Contents
1 Introduction to the May 2009 Knowledge Letter
2 Wolfram Alpha goes live!
3 Work on Stuff that Matters
4 What Do We Get From Conversation That We Can't Get Any Other Way?
5 ADVERTISEMENT: Online Master of Science in Knowledge Management program
6 Three reasons not to aim for shared values
7 Google Chrome
8 Mister Know-it-All
9 UFOs over Singapore!
10 KM Event Highlights
11 Subscribing and Unsubscribing
12 The Gurteen Knowledge Letter
Introduction to the May 2009 Knowledge Letter (top | next | prev)
I get to talk to a lot of different people each month when I speak at conferences and run my Knowledge Cafes. And I am surprised at just how many people especially knowledge managers are not using social tools (not necessarily internally but on the web for personal use) and consequently do not really understand their power as knowledge sharing and informal learning tools.
What I find particularly strange, is that people are not reading blogs or using an RSS reader or reading Twitter posts (tweets). Personally, this is how I keep up with what is going on in the world. I do most of my learning this way. I have come to depend on it - its how I make sense of the world; keep up with new trends and ways of thinking. I'd psychologically die without it!
So when I ask people why they do not do the same the answer is always "Oh I'd love to but I am too busy. I just do not have the time." But I think in reality the truth is that in our busy lives we never have enough time to do all the things we would like to do. So we prioritise things and taking the time to learn tends to fall off the bottom of the list.
I think that many people are so busy they have got out of the habit of informal learning - maybe they never got into it. Its not seen as a priority. So can I make a suggestion - if you are one of those people who are not keeping up with your with new developments and thinking in your field of endeavour then take a few minutes to think about how important is it to you compared with everything else that you do. And if you decide it is important then commit to doing it. Start to use social tools as learning tools. Put aside a little time each day or each week to learn in what ever way works best for you :-)
And if you decide you would like to learn more about social tools then Learning 2.0: 23 Things is a good place to start.
Wolfram Alpha goes live! (top | next | prev)
If you do one thing this week - take a look at Wolfram Alpha but before you do read this article Wolfram Alpha Computes Answers To Factual Questions. This Is Going To Be Big in TechCrunch.
Basically, Wolfram Alpha is a “computational knowledge engine” for the web - an online service for computing factual answers. You can ask it factual questions and it computes answers for you.
Have a play with it and see what you think - its a brilliant concept and like most great ideas - rather obvious in retrospect. I agree with TechCrunch - I think it will be BIG!
Work on Stuff that Matters (top | next | prev)
Some interesting thoughts on Working on Stuff that Matters from Tim OReilly
- Work on something that matters to you more than money.
- Create more value than you capture.
- Take the long view.
We need to build an economy in which the important things are paid for in self-sustaining ways rather than as charities to be funded out of the goodness of our hearts.
Credit: Tim OReilly
What Do We Get From Conversation That We Can't Get Any Other Way? (top | next | prev)
I love the power of conversation - its the driving force behind my Knowledge Cafes. Another person who loves conversation is Nancy Dixon and she has taken to blogging about it recently. This is what she had to say about conversation in a recent post What Do We Get From Conversation That We Cant Get Any Other Way?
The greatest benefit of conversation is that it produces five categories of responses (answers, meta knowledge, problem reformulation, validation and legitimization), not just the answer. We get so much more from conversation, e.g. an unexpected insight, a sense of affirmation that inspires us to new heights or, equally useful, having to confront a realization that we've been trying to avoid; deepening the relationship with a colleague or the introduction to a collaborator we would never have discovered on our own; and on and on.I suspect, there are even more then five categories. When you enter into a conversation, you are never sure where it is going to take you. Sometimes, you set out with a goal in mind but end up in a very different place. I always tell people at my Knowledge Cafes that it is OK to go off topic - if that's where the conversation leads you - don't resist it - go there - you never know what you might find. So I would add serendipity to the list of categories. What would you add?
Credit: Nancy Dixon
ADVERTISEMENT: Online Master of Science in Knowledge Management program (top | next | prev)
Interested in pursuing a formal qualification in Knowledge Management? The MSc in KM offered by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University may suit you. Entering its 6th year of operation, characteristics of this program are
- Balanced coverage of human and IT-oriented approach to managing knowledge at the personal, group and organisational levels
- Suitable for knowledge workers in all industries and learnt concepts are widely applicable
- True multi-media delivery with games, animation, peer-to-peer interactions supplementing online content and web seminars
To register, please send email to Miss Tiffany Ho
For more information, please visit http://www.ise.polyu.edu.hk/km/content/km_subject.htm
Three reasons not to aim for shared values (top | next | prev)
I originally tweeted this post of Stephen Billing's Three reasons not to aim for shared values a little while back. Stephen tells me that it resulted in a large number of people visiting his blog and as you can see from the comments it kicked of an interesting discussion.
