The Role of Knowledge Manager at the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland Peter Fairbrother

Role of Knowledge Manager at the Mental Welfare Commission About the Commission Background to the development of the post Job structure: (Internal) Knowledge Management (External) Communications

Knowledge Management - Defining the Subject What is knowledge? Can it be managed? Why manage it?

What is knowledge? Theoretical perspective: – 2 types: Tacit Knowledge Explicit Knowledge Ikujiro Nonaka and Hirotaka Takeuchi, (1995)] The Knowledge Creating Company. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Tacit Knowledge Tacit knowledge is defined as personal knowledge embedded in individual experience and it involves such intangible factors as personal belief, perspectives, values, individual know-how.

Explicit Knowledge Explicit knowledge involves recorded knowledge and knowledge in action and it can be articulated in formal language and transmitted among individuals (printed resources, , electronic databases).

Can it be managed? Not About…

Can it be managed? More like…

Why manage it? NHS context: Knowledge management supports evidence based practice & corporate decision making this leads to > Improved performance which in turn means > Better patient care

Work of a Knowledge Manager Processes: Understanding the organisation – it’s purpose, what it does and how it does it. Engaging with staff – understanding the ‘knowledge base’ and their ‘knowledge needs.’ Examining ways that knowledge can be captured, used/ re-used to facilitate improved organisational performance (outcome).

Work of a Knowledge Manager Engaging with staff: Knowledge management audit Consultation Mainstreaming KM policy and practice Being of practical value

Work of a Knowledge Manager Ways of capturing, using/ re-using knowledge to improve organisation performance : Developing a ‘corporate memory store’ (for internal documentation, and the effective dissemination of internal information). Developing ‘knowledge banks’ to support specific services. Development of resources and opportunities to support learning.

5 key things about Knowledge Management It is about people, not technology. It is as much about understanding how and why things are, as it is to developing solutions to perceived problems. It is contextual; there is no template for effective knowledge management. It is creative and (r)evolutionary. There is no quick fix.