Four shifts to help you move KIM up the maturity curve
1. Seek to lessen the burden of curatorial activity
In practical terms, teach people how to use more effective searching, get the 'user experience' end of on-line stuff sorted properly. Allow people to solve their own challenges and give them the tools and encouragement to make their own connections
2. Become a 'go to' point for matters information but don't become its home!
You need ubiquity of information in your organisation so don't become the bottleneck. Think 'network' and not just 'a node on the network' and drop the thinking that the control of the corporate intranet equals effective KIM.
3. Become a creator of information
Don't just rehash data but have an active agenda that seeks to fill the 'black holes' in the corporate information landscape. This forces you down the road of being active in matching your delivery to actual business needs. It also forces you to speak meaningfully to the business and gives you a superb opportunity to show KIM in a non-technology oriented manner. Databases, taxonomies and intranets are not going to cut it at this level so start learning new conversations around what is actually happening in the business.
4. Become an information commissioner
In practical terms, become a KIM brokerage - internally and externally. Again, think 'network' and look to make connections between different players in the information landscape. Deliver value by listening for 'pain points' and the building the KIM scaffolding around them. The only way that you are going to do this is by actively engaging with the business and having those conversations!
There is a desperate need for this level of engagement and given the current economic climate, there is not a boardroom in the country that would not wish to make better use of its information assets.
Stephen Cahill is a senior decision maker who has spent over 25 years improving effectiveness in a wide range of organisations. He believes that the time has come for the fundamental repositioning of the role of information professionals in organisations.
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