tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63381935828353631862024-03-12T23:18:02.264+00:00The Business of KnowingThoughts about knowledge sharing, learning and how business can benefit from encouraging both.Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-82167826812811057782016-03-17T20:36:00.001+00:002016-03-17T20:36:21.520+00:00Three Steps to Estates Regeneration Heaven<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In January this year the Prime Minister David Cameron announced he would be making <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-pledges-to-transform-sink-estates" target="_blank">£140Million available to transform the UK’s “Sink Estates”</a>. <br />
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David Cameron talks to Andrew Marr 10th Jan 2016 0:26<br />
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The media interpreted <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/estate-regeneration-article-by-david-cameron" target="_blank">his speech</a> describing why he thought this was important in ways which really demonstrated their own political leanings. The Guardian described the proposal as<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/09/david-cameron-vows-to-blitz-poverty-by-demolishing-uks-worst-sink-estates" target="_blank"> an attempt to “blitz poverty”</a>, the Independent focused on <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/david-cameron-pledges-to-regenerate-brutal-and-dark-rundown-high-rise-estates-a6804551.html" target="_blank">the “brutalist” nature and high rise architecture of many of the worst estates</a>, whereas the Daily Mail went for <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3392167/Sink-estates-bulldozed-David-Cameron-war-gang-culture.html" target="_blank">a focus on the aim to reduce gang cultur</a>e.<br />
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Housing is a key issue for Government, and the recent election saw something of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29642613" target="_blank">a manifesto war </a>with each party pledging to address housing if elected. Right to buy, affordable housing and starter homes were all high on the agenda. And it is a high priority for the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), with housing being mentioned in <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government/about" target="_blank">2 of its 4 key responsibilities</a>. But this is by no means the first attempt to improve the UKs estates, or address the high levels of poverty of those who live in them. Even Cameron himself alluded to the “nature of state failure over decades” in attempts to improve our housing estates. Park Hill in Sheffield is a classic example of well-meaning and initially successful attempt to reduce hardship, poverty and cramped living conditions and instead producing a <a href="http://www.thestar.co.uk/retro/retro-streets-in-the-sky-revolutionised-sheffield-1-6294468" target="_blank">“hooligans’ playground”.</a><br />
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The history of Page Hall 28:42<br />
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Most recently there have been relative successes, born out of the Blair era New Deal for Communities approach to housing, which had both a physical and social focus. But grand plans take time and money. <a href="http://www.bdonline.co.uk/are-we-serious-about-estate-regeneration?/5079736.article" target="_blank">Tony Blair made his first significant speech on the Aylesbury estate.</a> That estate is only now being re-developed.<br />
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There have been plenty of negative reactions to Cameron’s plan. Jeremy Corbyn has called his <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/13/jeremy-corbyn-attacks-david-cameron-sink-estates-plan" target="_blank">new approach ill thought out </a>and tantamount to “social cleansing”. Others believe (as do I) that <a href="http://www.cpag.org.uk/content/what-causes-poverty" target="_blank">poverty is truly complex issue </a>which <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/19/cameron-poverty-bulldozing-housing-estates" target="_blank">cannot be “blitzed” by bulldozing housing estates</a>. And some estates residents are less than keen to embrace the announcement.<br />
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Residents on the plans to regenerate estates - 1:38<br />
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So does building nice new houses really help address the issues being associated with “sink estates”? Almost certainly not, but ways of approaching regeneration which may provide better results are being promoted by experts in the field and mirror effective approaches to improving services seen in Manchester, Essex and other places who have or are seeking devolution deals.<br />
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<br /><b>So my three steps to estates regeneration heaven (probably) are:</b></div>
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1: Co-design</h3>
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It seems obvious, but designing something which people use with the people who will use it works. Product development rarely happens without some user input to test ideas and feedback on improvements. This clearly works with service design, were including service users, staff, local businesses, community sector and public sector in the design process <a href="http://work%20much%20better/" target="_blank">work much better</a> than those where a few council staff assume they know best.</div>
<br />As <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2015/oct/19/estate-regeneration-power-people-homes-london" target="_blank">Nicholas Boys Smith of Create Streets says</a> “Estates could be co-designed, with residents, neighbours, future residents, architects, developers, local planners and others working out a scheme together over several days. This is very different from the standard approach where architects design a scheme and then ask often inconsequential questions (“what colour do you want the doors?”) about it afterwards.”<br />
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2: Replacement Guarantee </h3>
Currently the government has not been able to answer where current tenants and right-to-buy owners will live when their homes are destroyed. Those who bought affordable homes using the right to buy scheme should be guaranteed a home on the estate when work is completed. This has been a problem for previous regeneration efforts like the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/may/18/-sp-truth-about-gentrification-how-woodberry-down-became-woodberry-park" target="_blank">Woodberry Down</a> and the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/jun/04/is-demolition-ever-the-best-way-to-regenerate" target="_blank">Heygate Estate</a> in London and <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/sep/28/sheffield-park-hill-class-cleansing" target="_blank">Park Hill in Sheffield</a> where too few social housing properties were made available due to a focus on selling properties to fund the schemes, or when rental terms were changed.<br />
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3: Funding</h3>
£140 million has been earmarked for this work. That’s across 100 estates. And the money allocated is in loan, not grant form. So it has to be paid back. <a href="http://www.bdonline.co.uk/are-we-serious-about-estate-regeneration?/5079736.article" target="_blank">As Hank Dittmar mentions in his piece in BD Online</a>, “By way of comparison, the US Hope VI effort, begun during the Clinton administration to replace failed social housing estates with walkable, mid-rise and mixed-use schemes, has expended more than $6 billion in the years that it has existed, tackling just over 200 projects. Current funding for what is now called Choice Neighbourhoods is reduced due to budget constraints, but ranges between $90 million and £120 million, devoted to planning grants and two to three projects per year. Clearly the £140 million should be an annual amount rather than a total.” A long term commitment with funding is going to make success a lot more likely.<br />
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<br />Call to Action</h3>
