Recommended Books

Corporate Memories: Strategies for Knowledge Management (Intellectual Capital Series)

by Annie Brooking
London, UK: International Thomson Business Press, 1998

Annie Brooking debunks common myths or empty sayings concerning knowledge management. For example if we are now knowledge workers were we "dumb" workers before? Are employees really the most important corporate asset? Some may actually be liabilities. Yet Brooking believes "Knowledge is a corporate asset which needs to be identified, guarded and shared."

This no-nonsense approach is carried throughout the book as she begins by succinctly giving an overview of the differences between data, information and knowledge; the types of knowledge; intellectual capital and how knowledge adds value. From these basics she helps us identify if our company is knowledge-based and, if not, what is holding it back. She offers very practical techniques for auditing to understand the corporate culture and implementing strategies to elicit, capture and grow knowledge within the organization.

Brooking uses many mapping methods to demonstrate how to understand the impact of corporate culture and knowledge strategies. However, she doesn't belabour the methodologies. She seems to use the Nike philosophy: "Just Do It!"

Although she may be no-nonsense and practical, Brooking is not without humour amid her wisdom. Her anecdotes add interest as they slam dunk her points. She relates how she met a man whose title was the "Corporate Jester" to show us how job titles position the people. She hints "Corporate Jesters" can offer a valuable position today and, just as the Court Jesters of old, are not "fools".

She tells us the tale of the Castaway to show us how e-mail has pervaded our life. In fact she gives us 43 Knowledge Management Concepts in this 181 page book and illustrates them through a combination of diagrams, stories and strategies.

Reading her biography in the back of the book and online demonstrates how well her strategies have served her success. She has held a number of executive positions in Europe and the US and now runs her own consultancy business.

Her book is the third she has written as part of the "Intellectual Capital Series" by this publisher. Corporate Memory: Strategies for Knowledge Management can be purchased from the following:

To order:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

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