Gurteen Knowledge-Log

A talk by Dr David Vaine on 4th generation knowledge management!

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:59:48 +0000

By David Gurteen

Those of you who know Patrick Lambe of Straits Knowledge may also know his alter ego Dr David Vaine. