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Organizational Development for Knowledge Management at Water ...

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Blog<br />

A convers<strong>at</strong>ional web site maintained by an individual.<br />

Supports: knowledge sharing, learning, team building, rel<strong>at</strong>ionship building<br />

LEVEL OF EFFORT<br />

SIZE OF UTILITY<br />

SCOPE OF WORK<br />

LOW<br />

SCALABLE<br />

WIDE<br />

A blog is a contraction of the term ―web log.‖ It expresses individual opinions in a<br />

convers<strong>at</strong>ional <strong>for</strong>m<strong>at</strong>, and can contain commentaries, descriptions, news, poems, art,<br />

photographs, videos and other graphical represent<strong>at</strong>ions of thoughts. Blogs are generally used<br />

to express opinions. Like verbal convers<strong>at</strong>ions, they are linear in n<strong>at</strong>ure and organized in a<br />

chronological <strong>for</strong>m<strong>at</strong>.<br />

Question blogs can be used to specifically answer questions. Corpor<strong>at</strong>e blogs can be used<br />

<strong>for</strong> business purposes. Specifically, they can be used internally by a Utility to enhance<br />

communic<strong>at</strong>ions and help cre<strong>at</strong>e a knowledge sharing culture. In Case Example #20, IBM<br />

encourages an open exchange through blogging, social web applic<strong>at</strong>ions and networking.<br />

Among other benefits, blogging can facilit<strong>at</strong>e knowledge sharing, team building, and individual<br />

memory, and, because it’s an avenue <strong>for</strong> writing about experiences from the personal<br />

perspective, blogs have the therapeutic effect of improving sleep and boosting immune cell<br />

activity.<br />

However, external blogs have brought about some un<strong>for</strong>eseen consequences. According to<br />

the Wikipedia, potential issues involve: defam<strong>at</strong>ion of character, employment, political<br />

sensitivities, and personal safety. Clearly, intelligent blogging is just as essential as intelligent<br />

communic<strong>at</strong>ing in other mediums. It is a good idea to follow a set of guidelines similar to th<strong>at</strong><br />

used by IBM in Case Example #20 referenced above.<br />

Expected Outcomes:<br />

Empowered employees<br />

The cre<strong>at</strong>ion of new ideas <strong>for</strong> the organiz<strong>at</strong>ion and <strong>for</strong> the individual<br />

More positive feelings about the organiz<strong>at</strong>ion and a higher morale of the work<strong>for</strong>ce<br />

See:<br />

Case Example #18 (USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service)<br />

Case Example #20 (IBM)<br />

Tools: Dialogue<br />

Shared Space<br />

Wiki<br />

Ideas: Building Trust<br />

Technology Rel<strong>at</strong>ed Tools<br />

C-18<br />

©2011 W<strong>at</strong>er Research Found<strong>at</strong>ion. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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