Here are a few of our favorite knowledge management quotes and how to apply them and the principles of Knowledge Sharing in your team.
Everyone’s a philosopher until you have to put things into practice; then it becomes another matter entirely.
The pragmatic principles of Knowledge sharing from our perspective are quite simple;
- Knowledge must be shared in the moment to be relevant
- Knowledge sharing is a Competitive Advantage
- Knowledge sharing happens when information flows throughout the organization, cross-functionally and across locations
- Knowledge sharing creates a culture of learning
We’re on a mission to help businesses unlock the next level of growth through Knowledge Sharing so we sought out some of our favorite Knowledge Management quotes of all time.
But first, what exactly is knowledge management?
What is knowledge management?
In formal terms, Knowledge Management (KM) refers to the systematic process of capturing, distributing, and effectively using knowledge. KM is made up of;
- Documentation / SOP creation – the actual information and how it’s captured and created.
- Knowledge organization – where the information sits in the business
- Knowledge sharing / knowledge transfer – how knowledge is shared with team members
- Knowledge application – how knowledge is used to achieve certain efficiency and competitive goals.
What this really means is that your organization utilizes certain knowledge in order to function. This is made up of a bunch of stuff including SOPs and processes, specialist industry knowledge and specialist skills that your team members have.
This effectively allows your business to achieve certain things like;
- Improve performance, bring about innovation, and generate competitive advantage by making the collective knowledge of the organization accessible to all employees.
- Enhance customer service by providing workers with quick access to information.
- Streamline operations and reduce costs by eliminating redundant or ineffective processes.
- Enhance employee retention rates by recognizing the value of employees’ knowledge and rewarding them for it.
- Make quicker, more informed decisions by making relevant knowledge readily available to the decision-makers.
The goals of KM are to leverage organizational knowledge to increase efficiency, reduce costly redundancies, improve the quality of decision-making, and foster innovation by encouraging the free flow of ideas.
Knowledge management quotes we love 
Our humble opinion is that knowledge is rendered entirely useless if not shared. We had to add in the age-old adage here “if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go further, go together”. It sounds cliche, but it’s the truth.
The Future of Knowledge sharing means that employees can be connected to organizational information faster than the click of a button. Ideally, information should be instantaneously accessible no matter where a team member may find themselves.
We don’t know who said this, but it’s pretty spot on! (excuse the pun). If you make knowledge easy to apply, it makes working life increasingly productive and impactful. At Whale, we try to learn something new every day, and we share new knowledge within Whale and back to the team every week. How are you applying and sharing knowledge in your team?
"If HP knew what HP knows, we’d be three times more productive." – Former Hewlett-Packard CEO, Lew Platt
How much knowledge is sitting inside your organization and more importantly, how much of it is being shared? Just imagine the possibilities for growth and productivity if you were able to harness the power of internal knowledge management in such a manner that it became your knowledge-sharing competitive advantage? Just imagine!
"Developing a Knowledge sharing culture is a consequence of Knowledge Management, not a prerequisite." – Carla O’Dell, renowned author and President of APQC (American Productivity & Quality Center).
Whilst we agree that a knowledge-sharing culture isn’t a consequence of Knowledge Management, Knowledge sharing certainly goes a long way to creating a knowledge-sharing culture.
"Too often, people think of knowledge management as a noun. They’re mistaken: Knowledge Management is a verb, a way of getting work done." – Jeff Angus
We wholeheartedly agree and would take it one step further to say that if you make ‘the way’ of acquiring knowledge easy, in a manner that flows to the seeker, you’re likely to get a whole lot more engagement.
A Few more Knowledge Management Quotes we love
"Knowledge management fails when people need common information but don’t need each other." – Andy Boyd
Remember how once upon a time most people worked in silos? When teams stayed inside their areas of expertise? When someone needed something, they simply asked. Not only are those days gone but they were flawed and left many things ‘open to translation’.
"There is no wealth like knowledge, and no poverty like ignorance." – Buddha, c. 400/500 BC
Our money is on the fact that the most successful businesses in the world in the future will come from connected teams who have their finger on the pulse, and data, not necessarily from those with the biggest budgets.
"In order to properly understand the big picture, everyone should fear becoming mentally clouded and obsessed with one small section of truth." – Xunzi, Chinese Confucian philosopher
You should be able to have company policies on hand. You should be able to find the HR policy on leave or access your company’s brand information without having to go and look for it in a folder, much less having to email (we can’t believe we just said that) someone. Internal email is so last century and as for looking for documents? Well, that’s very BC – Before Covid.
"In vain have you acquired knowledge if you have not imparted it to others." – Deuteronomy Rabbah, c.900
We’ve seen many a start-up fail because the brilliance of the CEO has not been shared with the team. We believe that a CEO’s job is to impart the vision, inspiration, and knowledge he/she has to each and every team member, thereby creating an empowered team.
