Are you making familiar mistakes with innovation?

• Published in: Knowledge Management Review Vol. 9; no. 6; p. 8
• Main Author: Horibe, Frances
• Format: Trade Publication Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago MELCRUM PUBLISHING 01.01.2007
• Subjects: Corporate culture; Employees; Innovations; Knowledge management; United States > US
• ISSN: 1369-7633

Successful KM provides knowledge that might not otherwise be available through the usual channels of publication, study and personal contact. Innovation meanwhile, is a ground-breaking, category-shattering, revolutionary change in how people see the world. The author thinks KM and innovation are closely tied due to a confusion between knowledge management and knowledge. When organizations decide to undertake either KM or innovation, they typically approach it in a similar way. They develop an often elaborate process to "manage the project," with the hallmarks of a good project -- careful encouragement of grassroots ideas, judicious seed funding, regular reviews, pilots, prototypes, the infusion of technology and in the end hopefully, the desired result. KM and innovation come together in that they both require an organizational culture where people want to and are allowed to be innovative and share their knowledge. It is harder than setting up a process, but ultimately more effective.