What's New and What's It to You?
Xenia Stanford
The Editor-in-Chief looks at what is new in this issue of KnowMap and knowledge management in general. Sometimes irreverent and sometimes not, she always aims to poke beneath the surface and prod readers into thinking beyond the current clichés surrounding knowledge management.

Time to Shift the Hiring Gears: The Coming Retirement Crisis for Senior Knowledge Professionals
Stephen Abram
In this article on the lack of upcoming new talent to replace retiring knowledge professionals, Abram states: "If almost 50% of the current workforce who are professionally trained and experienced in turning information into knowledge are leaving the workforce over the next 8 years (they are, undoubtedly taking their knowledge with them), AND we haven't trained enough pros to replace them - then how is your organization going to be competitive?" Although he speaks mainly from the Canadian viewpoint, are you sure your organization in your country is safe? In this article, Abram gives tips applicable to anyone on how to avoid this future brain drain.

Where Does Knowledge Belong? Framing the Question
Mark W. McElroy
In this first of two parts on the positioning of KM within an organization, McElroy explores where various interest groups currently view the best placement of KM. However, what these groups seem to forget is the basic question. If KM is the solution, then what is the question? Read this article to find out. In the next issue as the second part of Where Does KM Belong, McElroy will explore A Better Solution.

Can You See What I am Saying?
Michael Losier
Failing to communicate even though your language is as plain as day? What could be more simply stated than the sentence in the title? The lack of communication and failure to share knowledge may be due to simple words that mean little or nothing to others who do not share your preferred neuro-linguistic programming style.

   Standards & Conventions
Digital Preservation Strategies and Principles for a Knowledge Management Initiative
Michael J.D. Sutton
In his previous article, Sutton discussed the framework of emerging standards for Knowledge Management initiatives. In this new article, he prescribes a number of strategies and principles that will prove enormously helpful in our attempts to preserve enterprise Knowledge Management Systems.

   Strategy
Building a KM Program: Toward Business Architecture: Part I: Strategic Intent
Alain J. Godbout
In this new series on building a KM program Godbout takes us beyond the rhetoric about the value of and need for KM to a blueprint by which the business architecture can be created. The first part deals with the strategic intent, the driver for any viable program, and expected deliverables of a KM business architecture.

   Mapping
Syndetic Mapping: Searching for Relationships on the Internet
Xenia Stanford
This article may not be what you think! It is not to find love but to love what you find when searching for information on the Internet. Syndetic mapping can help you plan a search strategy to uncover the most relevant resources among the billion plus pages on the wild and wonderful Web.

Using a Vee Map to Plan Your KM Strategy
Xenia Stanford
Stanford shows a prototype of the knowledge vee or vee heuristic originally developed by Gowin and expanded by Novak. Then she demonstrates how Stanford Solutions modified the vee to assist clients in developing a knowledge management strategy through use of this map template.

   Auditing
Auditing Procedures for Planning Your KM Strategy
Xenia Stanford
Following the structure of the SSI (Stanford Solutions Inc.) vee map, the writer gives examples of the questions and methods for auditing and measuring the various components of the vee to help an organization move from the as-is (current state) to the to-be (ideal state) of a knowledge management strategy. N.B. This is a companion article to Using a Vee Map to Plan Your KM Strategy. Reading the mapping article before this auditing one is recommended.

   Maps
Mapping Needs To Structure Learning Facilitation: Case II
Xenia Stanford
In Case I, Stanford showed how to use a pre-class audit to map needs to structure learning facilitation. What if a pre-audit is not possible? In this second case, conducting and mapping learning needs during the course can still assist in focussing the scope of the class and evaluating the learning at the end. Two maps are shown: a mission map to focus the class on the identified needs and a target map to schedule the day.

The WISHA Map
Xenia Stanford
The techniques that make a site map an effective and actual map are explored using the example of Paul Marsh's design for the WISHA site's map.

Cybermedicine - Systems Thinking Scope and Diagnosis
Xenia Stanford
In this article the use of systems thinking mapping is explained and demonstrated through three maps created by Gunther Eysenbach, MD, regarding the impact of the Internet on medicine.

Featured Event:
Knowledge Champions Institute (KCI), April 18-22, 2001, Arlington, Virginia USA
 
For more on these and other conferences, seminars and workshops, see Events.

Featured Job:
KnowMap, KM Writers
 
For more on this and other available positions, see Jobs.

Map Challenge
Xenia Stanford
Here's your chance to earn fame for your knowledge mapping skills. Submit a knowledge map; the best ones will be featured in a future issue of KnowMap! Look here for contest rules and other related details.

New Reviews:
The Knowledge Management Fieldbook by Wendi R. Bukowitz and Ruth L. Williams

Organigraphs: Drawing How Companies Really Work by Henry Mintzberg and Ludo Van der Heyden

Swing Doors and Musical Chairs by Arnold Kransdorff and Russell Williams

Common Knowledge: How Companies Thrive by Sharing What They Know by Nancy M. Dixon