there a technology you would/would not recommend?

4.       What was the timeframe needed to determine new platform, design and deliver?

5.       What do you wish you had known when you started your project?

6.       What would you do differently now that you have some hindsight?

Thanks in advance!

Linda Hummel, KM Leader, GE Energy
Jeevan Kamble
 

Hi Linda,

First thing that comes to my top of mind is to freeze what you want or what's your KM business objectives instead what tools have to provide. Most of the time what i see we go by word of mouth without investigating in detail what is really required to establish successful KM system. KM technology itself has evolved from traditional email or archival system to content/document management to Social Media collaborative environments.

You might need to prioritize your KM goals with current KM capabilities and scale if its mandatory because one solution might not fit all. I have been involved in vendor evaluations and establishing KM system for software environments including teams of developers/ testers and support staff and learned KM needs might be common for all these groups but still some of the needs are different. We do have specific solutions for support staff today and conventional document management systems.

See if you only need search capabilities or document management or collaboration systems. I would say ideal KM might need all of these today as collaboration is more open but difficult to manage. Most important factor i feel if adoption of KM system where people demand quick and effective information access. Some thoughts on your question:

1. What was your process for revamping?
We followed step by step approach in a PoC development. We spent good time in understanding taste and need of people they desire to see in KM system.

2. Did you engage an agency to review your requirements and suggest platforms/solutions ? Or did you do a technology review yourself?
Engaging agency will be helpful but if your team has good mix of technology experts/SMEs you can start on your own. Reviews and evaluations might be time consuming so you have to scope down in time bound plan. Business and System requirements is certainly first and very important step for technology evaluation and selection. There are huge options available but you can go with top 5 or 10 vendors in all aspects including cost, time, customization, resource, expertise availability etc.

3. Is there a technology you would/would not recommend?
Again, your needs/goals should define what technology suits you and not what tools are available in industry and you could pick them as there no single solution that fits all.

4. What was the timeframe needed to determine new platform, design and deliver?
Depends on the scope and needs. Typically 1-2 months would go for evaluation and selection, 3-4 months for pilot PoC, 6-8 months for RollOut. This all depends on resource / SME availability and sponsor buy-in.

5. What do you wish you had known when you started your project?
NA

6. What would you do differently now that you have some hindsight?
NA

Thanks & Regards
Jeevan
 
"Know-l-Edge is power"
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Need advice on technology refresh

Fri Jul 13, 2012 2:19 pm (PDT) . Posted by:

"lindamhummel" lindamhummel


Hello, Fellow SIKM'ers,

I have been tasked with delivering an improved KM system for 2012. The
current KM infrastructure has been around for 4 years. There have been
enhancements to the existing platform, but much has changed in the tools
industry since deployment. Therefore it is time for a KM technology
refresh. I am looking for lessons learned and advice from people who
have been through this process recently.

The goals of the program are to drive productivity of teams by providing
more efficient access to the latest information, processes, tools and
expertise. The current KM infrastructure is an html knowledge portal
for navigation with a Google Search appliance and an expertise locator
built on corporate profiles/groups from homegrown social media platform.

All comments are welcome. Here are some specific questions as well:

1. What was your process for revamping?

2. Did you engage an agency to review your requirements and
suggest platforms/solutions ? Or did you do a technology review yourself?

3. Is there a technology you would/would not recommend?

4. What was the timeframe needed to determine new platform, design
and deliver?

5. What do you wish you had known when you started your project?

6. What would you do differently now that you have some hindsight?

Thanks in advance!

Linda Hummel, KM Leader, GE Energy
Stephanie Barnes <stephanie.barnes@...>
 

Hi Linda,

If you haven't already, you may want to take a look at the presentation I gave to the SIKM group back in February, the slides are on Slideshare http://www.slideshare.net/stephaniebarnes/aligning-people-process-and-technology-in-km-sikm-presentation. It talks about the process for selecting technology to align with business objectives.

If you have any questions, I'm happy to discuss further.

Best Regards,
Stephanie
Mel Corley <fsphinxrha@...>
 

Linda

By way of an update to Stephanie last message, i would throughly recommend reading her presentation. It proved really helpful in the creation of our KM portal

Regards
Mel

--- In sikmleaders@..., "lindamhummel" <lindamhummel@...> wrote:


Hello, Fellow SIKM'ers,

I have been tasked with delivering an improved KM system for 2012. The
current KM infrastructure has been around for 4 years. There have been
enhancements to the existing platform, but much has changed in the tools
industry since deployment. Therefore it is time for a KM technology
refresh. I am looking for lessons learned and advice from people who
have been through this process recently.

The goals of the program are to drive productivity of teams by providing
more efficient access to the latest information, processes, tools and
expertise. The current KM infrastructure is an html knowledge portal
for navigation with a Google Search appliance and an expertise locator
built on corporate profiles/groups from homegrown social media platform.

All comments are welcome. Here are some specific questions as well:

1. What was your process for revamping?

2. Did you engage an agency to review your requirements and
suggest platforms/solutions? Or did you do a technology review yourself?

3. Is there a technology you would/would not recommend?

4. What was the timeframe needed to determine new platform, design
and deliver?

5. What do you wish you had known when you started your project?

6. What would you do differently now that you have some hindsight?



Thanks in advance!

Linda Hummel, KM Leader, GE Energy
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