Working on this estates regeneration project will be my first role in DCLG. DCLG are now asking for people who want to get involved to get in touch. As I’ve said above, designing estates together may well be vital for the success of any regeneration effort. The more people who care that get involved, the more likely this attempt to make life better for people living on the most deprived estates in the UK will be successful.<br />
If you are an estate tenant, housing associations, a resident in areas around estates, an academic with an interest in housing, a planner, developer or just someone who cares, then you can help.<br />
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<br /><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estates-regeneration-statement" target="_blank">Register your interest here</a></h4>
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Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-91361489154153576672016-03-02T18:45:00.001+00:002016-03-02T18:45:15.871+00:00Diploma in Digital Leadership<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So my last post was 6 years ago! Wow, time flies.<br />
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I'm picking up where I left off really, blogging along to a learning programme (previously Masters in Learning and Development, this time Diploma in Digital Leadership) as part of the learning experience but also to share some insights and interesting stuff about digital leadership and other the other things that I've become interested in in the last 6 years like:<br />
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<li>Relational welfare</li>
<li>Demand management</li>
<li>Data science/predictive analytics</li>
<li>Tech developments</li>
<li>Community engagement</li>
<li>Whole place transformation</li>
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I'm still pretty keen on narrative, story, conversation, sensemaking etc etc so I'm sure these will get a mention too.<br />
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Anyway, less a blog post, more a "hi, I'm back", at least for a while.<br />
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Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-77619531700229814782010-08-14T12:00:00.003+00:002010-08-14T12:41:23.066+00:00Twitter as birth control<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DFr5A9cMWjOIPmanAovdbJgZ5Nay0F-KfR4m_38EjVaiuZbX17j78CjYvYJWu7HSS_R-y1Gjhx2JbsipH8-_rQ_bvg6Z5fkoCBVEwtVnuWcx5kcG5PhG_gsrV9X9q42LI4OWg2RtaA/s1600/twitter-downtime-and-life-at-home.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DFr5A9cMWjOIPmanAovdbJgZ5Nay0F-KfR4m_38EjVaiuZbX17j78CjYvYJWu7HSS_R-y1Gjhx2JbsipH8-_rQ_bvg6Z5fkoCBVEwtVnuWcx5kcG5PhG_gsrV9X9q42LI4OWg2RtaA/s400/twitter-downtime-and-life-at-home.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505234998432375970" /></a><br />by <a href="http://geekandpoke.blogspot.com/">Geek & Poke </a>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-54619557442538648482010-08-14T11:34:00.010+00:002010-08-14T12:40:59.539+00:00Are Retweets just plain lazy? Twitter, sensemaking and adding valueBased on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=putQn89TQzc&feature=player_embedded">this video</a> posted by the Archduke of Twitter, Stephen Fry, you’d think Twitter was a load of mindless guff posted by idiots who think we care about what they had for dinner.<br /><br />But its so much more than that. It’s a huge library of knowledge, insight and information, whose value to others is constantly increased by the action of re-tweeting. Disagree? Think re-tweeting is just lazy? It actually creates value for your followers.<br /><br /><div><b>Sensemaking and personal knowledge management</b><br />I came across <a href="http://www.jarche.com/2010/08/active-sense-making/">this post</a> by Harold Jarche on Twitter which started me thinking... It applies a sensemaking approach to Twitter for personal knowledge management, or for any humans reading, keeping a handle on what you know and making sense of it.</div><div><br />Mostly it’s a post about how to manage interesting things you’ve found on Twitter – favorite them, review them, add to more context to them, and publish them in all their expanded glory . Jarche calls them <a href="http://www.jarche.com/2010/08/changing-times/">Friday Finds</a><br /><br />An example:</div><div><br /><b>Tweet:</b> @roundtrip – 10 ways the “world of work” will change in the next 10 years @Gartner_inc “non-routine” work = adaptive innovative<br /><br /><b>Additional information:</b><br /><ul><li>De-routinization of work</li><li>Work swarms</li><li>Weak links</li><li>Working with the collective</li><li>Work sketch-ups</li><li>Spontaneous work</li><li>Simulation & experimentation</li><li>Pattern sensitivity</li><li>Hyperconnected</li><li>My place</li></ul><br />What I found interesting was <a href="http://www.jarche.com/2010/03/sense-making/">the sensemaking model</a> Jarche refers to, because they way he manages tweets, via his Friday Finds, adds value to the original tweet.<br /><br /></div><div><img src="http://www.jarche.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Screen-shot-2010-03-16-at-10.22.19--440x384.png" /><br /><ul><li><b>Filtering </b>(separating signal from noise, based on some criteria): Some filtering (if you consider that particular tweet in relation to the chaos on Twitter) has taken place, in terms of content and in terms of the concept of “following” being a filter. </li><li><b>Validation</b> (ensuring that information is reliable, current or supported by research): There may be some validation on an individual basis ie Jarche has validated the content of the tweet based on his personal knowledge of the person tweeting it. </li><li><b>Synthesis</b> (describing patterns, trends or flows in large amounts of information): Tweets grouped by theme would indicate synthesis – this is a more complex and time consuming activity which Jarche hasn’t undertaken</li><li><b>Presentation</b> (making information understandable through visualization or logical presentation): The way the tweets are presented makes them accessible and quick to understand </li><li><b>Customization</b> (describing information in context): Customisation means that the tweets, information fragments which give little context, are given a “boost” by adding more detail.</li></ul><div><div>I’d argue that synthesis is probably higher in the value creation list of this model than presentation, but that’s just an aside. </div><div><br /></div><div>What Jarche is doing, he is doing primarily for himself, but its adding value to the basic information contained in a tweet. This is librarianship if I ever saw it but it did make me think about the concept of <b>re-tweeting</b>.<br /><br />Consider the tweet – you read it, find it interesting, you retweet it. Referring to the model above, some sensemaking has taken place. By retweeting, by virtue of passing on a tweet you’ve filtered out something useful from amongst the millions posted and personally validated it. Congratulations - you’ve just added value to the tweet for your followers.<br /><br /></div><div><b>Nothing is new under heaven</b><br />I intended to say something clever and thought provoking about Twitter retweets, but in researching this post I find that like all my good ideas, it’s been done already. Its been done <a href="http://twitterwatchdog.com/2009/06/07/3-benefits-of-retweeting/">here</a><a href="http://afine2.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/the-art-and-value-of-retweeting/"> and here</a> <a href="http://successblognet.com/a-retweeing-tutorial/">and here</a> . Obviously there’s a counter argument, based more on the number of available characters than on the concept of ownership of information, but in the interests of balance, <a href="http://www.socialmediavision.com/are-you-a-twitter-retweet-thief/">see it here </a>.<br /><br />According to <a href="http://www.twitalyzer.com/">Twiterlyzer</a>, my influence type is Spider, A Spider has “a mid-sized network” and is socially connected. Clearly I am not a Source, one who communicates original ideas (I love labels as get-out clauses ;-) So I can feel no shame in repeating what someone else has said. I’m just adding value...