In today's scenario, where more and more employees work remotely and where smart working is becoming more and more common, guidelines to avoid the knowledge divide in the company are increasingly essential. This requires knowledge sharing and the adoption of tools that allow the easy retrieval of information created over time.
What does knowledge divide mean and what is a knowledge gap?
The term 'knowledge divide' identifies the gap between different individuals and social groups in the ability to collect, process, use and share information of various kinds. Specifically, in a company or organisation, its meaning is linked to the wealth of information that constitutes intellectual capital and to the individuals who operate within the company.
Closely related is also the concept of the "knowledge gap", which identifies the gap between the information an employee has and the information he/she should have in order to do his/her job better.
The subject in consideration is corporate knowledge, which is collected over the years in the so-called knowledge base. In previous articles, we have discussed its components, the processes required to create it and the difference between tacit and explicit knowledge. The first one is tacit and related to the employee's experience and the other is documented and more easily transmitted.
The concept of knowledge divide and knowledge gap meaning are linked to both of these knowledge types and to the opportunity for employees and divisions to access and use them to make data-based decisions.
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Why is background knowledge absolutely vital?
Relevant background knowledge serves as a crucial foundation for bridging the knowledge divide and eliminating any potential knowledge gaps within the company. While investing in continuous training and the latest technology can certainly help in sharing and accessing information, it is equally important to ensure that employees possess the necessary foundational knowledge to make the most of these resources.
Background knowledge acts as the building blocks upon which new information and skills can be acquired and applied. Without a solid foundation of relevant background knowledge, employees may struggle to fully comprehend and utilize the information shared through training programs or accessible through technology. This can result in a superficial understanding of the material, leading to ineffective decision-making and a limited ability to contribute to the company's overall success.
For example, imagine a new employee joining a marketing department without any prior knowledge of marketing strategies, consumer behavior, or industry trends. While they may receive training on the company's specific marketing processes and tools, the lack of background knowledge in the field can hinder their ability to think critically and strategize effectively. They may struggle to understand the rationale behind certain marketing tactics or fail to recognize emerging trends that could impact their campaigns.
To address this issue, companies should prioritize onboarding programs that not only provide employees with the necessary tools and resources but also focus on building a solid foundation of background knowledge. This can be achieved through comprehensive training modules that cover the fundamental concepts and principles related to their respective roles. By equipping employees with this foundational knowledge, they can better understand and apply the information shared during training sessions and effectively contribute to their teams and the company as a whole.
Moreover, fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing can help employees continually update and expand their background knowledge. Encouraging employees to engage in professional development activities, such as attending industry conferences or participating in online courses, can help fill any existing knowledge gaps and keep employees up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in their field.
In conclusion, while investing in training programs and advanced technology is essential for knowledge sharing and bridging the knowledge divide, it is equally important to recognize the significance of relevant background knowledge. By ensuring that employees possess a solid foundation of background knowledge, companies can maximize the effectiveness of their training efforts and empower employees to make data-driven decisions that drive the company's success.
The risks of not sharing corporate knowledge
It is not always possible to exploit corporate knowledge because it is not easily available in all contexts, or it is organised and categorised differently depending on the departments that create and use it.
This practice in return generates information clusters and data silos, which make it difficult to share corporate knowledge. Very often, there is a lack of common guidelines and policies across departments that dictate how information should be collected and organised. In other cases, employees may not perceive the value of sharing tacit knowledge because it is not promoted at the corporate culture level.
This leads to a lot of data and information collected in the company's documentation being buried, resulting in the so-called 'hidden knowledge'. All this process affects the time and energy of the employees themselves, who often waste time searching for information when they need it, or creating new documentation, not knowing that it already exists or where it is.
How to avoid knowledge gaps in the company and promote knowledge sharing
- Priority: identifying knowledge gaps and filling them
It is very important to find out what your employees don’t know. It goes without saying that the larger an organization is, the more likely it is that gaps will appear between the information employees should have at their disposal and the information they have access to.
Therefore, it is important to invest in continuous training, while also ensuring that company policies are in place to encourage knowledge sharing, the sharing and the circulation of ideas and information. It becomes vital to identify what learning has or has not been retained before it has an adverse impact on employee performance.
- Investing in the latest technology
Huge advances in artificial intelligence have made business tools increasingly powerful and intuitive. Thanks to machine learning and natural language processing software, it is possible to collect the company's knowledge base with no effort, keep it up-to-date and, above all, make it easily accessible to all departments, regardless of where they are located.
- Focus on employees onboarding
When a new employee arrives in the company, it is necessary to train them and transfer all the knowledge so that they can do their job. However, training processes often overload the employee with the knowledge that he or she is unlikely to assimilate. This is why it is necessary to focus on onboarding, the process of getting new employees ready to work, focusing on the information they really need and giving them the tools to access company documentation at any time.
- Make sure it is a continuous cycle
The best way to find and close knowledge gaps is to ensure that not only the learning is conducted but also the evaluation has taken place. Both must be carried out continuously. What occurs usually is that as soon as a learning event ends, information retention immediately begins to degrade, unless it can be continually reinforced until used. Hence, Interval Reinforcement becomes very important to prevent damage being also the only way to make it continuous.
The significance of having the right foundation of background knowledge
However, it is crucial to consider the importance of relevant background knowledge in order to fully bridge the knowledge divide and eliminate any potential knowledge gaps within the company. While investing in continuous training and the latest technology can certainly help in sharing and accessing information, it is equally important to ensure that employees possess the necessary foundational knowledge to make the most of these resources.
Background knowledge serves as the building blocks upon which new information and skills can be acquired and applied. Without a solid foundation of relevant background knowledge, employees may struggle to fully comprehend and utilize the information shared through training programs or accessible through technology. This can result in a superficial understanding of the material, leading to ineffective decision-making and a limited ability to contribute to the company's overall success.
For example, imagine a new employee joining a marketing department without any prior knowledge of marketing strategies, consumer behaviour, or industry trends. While they may receive training on the company's specific marketing processes and tools, the lack of background knowledge in the field can hinder their ability to think critically and strategize effectively. They may struggle to understand the rationale behind certain marketing tactics or fail to recognize emerging trends that could impact their campaigns.
To address this issue, companies should prioritize onboarding programs that not only provide employees with the necessary tools and resources but also focus on building a solid foundation of background knowledge. This can be achieved through comprehensive training modules that cover the fundamental concepts and principles related to their respective roles. By equipping employees with this foundational knowledge, they can better understand and apply the information shared during training sessions and effectively contribute to their teams and the company as a whole.
Moreover, fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing can help employees continually update and expand their background knowledge. Encouraging employees to engage in professional development activities, such as attending industry conferences or participating in online courses, can help fill any existing knowledge gaps and keep employees up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in their field.
In conclusion, while investing in training programs and advanced technology is essential for knowledge sharing and bridging the knowledge divide, it is equally important to recognize the significance of relevant background knowledge.
By ensuring that employees possess a solid foundation of background knowledge, companies can maximize the effectiveness of their training efforts and empower employees to make data-driven decisions that drive the company's success.
Read also:
How to choose a knowledge management system for your company
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