Almost all successful CoPs have enunciated a formal strategy and vision. This vision is a necessary first step in the process of developing a CoP. The vision and strategy must be linked to your group's mission. This encourages other initiatives to consider KM and coordinate with KM leaders.
Creating a Value Proposition: A clear demonstration of the business benefits (e.g., What's in for me? How does this benefit the Agency?)
Key activities in developing a CoP
The key activities in developing a CoP strategy include:
Define the CoP mission statement, value proposition, performance measures and metrics, and pilot project achievement benchmarks
Establish overall CoP governance, membership, and define roles
Develop implementation plans including events plan, marketing and communication plan, education and skills plan, and advisory service plan
Develop functional requirements, identify COTs products that can support the pilot CoPs, and analyze and evaluate products and recommend appropriate technology solutions
Importance of Developing KM Metrics and Measures
A key element of KM leaders has been their emphasis on developing measures and metrics for KM. Developing these measures enables the leaders to determine:
How KM actions contribute to overall strategic goals
Which KM mechanisms produce benefits
The rationale for KM initiatives
Analyze investment trade-offs
The Department of the Navy (DoN) has been a leader in developing measures and metrics for KM. Learn more....
Importance of Leadership Sponsorship and Participation
All leading KM development organizations acknowledge the importance of active and visible support by senior leadership to the development of KM activities. Without visible leadership backing, KM is not seen as an important priority. Managers and staff do not understand the importance of KM and it tends to languish as "just one more initiative." Learn more....