<br /></div></div></div>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-14978559082433306032010-07-17T15:01:00.024+00:002010-07-17T16:06:45.918+00:00RSA Animate series<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:14px;">I feel the need to confess. It's been some considerable time since my last blog post, my Hail Mary's come in the form of these animated videos from the RSA. These are my favorite, there are more on YouTube should you be inspired to view them.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;"><h1 id="watch-headline-title" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- font-weight: bold; height: 23px; max-height: 23px; line-height: 23px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; font-size:1.6666em;color:transparent;"><span id="eow-title" class="long-title" title="RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- letter-spacing: -0.5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size:0.9166em;color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us</span></span></h1></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Illustrates the hidden truths behind what really motivates us at home and in the workplace.</span></span><br /><div><br /></div><div><object width="520" height="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u6XAPnuFjJc&hl=en_GB&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u6XAPnuFjJc&hl=en_GB&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="520" height="320"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Smile or Die</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Acclaimed journalist, author and political activist Barbara Ehrenreich explores the darker side of positive thinking.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><object width="520" height="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u5um8QWWRvo&hl=en_GB&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u5um8QWWRvo&hl=en_GB&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="520" height="320"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Crises of Capitalism</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Radical social theorist David Harvey asks if it is time to look beyond capitalism towards a new social order that would allow us to live within a system that really could be responsible, just and humane?</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><object width="520" height="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qOP2V_np2c0&hl=en_GB&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qOP2V_np2c0&hl=en_GB&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="520" height="320"></embed></object><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-56075538951317871572009-10-29T22:01:00.006+00:002010-07-17T15:53:20.227+00:00"Cross that you little bastards and you die..."Thanks to <a href="http://www.gurteen.com/">David Gurteen</a> (again) for pointing out this particularly brilliant explanation of complexity theory by <a href="http://www.cognitive-edge.com/">Dave Snowden</a>, using the analogy of a party for a group of 11 year old boys...<div><br /><br /><object width="520" height="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Miwb92eZaJg&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Miwb92eZaJg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="520" height="320"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-38516345037016914742009-10-24T10:50:00.004+00:002009-10-24T10:55:06.248+00:00These are fantastic videos satirising KM and tell you more about how it should be done than attending any number of KM conferences. Genuis (and I wish I'd thought of doing this).<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RiuKKkLr6Tg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RiuKKkLr6Tg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zqoWHot81J8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zqoWHot81J8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JHxB02lt-Co&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JHxB02lt-Co&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><div>Thanks to <a href="http://www.greenchameleon.com/gc/blog_detail/dr_david_vaine_on_knowledge_outsourcing/">Green Chameleon</a> for posting them.</div>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-65217887949402558872009-08-08T09:07:00.007+00:002009-08-08T09:32:23.116+00:00The evolution of social media tools - more than just a hammerConsider the building trade. Think about it...in't olden days, we had rudimentary tools - maybe an axe, a hammer, nothing very specific. As time moved on, tools have evolved to the extent that we now have a tool for everything you could imagine - there's even <a href="http://www.screwfix.com/prods/99849/Sealants-Adhesives/Sealant-Applicators/Unibond-Sealant-Smoother-Remover-Tool">a thingymigig</a> for removing old bath sealant.<div><br /></div><div>Consider social media tools - to begin with, we just had a few basic tools - wikis, blogs, discussion groups. Now we have so much more. Variations on a theme, yes, but those variations make all the difference, and usability, just like with tools, means some things are better suited than others to the job. You want to write about the pros and cons say of communities of practice over action learning sets, you write a blog post. You want to share a link to a great presentation, you use a microblogging site like Twitter. You want to develop a policy document with 10 contributors, you use a wiki. You wouldn't try to develop said policy document via Twitter, you know it's not the best tool for the job.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just like having the right screwdriver for the right screw, its clear that the right combination of social media tools can do the job better than using 1 tool alone ie writing a blog post then telling people you just posted via Twitter is a great way to let people know it's there. A discussion group to support the development of a wiki page based on an idea posted in a blog = an effective combination. </div><div><br /></div><div>We're starting to adapt our ways of working to the tools we use. As we become more familiar with what these tools can do, it seems that we're also filling gaps, creating tools which do the jobs have but can't yet do. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is quite exciting (I know, I should get out more). It makes me wonder what's being created by some enterprising person to help us collaborate and share to the degree that we have the equivalent of a thingymigig which removes sealant from the bath... </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe in sharing and collaborating using social media tools, we'll develop a sociological and psychological understanding which mirrors our grasp of construction, supported by exactly the right tools for the job.</div><div><br /></div>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-19965474034176925812009-06-22T15:54:00.005+00:002009-06-22T16:18:47.515+00:00Video is a truly effective learning tool<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A couple of years ago <a href="http://thebusinessofknowing.blogspot.com/2007/06/so-its-not-just-me-even-metro-have-got.html">I wrote this</a> about "how-to" videos being a powerful learning force in the Web 2.0 armoury. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Now thanks to <a href="http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/id/newsletter108">David Gurteen's knowledge letter,</a> I have some scientific proof that they can have a real impact on the changing behaviours.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Paul Van Mele of the <a href="http://www.warda.org/warda/guide-ricetrend.asp">Africa Rice Center</a> in Cotonou, Benin has undertaken a study where farmers were shown how to parboil rice using video and using traditional training sessions. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div>According to the New Scientist article:</div><div><blockquote>"The team found that uptake of the parboiling technique by women who watched the video was 72 per cent, compared with just 19 per cent by those who attended a conventional workshop with a scientist or non-governmental organisation worker (International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability (<a href="http://www.earthscanjournals.com/ijas/007/ijas0070119.htm">DOI: 10.3763/ijas.2009.0438</a>)".