How sharing knowledge within a community benefits a business?

Unlike tangible resources and material assets, which can quickly become available to competitors, Knowledge is a unique resource as it increases in value through use.

But knowledge, as an intangible resource, firstly exists within the mind of the individual.

To be able to maximize the value of this resource is difficult, even impossible, without understanding how to leverage and share knowledge throughout the organization.

“ Ideas breed new ideas, and shared knowledge stays with the giver while it enriches the receiver …only new knowledge resources – ideas – have unlimited potential for growth” (Davenport and Prusak (1998)) 

Businesses that seek to leverage expertise and know-how to add value to their business need to turn their companies into vibrant communities of talented people gathered around the common goal or idea and dedicated to their collective work.

Communities are significant for several reasons; in terms of knowledge as a resource, they are settings in which not only information is disseminated, but in which effective knowledge sharing happens.

How sharing knowledge within a community benefits your business?

This is what you should know.

Sharing knowledge strengthens the organizational structure and working practice

Knowledge sharing is effective in the companies with a flexible, decentralized organizational structure.

When new knowledge is created at a more operational level, it can become a great challenge for management to spread and harness this new knowledge through the organization. As both managers and leaders play an equally important part as committed employees in creating a vibrant community, knowledge transfer is more successful in a highly flexible and responsive environment.

As the community is of vital importance for an engaged and distributed management, organizational structure both encourages sharing knowledge and is strengthened by leveraging maximum value and advantage from sharing knowledge.

When you share knowledge, you channel effective participation

An effective mechanism for gaining knowledge is to request help from someone who may possess the knowledge or expertise required. This request leads to the creation of new knowledge, enabling the development of a solution to a problem.

The result is that a simple individual contribution can easily turn into collective action.

As people appear to be more willing to spend their valuable time to inform others when they experience a sense of “belonging together”, knowledge sharing can channel effective participation.

When active participation is enabled and supported, individuals share and combine their knowledge, and apart from having personal benefits, they are also contributing to the community’s greater worth.

Knowledge sharing builds community's integrity and strengthens company’s culture

If someone perceives another person to be unreliable, one is not likely to share knowledge or engage in cooperative interaction. Moreover, the belief that one’s contribution may not be important or relevant can have a significantly negative effect on one’s motivation to share knowledge.

Similarly, if a community is seen as upholding trustworthy values (commitment, honesty, reliability, mutual reciprocity), there is likely to be a greater degree of motivation to participate and share knowledge.

Trust is an important facilitator in communication and collaboration and has an important role in motivating people to share knowledge. Moreover, organizations with high-trust outperform low trust companies by nearly 300 percent.

If you have integrity in a community, your engagement in knowledge sharing is greater.

While, on one hand, without relationships that are high in trust no community can be created, knowledge sharing within a community can strengthen personal relationships and build stronger community’s integrity, fostering a healthy company culture.

Collaborate and share knowledge to give birth to new ideas

Knowledge collaboration occurs often and in a variety of ways, depending on different factors, but, along with efficient collaborative technology, a community is an imperative for effective collaboration.

Knowledge sharing and collaboration are interdependent processes; by

Keeping participants informed of new knowledge, decisions that have been made, paths that have been taken, and directions that have been set, they can effectively collaborate without spending time or other resources on gaining the basic knowledge.

Moreover, knowledge sharing allows for immediate feedback crucial for the community and faster identification of a common problem-solving approach and provides the opportunity to identify interdependencies, joint engagement, and development of common goals - all critical component of effective collaboration.

Source:  https://www.tallyfox.com

 

We share knowledge to foster collective creativity and innovation

In a community, which is characterized by high levels of trust, shared behavioral norms, mutual respect, and reciprocity, knowledge is seen as a public good, and as such, a great deal of importance is placed on sharing knowledge.

In a strong network of like-minded individuals, knowledge sharing is likely to be motivated by a deeper sense of satisfaction of being committed to the same idea. And it is through recognizing the common goal and objective that people show great creativity and innovative approach.

