Knowledge Management: Putting the Puzzle Together One Piece at a Time

Knowledge Knowledge Management in the Management in the

Canadian Forest Canadian Forest ServiceService

Albert Simard

Canadian Forest Service

Presented to

BC Forest Service

February 1, 2005

“Putting the puzzle together one piece at a time”

Natural ResourcesCanada

Ressources naturellesCanada

An Opening Thought….An Opening Thought….

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

Lao-tzu (604-531 BCE)



OUTLINEOUTLINE

Strategic Planning

KM Processes

Forestry Content



External Knowledge

ShareShare

Internal Knowledge

ManageManage

PreservePreserve

Lost Knowledge

Knowledge OrganizationKnowledge Organization

CreateCreate

Real World

MonitorMonitor

UseUse

MobilizeMobilize

Society



CFS KM FrameworkCFS KM Framework

Content

Tools

Organization

People Learning, motivation,

rewards, incentives

Processes

roles, responsibilities, authorities, resources

lessons learned, best practices, work routines

forestry data, information & knowledge

infrastructure & systems to

capture, store, share content


Ressources naturellesCanadaKnowledge Management Knowledge Management

GoalsGoalsManaging Knowledge

Integrating Knowledge

Sharing Knowledge

Preserving Knowledge

Hierarchy

Implementation

single organization: mandate, authority, resources

similar organizations: culture, interests, context

different organizations: general, few commonalities

supports other KM goals



Cost of Not Knowing (CONK)Cost of Not Knowing (CONK)

Research Managed knowledge

Surprise Unmanaged knowledge

Awareness

Know

Don’t know

Reality

KnowDon’t know

World Wildlife Fund - Canada’s forests

DFAIT – softwood lumber

Reporter – mountain pine beetle

Boreal forest briefing note

Invasive species

Access to Information

Science & Technology Networks

Synthesis of Knowledge & Information Network

Fire management systems

On-Line Bookstore

Common Office Environment

Plant hardiness zones



What the Architects What the Architects Designed…Designed…



What Managers See…What Managers See…

con

ten

t

Create

Info

rmati

on

Know

ledg

e Dat

a

Capture

Preserve

Share

Integrate

Systems

Computers

Tech

nolo

gy

Netw

orks



Knowledge Management Plan Knowledge Management Plan - Reactions -- Reactions -

Understanding– I don’t understand any of this– This is too complicated.– I don’t like this “fuzzy” stuff.

Resources– There is no money for this.– What can you do without a budget?– We have no time for this.

Management– Exactly what will be delivered?– When will this be finished?– What, precisely, are the benefits?



So, Now What?So, Now What? We need a new approach; a KM Program is unlikely

Overcoming obstacles:

– Make it real: develop simple systems that people relate to.

– Start small: use existing resources to establish project-scale activities.

– Deliver useful tools that solve real problems.

Strategy: Put the puzzle together one piece at a time.



OUTLINEOUTLINE

Context

KM Processes

Forestry Content



ProjectsProjects- KM - KM ProcessesProcesses - -

Integrate regional libraries - Metafore

Enhance client interaction - E-800 Service

Capture & share knowledge - Briefing Note DB

Manage knowledge assets – Asset Inventory



MetaforeMetafore(Integrating Regional Libraries)(Integrating Regional Libraries)



MetaforeMetafore

Search & Request


Ressources naturellesCanadaE-800 ServiceE-800 Service

(Enhancing & Leveraging Client (Enhancing & Leveraging Client Service)Service)



E-800 ServiceE-800 Service

Frequently Asked

Questions


Ressources naturellesCanadaE-800 Service – New E-800 Service – New

QuestionsQuestions


Ressources naturellesCanadaBriefing note DatabaseBriefing note Database

(Capturing & Sharing (Capturing & Sharing Knowledge)Knowledge)

Password

via CFS Intranet

User Interface(The Web)

CFS staff

View only

Administrative Interface(The Database)

CentresBranches

Executive Services

Guidelines

Password


Ressources naturellesCanadaBriefing Note Database - Briefing Note Database -

InputInput


Ressources naturellesCanada Briefing Briefing

Note Note DatabaseDatabase

Search & Search & OutputsOutputs


Ressources naturellesCanadaInventory of Knowledge Inventory of Knowledge

AssetsAssets(Asset Management)(Asset Management)


Ressources naturellesCanada Knowledge Knowledge

Assets Assets InventoryInventory

Search Search ResultsResults



Knowledge Assets - Reports

0255075

100125150175

Data

sets

Physic

al

Paper

Stake

holder

s

Organ

izatio

nal

Med

ia

Prese

ntatio

ns

Comm

erci

al

Briefin

g m

ater

ials

Agreem

ents

# o

f Ass

ets

Percent

Number

Total of 531 assets from 211 responses

Source: Knowledge Asset survey



OUTLINEOUTLINE

Strategic Planning

KM Processes

Forestry Content



ProjectsProjects- - ForestryForestry ContentContent - -

Automated monitoring - Fire Information System

Compile & share data - National Forestry Database

Disseminate knowledge – CFS Bookstore

Preservation & learning - Canada’s Forest Ecosystems


Ressources naturellesCanadaWildland Fire Information Wildland Fire Information

SystemSystem(Automated Daily Monitoring)(Automated Daily Monitoring)



FireM3FireM3

Automated Satellite

Monitoring



National Forestry DatabaseNational Forestry Database(Compiling and sharing data)(Compiling and sharing data)


Ressources naturellesCanadaNational Forestry Database - National Forestry Database -

HighlightsHighlights



National Forestry Database - National Forestry Database - DataData


Ressources naturellesCanadaBookstoreBookstore

(Finding & Accessing CFS (Finding & Accessing CFS publications)publications)



BookstoreBookstore

Search & Download



Forest Ecosystems of CanadaForest Ecosystems of Canada(Preservation & Learning)(Preservation & Learning)



Forest Ecosystem

s

Preserving Photographs



Forest Ecosystems Forest Ecosystems (Learning)(Learning)



ConsiderationsConsiderations

There is a KM strategy and framework.

All projects combine people, the organization, processes, and tools.

Process projects are necessary first steps.

Content projects provide excellent examples.

We know what the puzzle picture looks like.



A final thought…A final thought…

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent”

Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933)

Business

Knowledge Management: Putting the Puzzle Together One Piece at a Time