</blockquote></div><div>An interesting study which I believe indicates that the success of the videos was due to their being shown in the evening, when most people were able to watch. The video also uses real farmers, enabling the viewer to connect with "like" people. It demonstrates that a story can be far more effective for encouraging new behaviours than and expert led training session.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>You can read <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227134.300-video-roadshows-transform-african-agriculture.html">the original New Scientist article here </a>and <a href="http://www.earthscanjournals.com/ijas/007/ijas0070119.htm">the full paper here</a>.</div></div></span></div></div>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-24486478401594147632009-06-10T00:20:00.002+00:002009-06-10T00:24:40.691+00:00Is KM Dead - like a zombie, its backHaving actually had some air time (god, did I really use that term then????) with Dave Snowden, I decided he and Larry Prusk were actually the same person, until David Gurteen reminded me that there is the quite brilliant video of them both in the same room.....which proves that even those with the most similar views can oppose one another with respect and energy and get a multitude of very relevant points across. Having now met both of them, I would NOT like to be the poor guy interviewing them...<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://thebusinessofknowing.blogspot.com/search/label/Larry%20Prusak">That video again</a></div><div><br /></div><div>BTW these are two people you should REALLY pay attention to if you ever want to get anywhere with KM - it's a business tool, not intellectual masterbation.</div>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-90503489353455441812009-06-09T22:15:00.007+00:002009-06-09T22:54:42.549+00:00Are conferences really worth it? KCUK09 and mixed feelingsSo, freshly back from the KCUK09 conference, I'm now thinking, was it all really worth it. These things aren't cheap, take a LOT of business justification (I'm a civil servant, I worry about how I spend public money!!!!) and take a lot of time out. So I'll say it how it is...<div>I spent 2 days at the Arc Knowledge and Content UK 09 event where I had a very mixed experience. I'll do pros and cons...otherwise it will be a rant no-one wants to read:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Cons</span></div><div>The first day particularly was a dire tirade of vendor driven presentations where the presenters were passionless and the software uninspired</div><div>There was NO WIFI - I went to the trouble of borrowing my hubbies whizzy laptop as I've had anything useful disabled by our IT dept in the spirit of "safety" but why bother as I couldnt blog (even the bleedin Hilton only has ethernet - IS THIS THE 80's? I know shoulder pads are in but that's ridiculous).</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Pros</span></div><div>Three KM gurus who have had the most influence on my KM career were on the same panel, and on the 1st day, there were 4 people I considered KM geniuses within shouting distance of one another. They are responsible for said accolade in these ways:</div><div><a href="http://www.gurteen.com/">David Gurteen</a>: Lovely lovely guy who remembered my name (thanks, meant a lot to me) whose amazing capacity for communicating and sharing got me my job (some blame there too methinks)</div><div><a href="http://www.cognitive-edge.com/blogs/dave/2009/06/kcuk09_conference_blog_1.php#more">Dave Snowden </a>- genius guy, great intellect, considerable persona, is in my considered opinion, totally on the ball with his mix of sciences and a MASSIVE understanding of how people actually work. I've used his stuff on C<a href="http://www.cognitive-edge.com/index.php">ognitive Edge</a> with incredible results. I believe we share a common interest in Shamanism...</div><div><a href="http://rondon.wordpress.com/">Ron Donaldson</a>: - estwhile student of Mr Snowden and a properly clever sausage. He introduced me to Cognitive Edge and made me realise storytelling wasnt for hippies (well, it is, but its useful too) Wasnt on the panel but counts as a major influence. Love his concept of Knowledge Ecology (certainly better than Wisdom Manager!)</div><div><a href="http://www.mcdermottconsulting.com/">Richard McDermott</a>: Helped me by doing something practical with Mr Wenger. I believe he's since amended his theory akin to the wonderful Tom Peters. In my opinion, anyone who can say "I was wrong" is worth listening too...</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm pleased to say Mr Snowden <a href="http://www.cognitive-edge.com/blogs/dave/2009/06/kcuk09_conference_blog_1.php#more">considered my panel question mention worthy </a>- having someone you hugely respect mention your contribution is always going to make you feel good, but all in all, I left feeling that I'd have done better reading these people's tweets rather than spending public dosh on suppliers time. I made some fabulous contacts, not least <a href="http://www.ukgovweb.org/profile/BenPlouviez">Mr Plouviez</a> who properly made me giggle by saying he was from the "provinces" (he's from Scottish Gov). And mention to <a href="http://www.narrate.co.uk/">Tony Quinlan</a> who was fantastically down to earth and really very clever, and has a dead sexy wink ;-).</div><div>BTW, @Kat_mandu - you're a star.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was seriously considering getting out of KM and doing something without all the business shite, but talking to people with real insight and real passion has made me think, well, maybe I'll stay a while, so thanks to everyone who mentioned anything to do with human beings and business for rekindling my interest. Oh, and not to forget <a href="http://bonniecheuk.com/default.aspx">Bonnie Cheuk </a>who was the most intellegent, business savvy, passionate and engaging speaker of them all - she's a really switched on bunny.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>Right, time to catch up on Ashes to Ashes (in no small way responsible for the re-hideousness of the shoulder pad).</div><div><br /></div>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-44458770594048351362009-05-15T00:20:00.006+00:002009-05-15T09:02:20.303+00:00Twitter - the epitome of knowledge sharingWell I'm gobsmacked. All my pontificating about Twitter and Microblogging has not been in vain. I've been on Twitter since 2007 when there were about what seemed like 9 people on it, and now, well... <a href="http://twitter.com/valdiskrebs">@valdiskrebs</a> (twitter persona) has made me think very differently...<br /><br />If I'd have posted a link on there in 2007, there would have been little interest - you know why? Because NO GOOD SEARCH was available. And what's useful about the internet? THE SEARCH FACILITIES - I know I'm shouting, but my god has no-one realised yet? Whatever you do, whereever the next "big" thing is, its all about the search"!"!!!!!!!<br /><br />If its 2 way communication or not, GET A GOOD SEARCH ENGINE ON YOUR INTRANET!!!!!!<br />Social media is lovely, giving people a voice is fantastic, but if they can't find what they're looking for, you've eff star star kayed it.......<br /><br />So there. (and no Maxine, still no jokes...but does that make it boring?)Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-69188076020944698532009-05-14T21:26:00.008+00:002009-05-14T21:42:12.206+00:00Oh how technology can excludeI've had a bit of a revelation recently - I know to the rest of the world, in terms of time spent doing online things, <a href="http://en-us.nielsen.com/main/news/news_releases/2009/march/social_networks__">social networking is up on email </a>but weirdly, 80% of DWP staff (of those surveyed, about 400) dont use any social networking sites. Which got me to thinking, are we all getting a bit carried away with this social media/social networking malarkey? Are people still really talking to one another? (probably not actually).<br /><br />Then I had a technology exclusion experience of my own.<br /><br />As a child I had a squint, my eyes facing in two different directions (how attractive and no I dont have a picture, I burnt them, lol). I have no binocular vision.