Both creativity and innovation are constant processes that involve the free flow of information and ideas. Today, especially with effective collaborative technology, knowledge-sharing can foster collective creativity and give birth to innovative thinkers.

Moreover, as communities are not constrained by time and space, they can span organizational boundaries utilizing some form of technological support and further leverage knowledge potential.  

For instance, as it has been argued that conversation may be the only effective means of sharing knowledge, conversations today occur electronically, in various ways. 

“Conversation is a meeting of minds with different memories and habits. When minds meet, they don’t just exchange facts: they transform them, reshape them, draw different implications from them, engage in new trains of thought. A Conversation doesn’t just reshuffle the cards: it creates new cards.” 

Technology enables the direct mechanisms for engaging another member of the group who may possess the knowledge one seeks by posting an open question or a request for assistance on the community’s discussion board, for instance. This way the conversation becomes accessible to the whole of the community and can be archived and accessed by other members.

With technology blurring the boundaries of the physical and digital world, new technologies are directly enabling new forms of connectivity where knowledge flows freely, empowering collaboration, creativity, and innovation.

Knowledge is widely recognized as a source of competitive advantage, regardless of type and size of a company, or economic sector. All business have to do to benefit from sharing knowledge is choose the right collaborative technology.

Knowledge sharing: “A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers”

Fundamentally knowledge management is about making the right knowledge available to the right people at the right time. So why is it many employees and employers fail to share valuable information that could save someone else time or win someone else new business? Also, I strongly believe what goes around comes around, so share knowledge how you would like knowledge to be shared with you, don’t hoard it away like a squirrel stashing nuts.

Many would say the purpose of knowledge sharing is to help your company meet its business objectives. However, knowledge is often seen as information, but I read a great article recently that is spot on. It used a cake as a metaphor. It stated that the ingredients were the information. It then stated a good cook would probably be able to make the cake and a good cake, however a not so experienced cook may not. The reason is there is no recipe. The knowledge is the recipe. Now the good cook will make an excellent cake.

There is also a lot of information on the internet today, however, they say 70% of statistics are made up, so what do you believe? Therefore the success of knowledge sharing between peers is crucial, but it can depend on the habit and willingness of you and your employees to seek out and be receptive to, these knowledge sources. It also relies heavily on implementing and using the right tools to share.

Here are some key areas where knowledge sharing can aid the business;

·         One point to note. We are in a world of accelerated change these days, so keeping knowledge up to date is just as key as starting it in the first place. Staff turnover. Knowledge doesn’t walk out the door when staff leaves and when new staff joins, knowledge gives your new employees a much better chance to get into the flow of day to day work at a quicker rate. Think how much time you spend training new staff the same subject matter over and over.

·         Knowledge sharing can save time. Think how much time you spend searching for information in many systems, and how many times do you find nothing relevant or you question the validity. Knowledge sharing by the people you know and work with should build trust in the information.

·         Competitive advantage. If you aren’t doing it you can be damn sure one of your competitors is. Why would you turn down the chance to gain competitive edge

Source: http://www.nikecsolutions.com/en/knowledge-sharing-a-good-decision-is-based-on-knowledge-and-not-on-numbers/

10 benefits of knowledge sharing

When you dream of conquering the world and you fill your agenda with daunting projects, it’s often necessary to equip yourself with a large mug of coffee and with the right people. Any successful project, be it big or small, has one thing at its core: effective collaboration, and you can achieve it with knowledge sharing.

"In our research on knowledge transfer, we have seen companies greatly disadvantaged, if not crippled, by knowledge loss. Certainly, some expert knowledge may be outdated or irrelevant by the time its possessors are eligible for retirement, but not the skills, know-how, and capabilities that underlie critical operations — both routine and innovative. Organizations cannot afford to lose these deep smarts” says Dorothy Leonard, the William J. Abernathy Professor of Business Administration Emerita at Harvard Business School.