"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow." – Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, lecturer, and poet
Growth is the basis and the starting point for why an organization or start-up exists. It’s all about growing something from an inspired idea, and once it’s been born trying to scale it as quickly as possible. BUT growth shouldn’t mean chaos. You can grow in a systemized way, ask us how.
Company knowledge should flow, not have to be sought for. All humans tend to take the path of least resistance, so we’re less likely to go look for a piece of information than we are to open it if it were to magically arrive at the exact time we need it. This is why we build Whale and are creating the Future of Knowledge sharing.
"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge." – Stephen Hawking, British theoretical physicist and cosmologist
There’s only one thing worse than someone who knows nothing, it’s someone who knows nothing but thinks they know everything. For your teams to be effective, company knowledge should be easily accessible and should flow where needed.
Time is Money Growth. Wealthy is the company that can create more time. How does one create more time when there are only 24 hours in a day? One creates time by eliminating meaningless and repetitive tasks such as trying to find information. Those who succeed at scaling do so because they’ve systemized their processes and have unleashed more time which can be better spent focusing on the customer and growth.
Love our Knowledge Management Quotes?
It’s essential to understand and overcome the challenges associated with documenting SOPs and processes because the success of your organization depends on it!
Yes, it’s that critical!
Clear and concise SOPs and processes, along with the right document processing tools, help ensure that everyone in the organization is on the same page and working towards the same goals. They also improve efficiency and reduce errors, which can save time and money in the long run.
Bottom line?
In the realm of knowledge management, the integration of systematic practices is not only beneficial but essential for organizational growth and sustainability.
Technology is the best way to systemize knowledge. Tools like Whale can assist you in scaling knowledge for the growth of your business.
As businesses continue to navigate the complexities of AI, the implementation of knowledge management systems will be fundamental as a competitive advantage but as a fundamental pillar supporting organizational success.
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FAQs on Knowledge Management
What are some examples of knowledge sharing?
We are all exposed to knowledge sharing every day! It’s called Google. And when we ask each other a question? That’s knowledge sharing!
In a work environment, knowledge sharing can take of a variety of forms.
- Answers. Replies to questions. Solutions to problems. …
- Written word. Documents. Books. …
- Project Materials. Requirements. Functional specifications. …
- Classification. Taxonomies. Ontologies. …
- Visual. Infographics. Images. Graphics. …
- Processes. Procedures. …
- Software. Source code. …
- Learning. Training.
How is knowledge management used in a business?
Knowledge management is used for;
- Documenting company processes
- Onboarding new employees
- Training team members
- Helping companies that run on EOS
- Achieving a competitive advantage
- And more!
What types of knowledge are there?
There are 3 different types of knowledge. Tacit knowledge, Implicit knowledge and explicit knowledge.
1. Tacit Knowledge:
- What It Is: Knowledge gained from personal experience. It’s understood naturally, without needing to be explained.
- Challenge: Hard to put into words, so sharing it with others is tough.
- Examples: Understanding a language, recognizing faces, or having leadership skills.
2. Implicit Knowledge:
- What It Is: Similar to tacit knowledge but easier to share once it’s identified. It’s the kind of knowledge that hasn’t been written down yet.
- Distinction: Unlike tacit knowledge, it’s not inherently hard to explain; it’s just not documented.
- Examples: Unwritten tips and tricks for completing a task, or the "know-how" behind a process.
3. Explicit Knowledge:
- What It Is: Knowledge that is fully documented and can be easily shared.
- Accessibility: Stored in documents, making it simple to spread across an organization.
- Examples: Manuals, research papers, databases, and instructional guides.
What are some knowledge management tools?
Knowledge management tools help organize and share information within organizations. Here’s a breakdown:
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Document Management Systems: These are like digital filing cabinets where you store various digital files—PDFs, photos, text documents. They make finding and using these documents easier, improving how people work. An example is Google Drive.
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Content Management Systems (CMS): These tools help manage website content, allowing users to edit and post different types of media, like text, audio, and video, without needing to confuse them with document systems. WordPress is a well-known example.
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Intranets: Think of intranets as a private internet just for your company, where you can share resources, tools, and information only with people in your organization. They can be a bit expensive and require maintenance but are great for internal collaboration. Microsoft SharePoint is an example.
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Wikis / Knowledge Platforms: Wikis are super user-friendly apps or tools that anyone in your team can update or edit. They’re great for compiling information that needs frequent updates, though there’s a risk of inaccurate or outdated info being added. Whale is a great example!
It’s best to investigate exactly what software you require before making a decision on what to implement in your business.
Key Terms & Further Reading on About Knowledge Management
What is your greatest challenge?
SOP & Process Documentation
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