A C O N C E P T B O O K

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THE WORLD BANK HUMAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

“The Bank’s creation and dissemination of knowledge is very valued by clients and other stakeholders”

“I really value the idea of communities of practice, and I feel they are a huge and yet largely untapped potential source of sharing and disseminating knowledge in the Bank”

“Reaching out first and foremost to our regional

staff based in country offices needs to be our top-

most priority”

“Someone needs to be accountable for knowledge, else this effort will go nowhere”

“Identifying what we don’t know we don’t know, and finding it elsewhere to

create the full picture”

“Knowledge gives Choice”

Peter Drucker

“Creativity blooms when the mental soil is deep, rich and well prepared”

“Tacit knowledge has many challenges: One is how to capture it and share it with others; the other is how to promote a culture where such knowledge is respected and used ”

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In recent years it has become fashionable to speak the language of Knowledge Management—and like most fash-ions, it has come to mean all sorts of things to all sorts of people. For some, it is the use of technology to manage the vast amount of knowledge products that institutions such as ours generate on a daily basis. For others, it includes such business and management topics as organizational learning, business intelligence, document management and related ideas. With so much packed into this subject, there is no way that KM can appeal to all at all times—and it is easy to see how and why, especially in this day and age of lightning-speed search engines and collaboration spaces, we tend to not rate KM high in terms of user-satisfaction.

Yet, the centrality and importance of knowledge is acknowl-edged and appreciated by all. Last year alone, we produced over five thousand different knowledge pieces in the Bank, and this is a conservative count. It is for these reasons of salience and diversity that interest in KM has continued to grow in the Bank. We produce a tremendous amount of knowledge in Human Development, and it is my conviction that we can become the best network in terms of the qual-ity of our own user-experience with knowledge generation, search, distribution and application.

The theme of this concept book is “Think/Create/Communi-cate” and it is intended to inspire reflection and an explora-tion of possibilities as we envision the future of KM in HDN. This book is designed to take you on a journey of concepts, which describe our aspiration and desire. I invite you to join me in exploring this vast landscape and hope that the sights will stimulate your imagination.

LETTER FROM TAMAR MANUELYAN ATINC

“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.”

Anton Chekov

Creativity is the

process of developing

and expressing novel

ideas that are useful.

INTRODUCTION

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“A new multi-polar economy requires multi-polar knowledge. We need to democratize and demystify development economics, recognizing that we do not have a monopoly on the answers.

“We need to throw open the doors, recognizing that others can find and create their own solutions. And this open research revolution is underway.

“We need to recognize that development knowledge is no longer the sole province of the researcher, the scholar, or the ivory tower.”

Robert Zoellick

Envision a place “where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning how to learn together.”

David A. Garvin

I honestly think we are getting

better and going in the right direction

Real cultural change is neces-

sary to sustain KM, but it’s a very diffi-cult undertaking

Processes are important,

but ultimately it has to be about

impact

Leadership commitment

to knowledge is critical. Without it, knowledge won’t

be a priority

We need to have in place

state-of-the-art technology and we must use it

At present we have too much

information. We are bombarded by new informa-tion every day, much more than what we can possibly absorb. The real issue is

selectivity

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ADDING VALUE TO EXISTING INFORMATION

When experts work together and share information across their areas of specialty, great things happen.Knowledge is shared and value is added by taking what oth-ers have learned and building on it, adapting it, and trans-forming it.

Envision being able to take embedded knowledge from a colleague’s experiences and employ it in a different context and adding value in the process.

Imagine being more than a mentor, imagine being a knowl-edge coach who can help guide in problem solving by drawing on one’s experience and wisdom.

What if we could take all of the vast resources of data and information we have and add context, lessons learned and feedback received to create truly value-added cutting-edge knowledge?

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“Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information on it.”

Samuel Johnson

“The idea is to try to give all the information to help others to judge the value of your contribution; not just the information that leads to judgment in one particular direction or another. ”

Richard P. Feynman

We all have knowledge that is drawn from our experience as well as our years of study and is stored in bits and pieces in our brain, i.e., not stored as answers or explanations but as fragments.

Envision being able to draw on those fragments to construct a response to a new problem, without having to reinvent the wheel.

Imagine doing so in conversations, during which both parties actively try to understand the meaning the other is attempting to convey and build on each other’s strengths.

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ADDING VALUE TO EXISTING INFORMATION

How about this for an experiment?

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. . . and build into something even better!