<br /><br />Cut to me looking for good films to see - a long time fan of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000318/">Tim Burton </a>and of animation, I was all excited by the prospect of seeing <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327597/">Coraline</a>. Sadly, its 3D and I can't see 3D...at all (not even magic eye pictures, lol). Even the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8047357.stm">film that opened the Cannes Film Festival </a>was a 3D animation<br /><br />I now feel completely excluded, not through a lack of interest, but through a lack of ability.<br /><br />How many are still in the internet wilderness suffering from that same lack of ability, being bamboozled by #links and confused by RSS - and how can we support them (and should we) to engage in this madness that is social media?<br />Answers on a tweet to @helennicol ;-)Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-59383260160887924952009-05-13T14:57:00.009+00:002009-05-13T16:38:44.485+00:00New Director of Digital Engagement<span style="font-family:arial;">So, Andrew Stott of the Cabinet Office is now the Director of Digital Engagement, responsible for working across gov to "encourage, support and challenge them in moving from communicating to citizens on the web to conversing and collaborating with them through digital technology." So says </span><a href="http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/2009/05/13/cabinet-office-names-andrew-stott-as-director-of-digital-engagement/"><span style="font-family:arial;">The Wardman Wire</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. There's a </span><a href="http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/2009/05/13/cabinet-office-names-andrew-stott-as-director-of-digital-engagement/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Guardian article </span></a>too<span style="font-family:arial;">. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As Mr Stott has done some stirling work getting CivilBlogs and CivilWiki off the ground, I'm hoping he'll be an effective DirDigEng, (his twitter name - 1 tweet to date) -</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;">"I'm delighted to be asked to take up the Director of Digital<br />Engagement role. Looking forward to building on my #poit work." </span></blockquote>(poit being Power of Information Taskforce).</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Amazing the number of tweets already mentioning his appointment.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">He's already been picked up on his first tweet by David at </span><a href="http://blog.webometrics.org.uk/2009/05/how-social-is-our-new-director-of.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">Webometric Thoughts</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> - for following only his boss & using a hash tag few people understood. As for him being a "generic civil servant" - he's actually got things moving so far, so I have some faith in him...<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It seems he'll be concentrating on developing digital services already in existance - hopefully he won't be pushed into trying to control and 'manage' digital engagement, makings rules, strategies and setting standards as </span><a href="http://rondon.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ron Donaldson </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">suggested on twitter...but he probably will...</span>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-5211400054743376762009-04-20T13:42:00.003+00:002009-04-20T13:49:10.302+00:00Knowlege Management Specialist Library Needs You<span style="font-family:arial;">I saw this call for people to take part in a survey to assess the value etc of the Knowledge Management Specialist Library in<a href="http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/id/knowledge-letter"> David Gurteen's newsletter</a>. I've stolen it word for word due to lack of time...</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><a name="L004317"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Knowledge Management Specialist Library</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Many of you will be familiar with the </span><a href="http://www.library.nhs.uk/KnowledgeManagement" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;">Knowledge Management Specialist Library</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> from the </span><a href="http://www.nhs.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;">British National Health Service</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><a href="http://www.library.nhs.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;">National Library for Health</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. This is one of the best KM resource sites on the web. (It's not just about KM in the NHS but a full blown KM resource.) Well, it seems there is some doubt about its future and a </span><a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=oUs8ZfwSYDufUpW48i3mXQ_3d_3d" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;">survey</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> is being carried out. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">The reason for the survey is to gather people's views on the site, the resources, its relevance to their work and also how they would like to see the site developed. The future of the library is uncertain. It has already been made a static site and there is a real possibility that it will be closed. On the other hand if there is sufficient support it may be provided with a proper budget. So in addition to the above the survey is being carried out to: </span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Gather evidence on the value of the site, including case studies of how the library has impacted on people's work </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Identify people that it would be helpful to include in the lessons learned review </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Identify people that it would be useful to involve if the library needs to look for a new home</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Gather information that would be helpful to pitch the library to a new host or funder </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Generally stir up support for the library</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:arial;">If you have used this specialist KM library and found it useful could you please help out by </span><a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=oUs8ZfwSYDufUpW48i3mXQ_3d_3d" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;">completing the survey</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. It is short and simple and should not take long to complete.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>This is my bit now...</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I know the lady who used to manage the library (hiya Caroline!) - she put so much effort into it and its a brilliant resource which shouldn't just be abandoned!!! So <strong>please, complete the survey</strong> and save an immensely useful site.</span>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-41041510121018866972009-03-13T14:09:00.003+00:002009-03-13T14:18:59.809+00:00Mister Know-it-all by Elvis McGonagal<span style="font-family:arial;">I had a lovely surprise when I attended my first </span><a href="http://www.reading.ac.uk/executiveeducation/excellence/cl-knowledgemanagementforum.asp"><span style="font-family:arial;">Henley Knowledge Management Forum </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">conference earlier this year, because they had hired </span><a href="http://www.elvismcgonagall.co.uk/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Elvis McGonagal </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">as conference poet! A brilliant idea, and considering it was written as the day progressed, a quite brilliant poem.