The Importance of the Individual
To date, KM implementations have
concentrated primarily upon the
technological ``machine'' aspects of KM
processes, although in recent years there has
been an increasing recognition of theThe Importance of the Individual
To date, KM implementations have
concentrated primarily upon the
technological ``machine'' aspects of KM
processes, although in recent years there has
been an increasing recognition of the
Figure 3
Formation of strategy and processes
[ 603 ]
Alan J. Beckett,
Charles E.R. Wainwright and
David Bance
Knowledge management:
strategy or software?
Management Decision
38/9 [2000] 601±606
Downloaded by PRINCE OF SONGKLA UNIVERSITY At 19:22 07 September 2014 (PT)
importance of the human element. All
knowledge processes involve individual
workers in some capacity and at some level.
Any KM process (or indeed any process) that
does not benefit these individuals is unlikely
to be performed.
These benefits can be direct, in the form of
time savings, additions to the individual's
expertise, and other beneficial effects to the
normal activities of the individual. Indirect
benefits, such as incentives, artificial
performance measures, and other
requirements, have to be specifically
designed for the process and the individual if
direct benefits are not clear. These measures
should be designed from both the top
downwards and bottom upwards, to ensure
that they do not conflict, and are achievable
by those required to support them, as with
any other performance management system
(Neely et al., 1997).
Naturally the motivation of any individual
will be a combination of what is being
required of them and other, more personal
issues of professional interest, ethics,
organisational and individual value systems.
These are occasionally referred to as
``cultural'' issues, although that term is too
general to be used in this context.