Personal Knowledge Management

What is it? “Personal knowledge management (PKM) involves a range of relatively simple and inexpensive techniques and tools that anyone can use to acquire, create and share knowledge, extend personal networks and collaborate with colleagues without having to rely on the technical or financial resources of the employer.” (Barth, 2000) “PKM is a conceptual framework to organize and integrate information that we, as individuals, feel is important so that it becomes part of our personal knowledge base. It provides a strategy for transforming what might be random pieces of information into something that can be systematically applied and that expands our personal knowledge.” (Frand & Hixon, 1999)

Personal? PKM can be thought of as a set of skills necessary for problem solving:  Retrieving information  Evaluation/assessing information  Organizing information  Analyzing information  Presenting information  Securing information  Collaborating around information (Paul Dorsey)

PKM Tools  Old school: file folders, file cabinet, piles  Not so old school: computer, scanner, LOTS of disk space  New school: DEVONThinkDEVONThink PersonalBrain Gurunet Friendster

Tools that THINK? These tools are meant to enhance the PKM processes rather than actually think…but some of them are pretty smart. Some Categories of PKM Tools :  Index/Search  Associative links  Unstructured Information Capture  Concept/Mind Mapping  management  Voice Recognition  People/Expert Finding ( Petruzzelli & Iavernaro, 2004)

So What Does It Mean? PKM is essentially a method for acquiring and exchanging information that goes beyond technical skill and technological tools to incorporate personal behaviors and relationships. In other words it’s: “What you know, who you know and what they know” (Barth, 2000)

PKM to EKM  Starts with the individual  Proper tools are essential  Requires support and encouragement throughout the organization

References  Barth, S. (2000) The power of one. Knowledge Management. Retrieved March 4, 2005 from  Dorsey, P. (n.d.). What is pkm? Retrieved March 4, 2005 from  Frand, J. & Hixon, C. (1999). Personal knowledge management: who, what, why, when, where, how? Retrieved March 4, 2005 from htm. htm  Petruzzellis, S. & Iavernaro, F. (2004). Technologies for personal knowledge management. Knowledgeboard. Retrieved March 4, 2005 from