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Mister Know-it-All by Elvis McGonagal</span><br /><br /><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">I’ve eaten all the fruit from the tree of knowledge<br />I know what’s what, I know who’s who<br />I know my onions, I know the ropes<br />I know a thing or two<br />I know the way to Amarillo<br />I know the way to San Jose<br />I know who let the dogs out<br />I know the time of day<br />I know what happened to The Likely Lads<br />I know what happened to Baby Jane<br />I know what’s eating Gilbert Grape<br />I know the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain<br />I know who’s been eating your porridge<br />I know who ate all the pies<br />I know which side my bread is buttered<br />I know the wheres, the whens, the whys<br />I know a hawk from a handsaw<br />I know chalk from cheese<br />I know they know it’s Christmas<br />I know “thank you very much” in Japanese (”domo arrigato gazaimas”)<br />I know where the bodies are buried<br />I know whodunnit, I know the score<br />I know what it’s all about, Alfie<br />I know the capital of Ecuador (Quito)<br />I know how many roads a man must go down<br />I know where we go from here<br />I know why birds suddenly appear<br />Every time that you are near<br />I know the known knowns that I know I know<br />I know the unknown knowns that I don’t<br />And as for Mr Rumsfeld’s unknown unknowns -<br />Will I admit I don’t know I don’t know? No I won’t<br />I know that unlike Barack Obama<br />Most politicians don’t have a single scruple<br />I know that one of the speakers today<br />Used to be a roadie for Mott the Hoople<br />I’m a walking wikipedia<br />I’m a mobile reference library<br />I’ve got more knowledge than a London cabby<br />I know the quickest way from Highgate to Highbury<br />But little do you know that I know that you know<br />That I know what I know is no use<br />Unless I pass it on, put it over and get it across<br />There’s no mileage in a mastermind recluse<br />For facts are fine as far as they go<br />As long as new ideas come from what we glean<br />Just knowing stuff is not enough<br />We gotta innovate - know what I mean?<br />And even if we know who wants to be a millionaire<br />We know they know that others must cooperate<br />That they’ll have to ask the audience, they’ll have to phone a friend<br />Communicate, convey, collaborate<br />We’ve got to work as a team, pull together<br />Join forces, pool resources, play ball<br />We gotta sail in the same boat baby<br />It’s all for one and one for all<br />So - I know who put the “ram” in the “ramalamadingdong”<br />I know who put the “bop” in the “bop-sh-bop”<br />But the best piece of knowledge I’ll share with you today is -<br />I know when to stop </span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Thanks to </span><a href="http://chriscollison.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/elvis-has-left-the-forum/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Chris Collison </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">for posting this so I didnt have to hassle anyone for it :-)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-83804386549293857762009-02-27T20:27:00.004+00:002009-02-27T20:32:24.417+00:00No More Learners<span style="font-family:arial;">Jay Cross has posted an interesting piece on not treating people as learners, in the same way as a the Dutch in some areas have removed road markings to encourage drivers to be more cautious. Has some real implications for current learning and development departments...see what you think.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7djPABQXnc0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7djPABQXnc0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Jay is asking for feedback </span><a href="http://www.informl.com/2009/02/26/no-more-learners/"><span style="font-family:arial;">here</span></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Twas <a href="http://twitter.com/DavidGurteen">David Gurteen's twittering </a>which brought it to my attention.</span>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-76038629116098682862009-02-12T22:32:00.047+00:002009-02-13T09:03:13.728+00:00Twitter is the new facebookThe idea that Twitter is taking over as the "next big thing" of social networking hides the fact that Twitter has actually been around for a long long time. Its been around as long as Facebook et al if not longer (I myself can't remember when I signed up, but its definately pre-cocktail throwing). Twitter is suffering the same media frenzy as all the other social networking "phenomenon", its just taken a while to gain its own tipping point and resulting attention of the media.<br /><br />The profile of Twitter has reached the heady heights of the popular. Famous Tweeters Jonathon Ross and Stephen Fry have been in no small way responsible for its recent attention. That, and underground conversations made public by our very own "can't say textes cos it's not English" Radio Stupid...But in reality this type of microblogging has been going on for some time. Twitter is now so "now" that even The One Show ran a Twitter feature, talking about it in a "we're loving it but don't actually get it" kind of way and trying, as they do, to appeal to all audiences whilst actively pissing most of them off. Twitter has, it seems "arrived".<br /><br />A growth in Microblogging (which is what Twitterers or Tweeters do) means that where previously we just had information overload, now we potentially have experience overload as well. For me though, any experience based sharing, particularly if it is of an emotional nature, is good...and rarely happens face to face let alone online. A busineness example for instance..."We just got the *** contact, loving you all for your efforts...." - emotional, concise, and plain nice. I read a recent Forrester techradar report on social media (which I won't try to link to due its fantastically expensive nature), in which microblogging was referred to as the next big thing, but not necessarily for business. In fact microblogging is conceptually brilliant for knowledge management but its use is still in the throes of adolescence. <br /><br />All of these social media tools are like MS Office tools of old (ish), no use in themselves - its what you do with them that makes all the difference....<br /><br />Current Twittering (or microblogging) for Enterprise 2.0 may be (quite) a long way off but think of the potential - everyone needs a good elevator pitch and this is what microblogging can be - short, sharp, insightful or just plain educational updates with wide appeal which take seconds to read. Unlike this post which is seemingly none of the above...Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-46901184661533977752009-01-21T22:55:00.004+00:002009-01-21T23:03:16.446+00:00Obama's powerful use of storytelling<span style="font-family:arial;">Having watched Barack Obama's inauguration speech, I was blown away by his use of storytelling to inspire. Particularly in the last stages of his speech, he referred to a shared historical event. Knowing full well that the story is well understood by his audience, only alluding to the story itself, he repeated its imagery, subtext and outcome to echo his own aspirations for the future. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">"In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet. America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, letus remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."</span></span></blockquote></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Business leaders everywhere, indeed, politicians everywhere, should be looking hard at this mans oratory brilliance, and the effect it has on unfathomable numbers of people, and learning everything they can.</span>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-91063029051404744122008-11-29T09:27:00.013+00:002008-11-29T10:06:17.542+00:00More Quotes on Knowledge<span style="font-family:arial;">Because </span><a href="http://thebusinessofknowing.blogspot.com/2007/06/quotes-on-sharing.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">this post</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> containing a few quotes on sharing has been hit so many times, I thought it about time to do another one. