Winning commitment for knowledge management initiatives

Abstract

Building commitment to the principles and practices of knowledge management is the goal of many organisations today. This is proving not to be a straightforward process and even when commitment is evident, it is fragile and easily shattered by inconsistencies in management actions and behaviour. We have identified key aspects of winning commitment that need to be recognised and managed at an organisational level, and the level of groups and individuals. Commitment is both an intellectual and an emotional process, and it is achieved through both internal motivation and external incentives. It is maintained through providing positive feedback on the outcomes of knowledge management activities and learning from mistakes. We have created a comprehensive checklist based on research carried out within an industry forum of more than forty companies to help practitioners monitor their progress in winning lasting commitment.