PRACTICAL

By pooling the resources, knowledge and experts and letting them freely exchange ideas and information, the value added to any project is immeasurable. There is no longer a need to start from scratch;

we can build on work already done.

THE KNOWLEDGE

HUB

What if we could integrate all aspects of information into an easy-to-access

space?

CREATIVE

Imagine bringing innovative people together and letting them compose solutions outside the normal workflow, drawing on their deep reservoirs of

knowledge to create a collision of ideas.

ANALYTIC

Envision taking the best information and adding existing knowledge to bring about a new approach to

understanding complex issues.

Bring together the best . . .

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Units are able to locate and use knowledge generated by on-the-ground communities and build better strategies by sharing concepts and experiences.

ENHANCING

Team members can view presentations from field offices through video or power points from a central access point giving them real-time information and knowledge.

CONNECTING

Experts can bring their vision of knowledge and skills to life through a net-work of shared information. Innovators and specialists have access to knowledge and data at their fingertips.

SHARING

Imagine you have a meeting with a senior policy maker and have a short time to put together a presentation. You start sifting through mountains of information that is not organized according to the topic areas of your interest. An otherwise simple task suddenly becomes very challenging.

Envision a solution in which you have access to a brief easily understandable synopsis that you could draw from. Envision being able to easily find additional information and being assured of its high quality and relevance.

What if we could combine theory and practice to create knowledge products of relevance and value? What if we could easily find what we are looking for, re-package it to suit our needs, and share it with others? What if we could readily tap into the expertise available within and outside the Bank?

ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE

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“Information is a source of learning. But unless it is organized, processed, and available to the right people in a format for decision making, it is a burden, not a benefit.”

William Pollard

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Think of the possibilities that can open up when information is transformed from an inaccessible

“bin of knowledge” to an accessible and organized source of wisdom.

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ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE

A knowledge coach on your side!Just like in life, sometimes information needs to be distrib-uted on the fly while you are trying to get other things done. What if you had a knowledge coach who could help you be more productive, organized and efficient without adding to your existing workload? What if you could tie your shoelaces while running—always being nimble, agile and not missing a step?

“Unwearied ceaseless effort is the price that must be paid for turning faith into a rich infallible experience.”

Mahatma Gandhi

There is so much information

around us. Imagine being able to find what

you want, when you want it and how

you want it.

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Knowledge and innovation are fundamental to staying competitive in a global setting. Acquiring and using knowledge in country offices and at headquarters creates new possibilities. Imagine the organization as a whole being able to access, connect and distribute information and knowledge through networks and innovative sharing formats. Envision training geared towards staying ahead of the curve, not just catching up to it. Decision making would be sound because the knowledge it was built on is the most current, informative and appropriate.

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

Henry Ford

. . . It can be used anywhere!

Once information has been organized . . .

Creating social media products for better knowledge sharing

Showcasing the “Knowledge Bank” in South Asia

Launching Open Data at Headquarters

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CONNECTING PEOPLE AND IDEAS

Envision the exchange of knowledge, ideas and information in a safe environment, across borders and time zones. Think of reaching out to the most knowledgeable people in the field through a network of peers.

Imagine accessing information and knowledge that has been tried and tested by others and found to be of the highest quality and most effective in achieving our goals.

What if it were possible to identify and easily fill gaps in our knowledge from within the network of our colleagues, clients and business partners?

“Knowledge flows along existing pathways in organizations. If we want to understand how to improve the flow of knowledge, we need to understand those pathways.”

Larry Prusak

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“I attribute the little I know to my not having been ashamed to ask for information, and to my rule of conversing with all descriptions of men on those topics that form their own peculiar professions and pursuits.”

John Locke

“A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years mere study of books. ”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Even when people disagree,

a dialogue is started and information flows. A good argument can result in new

approaches to problems with new partnerships. By allowing for an

open forum and safe space to have these debates, knowledge is created and shared without

fear of recrimination or adverse effects.

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CONNECTING PEOPLE AND IDEAS

Knowledge as a currencyJust as money flows across borders, so does knowledge. It is, in fact, a universal currency. Around the world, conversa-tions take place and information moves from continent to continent, regardless of form or creator.

Imagine being able to leverage collective knowledge and build on the incredible diversity of our clients. Imagine if the unique assets of our knowledge bank could continue to grow exponentially, unhindered by borders, time or space.

Just as successful corporations take advantage of talent around the globe, so must we. Envision clients, partners and stakeholders continuously engaging in an open flow of dialogue.

