Knowledge Risk and Retention – beyond the usual suspects

In 2003 Kate Andrews introduced the term knowledge risk to describe the loss of knowledge critical to a firm’s performance.   In our experience, even today many organisations who are deeply concerned about potential knowledge loss from imminent staff exit DO NOTHING because there is no clear starting point.  This session will take a fresh look at risk and retention, with a focus on what is working in practice.   Questions will be posed and responses generated through discussion and reflection. 

• Knowledge risk is not evenly spread throughout your firm:  you are likely to have particular knowledge risk hotspots. What are some ways to identify where they are?
• It’s not all or nothing:  effective knowledge transfer focuses on unique, critical knowledge rather than trying to transfer everything known by everyone!  How can we identify the critical subset of expert knowledge?
• Targeted knowledge transfer is a prime tool to mitigate knowledge risk.  Benefits of knowledge transfer include: retention of valuable, ‘can’t buy’ knowledge when key staff leave; reduced hand over risk through a structured knowledge transfer effort; and better supporting your key staff by building knowledgeable teams around them.  What organisational factors influence effective knowledge transfer?

Participating in this event will enable you to

• Identify knowledge risk hotspots in your organisation 
• Take a fresh look at knowledge transfer and retention options

Agenda:  Wednesday February 24^th 2010

6:00-6:30          Networking with other thinking collaborators (over drinks and nibbles).

6:30-7:15          Dr Kate Andrews – Knowledge Risk and Retention – beyond the usual suspects

7:15-8:00          Informal conversation amongst the group to explore the ideas and concepts.

Venue: 

RMIT Graduate School of Business and Law, 300 Queen Street. Melbourne

Lecture room 158.1.2C (Ground level – just behind reception).

Ample metered street parking nearby in Queen Street (between La Trobe and Little Lonsdale).

 

RSVP: by email to melbournekmlf@gmail.com

About our Guest Speaker

Kate Andrews is an organisational psychologist who has worked in knowledge management for over a decade.  Her doctoral research highlighted psychosocial factors affecting knowledge sharing[1] and remains influential.  She is principal of knowledge asset consultancy KNOWABLE knowable.com.au, Adjunct Professor at QUT’s Faculty of Science and Technology and has lectured in KM at post-graduate level for Mt Eliza Business School as well as in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.   Her current knowledge risk assignments include projects with Water Corporation, Perth; Main Roads, Queensland; Sustainability Victoria; Valuer-General Victoria; and TAFE NSW.

 

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[1] Influences on knowledge processes in organizational learning: the psychosocial  (2000) KM Andrews, BL Delahaye – Journal of Management Volume 37 Issue 6, Pages 797 - 810  - article has over 150 academic citations