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Where previously I was looking for insights, using quotes to give me new authors and thinkers to consider in relation to my dissertation, this time the quotes I have chosen are those that resonate for me due to my experiences with knowledge and knowledge management. So here they are, and I make no apologies for including Peter Drucker more than once.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"The store of wisdom does not consist of hard coins which keep their shape as they pass from hand to hand; it consists of ideas and doctrines whose meanings change with the minds that entertain them."</span></p><p align="right"><em>John Plamenatz, political philosopher</em></span></p></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"The more extensive a man's knowledge of what has been done, the greater will be his power of knowing what to do."</span></p><p align="right"><em>Benjamin Disraeli, statesman and literary figure</em></span></p></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"Knowledge is the fundamental factor -- the major enabler -- of enterprise performance."</span></p><p align="right"><em>Karl M. Wiig, KM guru</em></span></p></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"The basic economic resource - the means of production - is no longer capital, nor natural resources, nor labor. It is and will be knowledge."</span></p><p align="right"><em>Peter Drucker, genius</em></span></p></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"Knowledge must come through action."</span></p><p align="right"><em>Sophocles, ancient Greek playwright</em></span></p></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"Knowledge management will never work until corporations realize it's not about how you capture knowledge but how you create and leverage it."</span></p><p align="right"><em>Etienne Wenger, co-creator of the concept of Communities of Practice</em></span></p></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"Sharing knowledge is not about giving people something,or getting something from them. That is only valid for information sharing. Sharing knowledge occurs when people are genuinely interested in helping one another develop new capacities for action; it is about creating learning processes." </span></p><p align="right"><em>Peter Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline</em></span></p></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"Alchemists turned into chemists when they stopped keeping secrets.” </span></p><p align="right"><em>Eric Raymond, programmer and open-source software advocate</em></span></p></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">“In a knowledge-driven economy, talk is real work.”</span></p><p align="right"><em>Thomas H. Davenport and Laurence Prusak, KM gurus</em></span></p></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"Knowledge is experience; everything else is information.”</span></p><p align="right"><em>Albert Einstein, genius physicist</em></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p align="right"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></p></blockquote></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">“Knowledge is like money: to be of value it must circulate, and in circulating it can increase in quantity and, hopefully, in value.”</span></p><p align="right"><em>Louis L’Amour, author<br /></p></em></span></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"Knowledge without wisdom is a load of books on the back of an ass." </span></p><p align="right"><em>Japanese proverb</em></span></p></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"There's no such thing as knowledge management; there are only knowledgeable people. Information only becomes knowledge in the hands of someone who knows what to do with it." </span></p><p align="right"><em>Peter Drucker, genius Management guru</em></span></p></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"Any piece of knowledge I acquire today has a value at this moment exactly proportioned to my skill to deal with it. Tomorrow, when I know more, I recall that piece of knowledge and use it better."</span></p><p align="right"><em>Mark Van Doren, poet and critic</em></span></p></blockquote><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-8980844991585465782008-11-28T19:22:00.004+00:002008-11-28T19:47:55.329+00:00Wikipedia isn't doing business use of wikis any favours<span style="font-family:arial;">So, contentious title out of the way, I'll explain...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Wikipedia is the best known example of a wiki. This is the frame of reference many use when thinking "what is a wiki". But a wiki is just a word document, online. That's about it. It doesn't have to be anything other than a place people can write things without having to email the document they wrote them in to one another. So in developing an encyclopedia, Wikipedia has inadvertedly created a mass misunderstanding as to the value and potential usage of wikis. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Wikis can be used for absaloutely anything at all which probably currently happens via email like non-standard agendas, standards, reports, current effective practice, policies, reviews, knowledge assets etc etc etc. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Unfortunately, many companies begin their wiki experiments by trying to create the definitive knowledge asset on, say, knowledge management. This is a big ask for people who've never had their own contributions edited by someone they don't know. It turns people off, and prevents them from recognising the potential in wikis. They need to start with a simple and non-threatening activity like a progress report or lessons learned review. Even a shared agenda would help as I said in </span><a href="http://thebusinessofknowing.blogspot.com/2007/06/enterprise-20-same-problem-different.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">this post </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">some time ago. Starting small will really help people gain confidence enough to start working on bigger projects like knowledge assets. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Instead of creating company shaped Wikipedia replicas, maybe we should all set our sights a bit lower and take some time to get used to what </span><a href="http://www.forrester.com/Research/Document/Excerpt/0,7211,46893,00.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">Forrester </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">and many others consider to be high value tools for business.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And just for the record, I think Wikipedia is the dogs thingamees :-)</span>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-74368122628735899812008-11-27T21:08:00.002+00:002008-11-27T21:20:05.555+00:00Enterprise 2.0 Technologies: they're not going anywhere anytime soon<span style="font-family:arial;">Thanks to<a href="http://billives.typepad.com/portals_and_km/2008/11/more-from-forrester-on-the-future-of-enterprise-20-technologies.html"> Bill Ives and his Portal and KM blog</a>, I've been able to get the gist of the </span><a href="http://www.forrester.com/Research/Document/Excerpt/0,7211,46893,00.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">Forrester TechRadar For Vendor Strategists: Enterprise Web 2.0</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> without paying the $379 it costs to read the whole thing (hurrah!) </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Bill reviewed the report and his highlights mention that usage of Enterprise 2.0 software has produced significant success with social networks and wikis, moderate success with blogs, forums, mashups, prediction markets, RSS and widgets (don't they make your beer bubbly?) and minimal success with microblogs, podcasts and social bookmarks.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I'd agree that people appear to connect with social networks and wikis more than, say, podcasts and RSS (vastly underutilised if you ask me), but I would have to read the report to know why the distinction between social networks and forums. Any road up, the top and bottom of it is that in terms of these collaborative software applications "Some were just starting on their journey (microblogs), others had reached their high point (podcasts and forums) but none were on their way down". So the fact that the public sector is only just opening its doors to these tools is not necessarily bad - looks like enterprise 2.0 is no fad.