It has always been important to share knowledge in order to advance any interest in business or research. The advent of the Internet has allowed this process to accelerate. Not everyone takes advantage of this opportunity to construct a knowledge management system for their organization.
This is unfortunate because proper utilization of information always leads to increased success. Leading businesses, on the Internet and in the reality of brick-and-mortar establishments, understand that information is a product. It has a value of its own. It is just as vital as any raw materials or skilled labor. This has always been true but it has never been as obvious or as immediately pertinent as it is now.
Knowledge Management in History
Information is more than just a lot of data. Even centuries ago, it was necessary to acquire up-to-date information in order to compete successfully against other interests. Nations and businesses needed to do more than acquire information about trade routes and new skills. In order to grow and present a unified front to the public, they had to make sure that this information was shared among members of the same group.
Over time, the speed with which knowledge could be shared increased. Radio and telephone were major steps in this regard. However, the Internet has not only made knowledge sharing almost instantaneous, it has also enabled any individual to disperse this data to a virtually unlimited number of people in that short period of time.
What Are the Benefits of Modern Knowledge Sharing?
The same holds true today but the urgency for this sharing has increased considerably. Without an efficient knowledge management system in place, companies will lose ground to others that distribute the latest scientific data or social research to its staff members. Widespread sharing of knowledge allows every employee or agent to act on current information. This leads to competition that is effective and also increases sales and profits in businesses.
These increased profits are the outcome of several factors resulting from improvements in knowledge management. Employees grow in confidence when they know that they have access to the latest important information about their work. While past efforts have focused on periodic classes or meetings to create this effect, studies have shown that most workplace learning happens informally. There is no better way to support this format for learning than to make the knowledge available via the tools provided by the Internet.
Costs are also reduced by proper knowledge sharing in a business or other organization. When workers are constantly informed about changes and take part in the distribution of important data, they recognize their roles as vital to the welfare of the whole team and company. When workers feel that they are in charge of such endeavors, costs are reduced because they feel motivated to improve efficiency on their own.
Managing knowledge freely in any organization is almost always beneficial. While there is always data that must be protected in any business, most information achieves its highest level of usefulness when it is proliferated throughout a body of people.