Shared values are a complete fallacy and the pursuit of them will not help your organisation one bit.I have empathy with some of Stephen's points but like several of the comments I feel there is a need for shared values but too often like many mission statements they seem trite and self serving and I am really not too sure they achieve a great deal.
Credit: Stephen Billing
Stephen has blogged on the subject again today More About Why Shared Values are Futile. What are your thoughts? Post your comments on Stephen's blog - not here - and join the conversation :-)
Google Chrome (top | next | prev)
I have been using the new Google Chrome browser ever since it was released towards the end of last year, There are two versions you can downloa - a stable version and a more recent beta version.
I have been running the beta version for the last few weeks with no problems at all. What I enjoy about Chrome is its minimal user interface design and the fact that is blindingly fast and has some cool features.
If you have not got around to checking it out yet I suggest you do.
Mister Know-it-All (top | next | prev)
How many KM poems do you know? Not one? Shame on you LOL
In February, I attended the Henley Business School KM Forum annual conference and one of the "speakers" was the “performance poet” Elvis McGonagal.
He was extremely entertaining but the highlight was a KM poem - Mister Know-it-All that was captured and blogged by Chris Collison.
Enjoy!
UFOs over Singapore! (top | next | prev)
When I was in Singapore last year walking near Clarke Quay - I saw that what I thought at first could only be a UFO. An amazing colourful craft swooping and diving in the night sky. But then I realised there were several of them dancing together.
Watch the Go Fly Kite videos you will be delighted and amazed.
If I was still a boy I'd die for one of these!
KM Event Highlights (top | next | prev)
This section highlights some of the major KM events taking place around the world in the coming months and ones in which I am actively involved. You will find a full list on my website where you can also subscribe to both regional e-mail alerts and RSS feeds which will keep you informed of new and upcoming events.
Implementing a Knowledge Cafe
19 May 2009, London, United Kingdom
I am looking forward to facilitating this Masterclass in May.
Global MAKE Conference 2009 Brasil
26 - 28 May 2009, Sao Paulo, Brazil
The Effective Knowledge Worker
02 Jun 2009, London, United Kingdom
This workshop is proving very popular.
Engaging the Customer: getting it right with social media
03 - 04 Jun 2009, London, United Kingdom
I will be chairing this conference
KC UK 2009
08 - 09 Jun 2009, London, United Kingdom
I will be chairing KC UK this year.
Library + Information Show 2009
10 - 11 Jun 2009, Birmingham, United Kingdom
International Conference on Knowledge Management
24 - 26 Jun 2009, Kampala, Uganda
I am hoping to speak at this conference if we can find a sponsor.
KM Australia 2009
04 - 07 Aug 2009, Sydney, Australia
10th European Conference on Knowledge Management
03 - 04 Sep 2009, Vincenza, Italy
I will be attending this conference.
KM Brasil 2009
16 - 18 Sep 2009, Salvador, Brazil
KM LatinAmerica 2009
26 - 30 Oct 2009, Buenos Aires, Argentina
KM Asia 2009
24 - 26 Nov 2009, Singapore City, Singapore
I will be giving a keynote talk and running two workshops at KM Asia this year.
Subscribing and Unsubscribing (top | next | prev)
You may subscribe to this newsletter on my website. Or if you no longer wish to receive this newsletter or if you wish to modify your e-mail address or make other changes to your membership profile then please go to this page on my website.
The Gurteen Knowledge Letter (top | next | prev)
The Gurteen Knowledge-Letter is a free monthly e-mail based KM newsletter for Knowledge Workers. Its purpose is to help you better manage your knowledge and to stimulate thought and interest in such subjects as Knowledge Management, Learning, Creativity and the effective use of Internet technology. Archive copies are held on-line where you can register to receive the newsletter.
It is sponsored by the Knowledge Management Forum of the Henley Business School, Oxfordshire, England.
You may copy, reprint or forward all or part of this newsletter to friends, colleagues or customers, so long as any use is not for resale or profit and I am attributed. And if you have any queries please contact me.
David GURTEEN
Gurteen Knowledge
Fleet, United Kingdom
