Schleif/Learning

Workplace Knowledge Capture –

Workplace knowledge capture is “information gathering” as a formal development process – few things contribute more to the overall success of a company, or group of people.

An important first step in any learning tool creation process is what I call, the “harvesting of workplace knowledge and information”. All workplace knowledge is created in first the minds of individuals and then placed in various places including corporate documents, PowerPoint presentations (.ppt), lecture notes, and obscure data bases. I call this type of company data… “workplace tribal knowledge”.

We’ll need to utilize various information gathering techniques to be successful.

Our information gathering techniques include:

• Interviews – SMEs (subject matter experts)
• Surveys and checklists
• Visual observation of actual process steps

Our next step is the creation of portable knowledge assets. I define portable knowledge assets (PoKA’s) as those learning and development assets that include easily disseminated e-learning programs, .ppt’s, snippets, digital stories and other educational learning documents and tools. Once produced, these assets form the backbone of our knowledge acquisition process, and can be viewed and transported using electronic devices and are deployed within the company to ease the sharing of knowledge and are utilized during deliberate practice activities.