</span>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-25963542102487734132008-11-27T20:37:00.003+00:002008-11-27T20:52:10.986+00:00How could I forget? My first published picture<span style="font-family:arial;">I know I've stopped submitting in the stylee of the Friday Photo, because I discovered </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/helennicol/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Flickr</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, but I thought I should mention, as I've been distracted from blogging by my photography obsession, that I've had my first picture published in the November issue of Digital SLR Photography magazine - this is the not winning but at least printed picture for your delectation. My street photos are more my thang, but this was for a themed comp....</span> <div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPH1S_LgZ0m2WNWgdf7Th_wFnYHYIbZL4OeeEb2YmGzwQWGwk4NWv8NHZ7u7L3alOznEpd3ILK11JwKm5ungWDYYIC-oSfdtz5xvcq89wAX4IS3oSXsEu6QesNF06J_N333x5uauo0-Q/s1600-h/Environmental+portrait+-+reenactment+soldier.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273441184482365602" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPH1S_LgZ0m2WNWgdf7Th_wFnYHYIbZL4OeeEb2YmGzwQWGwk4NWv8NHZ7u7L3alOznEpd3ILK11JwKm5ungWDYYIC-oSfdtz5xvcq89wAX4IS3oSXsEu6QesNF06J_N333x5uauo0-Q/s400/Environmental+portrait+-+reenactment+soldier.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-48120942084267274822008-11-27T20:05:00.007+00:002009-03-19T21:10:54.652+00:00Value Network Mapping and Analysis - the way forward?<span style="font-family:arial;">For some considerable time now I've been wondering if knowledge management is really the way forward. Many people either don't know what it is or relate it to a particular business area, for instance IT or HR and having boxed and labelled it, ignore it. So I've been searching for a way to find a practical application which would float the respective boats not only of the HR and IT afficionados, but also the CEOs of the world. I considered Lean, Six Sigma, Social Network Analysis, all which felt like there was something missing...but I'm struggling to find anything wrong with Value Network Analysis. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Like </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network_analysis"><span style="font-family:arial;">social network analysis</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_network_analysis"><span style="font-family:arial;">value network analysis</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> maps relationships but using roles rather than individuals. The value associated with role interrelationships, both tangible (ie exchange of goods, services, revenue) and intangible (ie knowledge and benefits) is mapped and analysed to identify where there may be more value, tangible or intangible, and to highlight what is required to achieve the most value from the area of business being examined. It seems simpler and broader in scope than IDEF mapping and by virtue of the emphasis on role, appears to be less sensitive to the bias found in the individual focus of social network mapping, </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I definately think it deserves fuller examination and I'll write more on this when I've processed and digested what it really means to me and potentially to my organisation, but for the time being, check out </span><a href="http://valuenetworks.com/public/item/209774"><span style="font-family:arial;">ValueNetworks.com</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> - not just a sales site, there are some <a href="http://www.value-networks.com/">great tit bits </a>(love that phrase) which help explain what value network analysis is all about. Some pretty impressive clients there too. Check out </span><a href="http://journalismthatmatters.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/value-network-maps-at-newstools2008/"><span style="font-family:arial;">this article </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">(which can be accessed from the Value Networks site too) demonstrating the technique in relation to Journalism, </span><a href="http://valuenetworks.com/public/item/218470"><span style="font-family:arial;">and this relatively scathing (but quite possibly valid) comment on change management</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Are you a fan of VNA? If so, tell me more...</span>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338193582835363186.post-62627625116674776462008-11-24T17:12:00.004+00:002009-09-15T08:46:13.871+00:00Knowledge management analogies & stories Part I<span style="font-family:arial;">I don't know about you, but I often find that people have a preconcieved notion of what knowledge is, which prevents them from having a useful conversation about how it might be managed. I'm not convinced that it <em>can</em> be "managed" - maybe, using the same differentiation between leading and managing people, knowledge can be "led"? Anyway, the point is, I've been collecting analogies and stories to help me explain what I'm talking about re: KM in general, and to explain why I feel so strongly that tacit knowledge cannot, in essence, be captured (see </span><a href="http://thebusinessofknowing.blogspot.com/search/label/tacit%20knowledge"><span style="font-family:arial;">this post</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and </span><a href="http://thebusinessofknowing.blogspot.com/2007/06/tacit-knowledge-unhelpful-term-for.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">this post</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">). I thought I'd share some of them with you.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">The Salad Analogy - Information & Knowledge & Wisdom</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Borrowed from Mr Mike Kelleher, senior consultant at the British Quality Foundation</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Information tells us that that red round thing with pips in is a tomato is, knowledge tells us that it is a fruit, wisdom tells us that despite the fact it is a fruit, it doesn't go well in a fruit salad.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>The Driving Analogy</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Intuitively developed by me despite the fact it's used by many other people...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">When you learn to drive a car, you do so by actually driving a car. The <em>theory</em> of road use can be gained from a book, but any real ability to drive is gained by driving. That is the difference between theory (information) and practice (knowledge). However, tacit, intuitive knowledge comes to us when we've had many years of idiot drivers pulling out of the middle lane of the motorway without warning. It's a feeling, a sensation of "better watch that car!" and cannot easily be articulated so that someone else could practice it. However, many frequent and long distance drivers know what I'm talking about...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Teaching by the book</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">A lovely analogy from Larry Prusak, <a href="http://www.laurenceprusak.com/">on his site</a>, tells of how he was once on a baseball team, but "was by far the worst hitter on the team". His father gave him a book on The Art of Hitting. Despite pratically memorising the book, he still couldn't hit. This is, as Prusak says, </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><blockquote><span style="font-family:Arial;">"...a story I tell people who insist that knowledge can be codified, that humans are interchangeable. There are still many facets of life and work that are art not science, and wise managers understand how to manage both."</span></blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I'll post these as I come across them, and I promise to test them first, after all, it's not just about theory, it's about practice...</span></span>Helen Nicolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580959346298635914noreply@blogger.com1