“The more extensive a man’s knowledge of what has been done, the greater will be his power of knowing what to do.”

Benjamin Disraeli

“Making personal knowledge available to others is the central activity of the knowledge-creating company. It takes place continuously and at all levels of the organization.”

Ikujiro Nonaka

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“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create.”

Albert Einstein

Linking knowledge from around the worldHDN has a global reach, with experts who seek to bring a world of knowledge together, and are highly sought by our partners inside and outside the Bank. By opening up our knowledge banks, we can facilitate contacts, create streamlined projects and connect with those we are trying most to help.

Bringing our expertise to the world and connecting clients and partners through our vision

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MAKING SMART PEOPLE LEARN

Even the greatest of minds cannot function in a vacuumThere is always a need to be stimulated and learn from others. Often the best way to grow one’s own sphere of knowledge is by accepting that there may be others who know more than us. Building a network of profes-sionals, laypersons and colleagues who are available to show us new and innovative approaches and engage with us, can only happen when we reach out and engage them.

It is seldom easy to ask for help, particularly when one is considered an authority within a field, but doing precisely that is crucial to the process of expanding the learning curve. While we may not immediately see a link to an unrelated field of knowledge, the act of confer-ring with others may be all it takes to generate that “aha” moment.

“Professionals embody the learning dilemma: They are enthusiastic about continuous improvement—and often the biggest obstacle to its success.”

Chris Argyris

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“Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. It may not be difficult to store up in the mind a vast quantity of facts within a comparatively short time, but the ability to form judgments requires the severe discipline of hard work and the tempering heat of experience and maturity. ”

Calvin Coolidge

Envision a space where

regions, sectors, and country offices

can come together and exchange knowledge, ideas and experiences

in a safe and open environment.

Face-to-Face Workshops

Online Forums

Annual Meetings

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MAKING SMART PEOPLE LEARN

“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer .”

Albert Einstein

“None of us is as smart as all of us”Japanese Proverb

Even the best

and the brightest grapple with problems for which there are no

easy solutions. Often they don’t think to look out-side their own sphere

of expertise.

Making a light bulb

go off is often the result of asking colleagues for input, even if they are

not experts in your area, but have institutional or practical

experience that can be “tweaked” to help find

a solution.

When experts, col-

leagues and out-of-the-box thinking come together, the

pieces fall into place.

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Daring to fail, what a challenge!Imagine you have failed to meet your objective but still have the courage to share your experiences with the team, knowing they can learn not only from what went right, but from where you went wrong.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Thomas Alva Edison

“Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”

Bill Gates

We have a culture where knowledge flows and is shared

We provide services for our clients that are faster, more accurate and of better value by having a knowledge network

We are leaders in information- sharing and helping others fill their knowledge gaps

We lead the way in knowledge communities that benefit us and our clients

We make great things happen by sharing our knowledge and expertise both within HDN and with our clients

The Future

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MESSAGE FROM MAHMOUD MOHIELDIN

The next frontier for international development is to leverage knowledge to help economies grow, to create jobs and opportunities, and, above all, to help them fight poverty.

Over the last year, under the leadership of the Knowledge and Learning Council, we have worked with an array of leading thinkers around the world, to see how the land-scape of knowledge and needs of our clients have changed. We launched the first of a series of annual reports on Knowledge for Development, which takes stock of the array of knowledge work we do as we try to rethink how we can continue to bring the highest value to clients, given the increasing number of development knowledge providers, the evolving needs of our clients, and rapid developments in technology for sharing knowledge.

A world of opportunity awaits us. The most rapidly develop-ing countries are new, rich sources of knowledge that need to be tapped. International organizations, think tanks, CSOs and the private sector offer new opportunities for partner-ships, which can only strengthen the quality of knowledge services we provide to our clients. This knowledge must not just be available; it must also be made accessible in new and innovative ways. We must facilitate the sharing of knowledge in ways that enable governments and people to learn from one another, no matter where they sit.

I invite you to join me in this aspiration—and I hope that the initiatives you have seen so far have stimulated your imagination and fueled your resolve!

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EnhancingLearning

Connectingto Succeed

BuildingPartnerships

SharingExperience

Collaboratingand Leading

ExpandingAccessibility

AddingValue

FacilitatingConversation

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ThinkCreateCommunicate

A C O N C E P T B O O K

Mukesh Chawla ProducerMarlene Justsen Creative DirectorSagarika Senapaty AdvisorWill Kemp Graphic Designer