Here are 10 benefits that you can get from sharing your knowledge:

1. It helps you grow

As Greek says “The question is not whether your company’s employees and leaders have the right skills; it’s whether they have the potential to learn new ones”. Having a fixed set of skills is what makes you proficient in a specific area – but growth means continuous development. They say you could learn something from everybody in your life. Better make sure you actually do.

2. It helps you stay motivated

Getting exposed to different skills and know-how from your peers can help you want more from yourself, engaging everybody in a game plan of acquiring knowledge. We’re all achievers on the inside. Sharing knowledge practices pushes you to become better at what you do while driving you at the same time to contribute with your own insights.

3. Getting top talent access

“If you’re the smartest person in the room, then you’re in the wrong room” the saying goes. Knowledge sharing helps you get feedback and help with your projects from those more skilled or with a different set of competencies. You can always reach out to your peers – you’ll be amazed of what they can teach you in no time. Not to mention the access to upper management expertise!

4. Recognition

So many recent studies underline the importance of recognition at work – it is one of the most powerful motivators and will highly contribute to both employee retention and engagement. Sharing your knowledge with others will give your talents more exposure, thus giving the people you interact with the opportunity to identify you as a valuable expert. Helping others can help you build your reputation. And that’s a valuable asset!

5. Generating new ideas

They say two heads think better than one. When different skills and experiences collide, eye-opening ideas and solutions emerge. The creative energy of brain swarming can generate faster and more relevant solutions to your current assignments, supporting you in successfully achieving your tasks. Tribal knowledge FTW!

6. Future leaders discovery

Sharing knowledge can be a great tool for everyone to PR themselves. All you need to do is to be permanently connected to the hot business topics and offer your expertise every time you can. When people are open to prove their value through their competence, it’s easier to notice the ones likely to organize people and to take initiative. The leaders of tomorrow are among those.

7. Limiting the skill gap

Your team is as strong as its weakest member. By sharing knowledge and talking about certain decisions and procedures, the new guys or juniors could easily acquire new sets of skills. Create an environment where everybody is encouraged to ask questions, and help professionals in all your locations and job positions stay updated with the latest information in their field.

8. Team cementing and silo breaking

When employees, teams, and leaders share ideas and resources with each other, the feeling that they pursue a common goal becomes authentic. The feeling of being part of a functional and collaborative team boosts enthusiasm and empowers everyone to exchange knowledge, breaking down the silo mentality that affects both employees morale and ultimately reducing your business efficiency.

9. Sense of purpose

There’s a thin line between employees “sort of doing stuff” and those that have a sense of purpose. By creating an environment where people feel like their knowledge makes a difference, they will clearly see how their work fits in the bigger mission of the organization. Work without purpose is no work at all.

10. Operational efficiency

That’s perhaps the most important thing. Sharing knowledge increases the productivity of your team. You can work faster and smarter, as you get easier access to the internal resources and expertise within your organization. Projects don’t get delayed, people swimmingly get the information they need in order to do their jobs and your business fills the bill.

The “Knowledge is Power” adage is long dead as the new reality of the workforce has taught us that sharing knowledge is beneficial to everybody. So start capturing and communicating your organization’s deep smarts and…

Happy knowledge sharing

Take your coaching to next level

Have you always wanted to impact the lives of those around you?

Do you feel a deep sense of joy when someone genuinely thanks you for bringing about a positive change in their life?

The feeling of helping and supporting other people is immensely rewarding. Guiding someone through life-altering changes can leave you with a sense deep, impactful meaning that permeates throughout your life.

Fortunately, at PAPSWAP, you have the ability to do that with people every day.

But…

Imagine multiplying that feeling? Expanding your Impact?

10 reasons you should share your knowledge for free

 1. Gain Valuable Job Experience

Recent evidence reveals tha0t companies are hiring people for their own interest to be full-time

employees. So, why not get in on some of that hiring action? By interning at a company you wish to

work for, you increase your chances of getting hired permanently than if you apply for a job through

the normal channels. Opportunities can work for new graduates and experienced professionals alike.

