One of the questions most commonly asked by companies considering the use of a knowledge management system to streamline their business operations and improve efficiency is “How long does it take to implement a knowledge management solution?”
However, implementation of the technology alone will not be able to deliver a complete solution.
A clear understanding of all elements seen to make up a successful knowledge implementation is required in order for a knowledge management system to be effective; technology is only one part of the knowledge management jigsaw.
In the article below, we will discuss the 4 pillars of knowledge management that need to be considered in order to ensure the success of the knowledge management project, allowing businesses to deploy their new knowledge management system both quickly and effectively.
Ensuring the Success of a Knowledge Management Project
Implementing your new knowledge management solution as quickly as possible is of little use if your team isn’t on board, your content not fit for purpose, and the processes behind your newly deployed system not fully understood or agreed upon. Only when all of these requirements are met can the project management aspects for implementation be determined.
Experience tells us that strong leadership has a significant impact upon the success of a knowledge management project, along with the selection of the right knowledge management tool for you and your business.
Choosing the best software for your knowledge management project is the key to ensuring speedy and successful deployment, and there are many tools on the market that will help to capture, alert, search, and share information. However, technology is just one part of the knowledge management jigsaw.
The Four Pillars of Successful Knowledge Management
Technology
As previously mentioned, the knowledge management software that you choose will work to impact the success of your knowledge management project as a whole.
Tools that provide the best functionality from the get go will work to keep costs and implementation times to a minimum, reducing the need for custom work or additional training.
Content
Choosing the right knowledge management tool for you and your business application is vital, however, it is not the only factor that will work to ensure the success of your knowledge management project. Without the right content, technology alone cannot deliver the answer. It is critical that your content is fit for purpose, allowing any knowledge management tool to operate correctly.
People
Without user buy-in, the full potential of your content and technology will not be realised. In order to make knowledge management a worthwhile investment, your team needs to be on board.
Measurement
In order to properly assess the success of your knowledge management project, it is vital that you work to measure the results of your business investment. Without proper measurement to assess what is working well, as well as what aspects of your knowledge management system may require improvement, the effectiveness of your efforts, along with all other factors, cannot be managed.
Overall, there are several different aspects that need to be considered when implementing a knowledge management tool to improve your business operations. However, with the right leadership, the right content, and certainly the right technology, a strong knowledge management system could completely transform the way in which your business operates.
To ensure the success of your upcoming project, working with the right technology provider, who understands not only how to implement a solution, but makes sure it continues to grow and evolve, is a must.
With help from the right vendor, successful implementation can be delivered within a much shorter time frame, ensuring that you start to see results from your investment as quickly as possible, and also that long term value is derived from the investment I a knowledge management platform.
