Organizational Development for Knowledge Management at Water ...

Feedback from these two avenues starts coming in right away. CALL analysts relate it to the
new information coming from the collector-observers and to information the Army already has.
Studying these relationships produces more questions and new issues, which the analysts send
to the collector-observers so they can get more information. In this way, the analysts maintain
the following cycle:
Collector-observers observe, collect data, and report to the analysts.
The analysts post the data for experts to read.
Experts give feedback to the analysts.
Based on the feedback, the analysts redirect the collector-observers.
This cycle continues until the analysts have finished their interpretation. When that happens,
the data has turned into knowledge that can be acted upon—lessons.
In the Haiti mission, CALL used this method to deliver validated lessons to ground troops
within five days of the original observations. CALL produced 26 scenarios, including video
footage, simulations and scripts of situations faced by the troops to use as training materials for
the incoming troops. See Case Example #7.
In Case Example #16, the Virginia Department of Transportation used an integrated
taxonomy development and data design to allow for consistent collection, indexing, and access
of lessons learned across the agency.
Expected Outcomes:
Fairly rapid, widespread learning by teams involved in real world experiences.
Creation of a library of lessons learned.
Improved awareness of, and communication with, others in the same field of activity.
A resource to get quality answers to complex problems.
See:
Case Example #7 (US Army)
Case Example #12 (AMREF Kenya)
Case Example #16 (Virginia Department of Transportation)
Tools: After Action Review
Community of Interest
Community of Practice
Peer View Process
Sample Lessons Learned Report
Success Stories
Ideas: Communications Publications
Group Learning
Knowledge Sharing
Additional Resource:
4003 Knowledge Mobilization paper
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Reference:
* Collison, C. & Parcell, G. (2001). Learning to Fly: Practical Knowledge Management from Leading and Learning
Organizations. Chichester, West Sussex: Capstone Publishing (Wiley).
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1 U.S. Army example compiled from The Federal CIO Council KM Toolkit.
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