2. Build aPortfolio

If you are a freelance web designer or consultant, the more happy clients you have, the better you will

look to prospective ones. By occasionally working for free on a successful new company logo or a

sought-after business plan, you can grow your portfolio while attracting the attention of new prospects.

3. Stay SharpWhile Unemployed

Job loss can deal a heavy blow to your ego and self-esteem. In this employment market, it can take

months (if not years) to find a new job, so what better way to use some of that downtime than to do

something to boost morale? Volunteer with companies in your field to keep yourself working and

simultaneously increase the odds of landing a full-time job.

4. Learn NewSkills

You may have graduated from college just 10 years ago, but that doesn’t mean your skills are up to

snuff. For most jobs, ability requirements change almost overnight, and you need to stay on top of your

game to remain attractive to employers. Do a little work for free in your chosen field to acquire or hone

the job skills that employers look for; additionally, this will put you in front of hiring managers and

potential employers.

5. Gain Exposure for Your Work

Are you an artist or photographer? By taking on free gigs with corporations, you can showcase your

work in bigger and better markets than were previously available to you.

Let’s say a major soda company has a competition for a new seasonal logo, and the prize doesn’t

involve any money. Rather, the winning logo will be on soda cans for a full month, along with your

signature and website. It would be foolish to turn down that kind of exposure just because it lacks an

up-front financial reward.

6. Gain Enriching Experiences

Even if you have a full-time job, it doesn’t mean what you do there is personally rewarding. If this is

you, consider volunteering on projects of personal interest during non-working hours. It could be

reading to kids at the local library or serving Meals on Wheels down at the retirement center. If your

day job isn’t rewarding, make sure the rest of your life is!

7. Use Your Skills to Trade

No one person is good at everything. But by swapping your expertise for someone else’s, both parties

can benefit without any money trading hands.

For example, if you are a tax preparer and need a small construction project done, you could potentially

trade your professional services with a contractor who needs his taxes done. In fact, bartering used to be

the only way people exchanged goods and services – who says you can’t bring it back?

8. Build Your Resume

Chances are, if you are just starting out after high school or college, you will lack the experience

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Needed to land the job of your dreams. If this is the case, why not offer the skills you do have for free in

Order to get your foot in the door?

I once accepted a video editing assignment a few days after I graduated from film school that didn’t pay

Anything. Money wasn’t the driving factor, but I did get some desperately needed experience

to improve my resume.

9. Start a Business

If you were to build the next Facebook or Twitter, you would probably have to work long hours for

Little or no pay – along with no guarantee of ever making a dime. Don’t be fooled; working for yourself

is often the same as working for free, especially when you are just starting out. But if starting your own

Company is on your mind and is what you want to eventually achieve, isn’t working for free to get it off

The ground worth the effort?

10. Work for a Cause

Non-profits are always looking for volunteer workers to help out their cause. Why not use your skill set

to move something forward that you truly believe in? Whether it’s an environmental group, a religious

Organization, or a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, your assistance could be just what they need,

Especially in rough economic times.

10 Free Skills you can learn with in 3 months by PAPSWAP

If you're entering the job market or a new industry, you may find your resume lacking in skills and experience — especially if you just graduated college. It's tempting to lie, but if a new employer ever asked you to use any of those fake skills, like producing a video or speaking French, you're suddenly in very hot water.

There's a much easier way to fill up your resume: Actually, learn some skills. There are plenty of impressive abilities that you can learn in six months or less, which is a great way to catch a potential employer's attention for all the right reasons.

No matter what your chosen vocation may be, here are 10 resume-worthy skills you can learn in half a year, with links to tutorials to get you started.

1. Image and Video Editing

More and more jobs are looking for basic photo and video editing skills, so it's useful to spend your free time — whether it's weekends or a summer — mastering at least one editing program.

