Collective Knowledge
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Within organisations there is typically a great deal of knowledge about their business or domain; indeed that knowledge is often one of its most valuable assets. However this rich knowledge may not be easily or efficiently applied to the organisation's challenges. This is due to a number of problems in the way knowledge is collectively "held." It is widely distributed, fragmented, often implicit or tacit, often false or contentious, and full of gaps.
Making organisational knowledge more useful requires special processes to identify, organise, synthesize, complete and share the knowledge. Classic IT-based "knowledge management" approaches are of limited help here. In fact, they are often part of the problem. van Gelder & Monk a unique strength in the use of visual "mapping" techniques and facilitation to refine organisational knowledge and render it more deployable. However we also use a range of other methods, depending on the particular challenge facing the organisation. In short, we can help your organisation "know what it knows" in complex, messy domains. |
The methods used are not rocket science. In fact, they are the opposite of rocket science. They consist of finding the simple truth that is buried deep within issues that seem too complex to resolve. That van Gelder & Monk have devised new methods for doing this is enormously to their credit and I only hope more businesses will start to adopt such methods. It will save an immense amount of money, time and frustration for them. |
Examples
Fleet Sustainment
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Bid Development
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Strategic Planning
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An R&D division of a large organisation maintaining multiple aircraft fleets had a great deal of knowledge, accumulated over decades, pertaining to the challenge of keeping fleets operational. It wanted to render this knowledge more easily applicable to guide future purchase decisions. Using mapping techniques, we assisted the division to articulate, clarify, refine and share the knowledge.
Related: Argument Mapping as a Tool for Analysis of Complex Problems within Fleet Acquisition and Through-Life Support |
An international defence contractor has been engaging van Gelder & Monk to assist in the collation and synthesis of knowledge pertaining to mounting a bid for a major contract. Working with the bid team, we are developing a new methods for articulating knowledge for complex competitive bids, based on our distinctive knowledge-mapping techniques and tools.
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A major Australian organisation was developing its strategic outlook for 2030. In order to do plan for major decisions such as investing billions of dollars in human resources and equipment, it had to first develop a conception of what its “operating environment” would be in 2030. We assisted the organisation to refine its understanding of the arguments bearing on seven key hypotheses, using mapping techniques in facilitated workshops.
Related: Argument mapping in strategic planning |
Strategy Consensus
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Discuss with us...We would be very happy to have a conversation with you about how this challenge might be addressed in your organisation.
Just contact Tim van Gelder at tvg@vangeldermonk.com |
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An Australian professional association needed internal clarity and agreement concerning what positions it should adopt, and why, on major strategic issues facing the country. We assisted the leadership in this challenge with a series of small-group workshops using live argument mappng, and online deliberation using our YourView platform.
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