For image editing, the easiest and most widely used program to learn is Photoshop, but if you know that professionals in your field use other programs such as Corel Paintshop Pro X6, learn that instead.

For video editing, there are tons of different programs you can use, including Final Cut Pro, After Effects, Lightworks and Sony Vegas. Possessing the ability to work with multimedia is a great asset for your resume and for future employee

2. CPR and First Aid

Not only is this an impressive skill to have for a job, it's also useful in your daily life. To get your two-year CPR certification, you can take classes at three specific organizations: the Indian Red Cross, the Indian Heart Association or the National Safety Council.

While you will need to take a refresher course every time your certification expires, you will be able to help people in medical situations and show your potential employers how responsible you are. If you want to take it a step further, you can get your EMT certification as well.

3. Serving Alcohol

If you're interested in working at a high-end restaurant, why not learn how to bartend? The job isn't as simple as it looks, even if it's in your average bar. Certain restaurants will even test prospective servers by asking them how wine should be served —naming different varietals and what types of food they should be paired with — and even the ingredients for specific mixed drinks.

You can look for classes in your area or learn the basics online, and with practice, you could be serving fine wine at a sophisticated dining establishment in no time.

4. Blogging

It seems as if everyone has a blog these days, but having an online space to write out your ideas can actually impress future bosses. Crafting well-written pieces on a blog can show strong writing proficiency and a self-starting attitude.

Blogging also helps you find your own distinctive voice and writing style, which takes time and effort to develop, especially depending on your field. It even gives you the chance to shine by showing off awesome HTML designs and features.

5. Project Management

The key to being a leader is a mixture of specific skills and practice. Mastering project management, or at least learning the basics, can help even if your field isn't business-related.

Learning how to work with a budget, assign tasks and manage necessary paperwork are useful skills for many different vocations. It may be difficult for some, but it doesn't hurt to try to see if this is a role that suits you.

6. Microsoft Office

You're probably familiar with the many programs of Microsoft Office, including Word and Powerpoint. While many people know the basic functions, there are hidden features which can turn your report or presentation from passable to unforgettable.

Mastering Excel can be especially beneficial, like grasping the concept of pivot tables, and can help fast-track your career.

7. Notarizing

Becoming a certified notary public is a lot easier than most people think. Depending on state regulations, there is an exam followed by and an oath. Requirements include a clean record and being a legal resident of the state in which you are seeking certification.

8. Scuba Diving

It isn't likely that scuba diving will be tied directly to your prospective field, but it's important to develop your interests as well as take steps to achieve your professional goals.

It takes less than six months to learn how to scuba dive, and it shows that you're not only naturally curious but you also understand the importance of following regulations and safety codes. You can also learn to cook or earn a pilot's license in six months, all of which have benefits and lessons you can bring to an office or another professional setting.

9. Public Speaking

There's nothing quite as useful as being able to speak with confidence and poise to a room full of people, getting your point across in the most effective and persuasive way possible.

Public speaking is a crucial skill to develop, especially in a field where you need to present information or communicate with others frequently. There are typically classes at local colleges or other learning institutions, but you can also attend PAPSWAP live channel on facebook to become more eloquent while working on leadership skills.

10. Foreign Language Basics

Maybe you still remember a little Spanish or French from high school or college. Perhaps you picked up German or Italian from big dinners with your relatives all these years. Or maybe you just have a passion for Japanese or Korean media and have learned some basic phrases. If you have an interest in a foreign language, you can increase your linguistic prowess in a matter of months.

Improving your language skills to get up to a working proficiency can really help pump up your resume. If you have no background in other languages, consider taking sign language classes. Even though some countries have region-specific sign languages (American and British sign languages are different, despite both intended for English), it opens up the possibility to communicate with even more people.

Not all languages are used for communicating person to person — there are various programming languages that you can learn. If your field is mainly online, it's good to start with HTML. There are code-specific classes you can take, and there are great online lessons on sites such as Codecademy. If this is your first coding experience, note that it may take a little longer than six months to understand it fully.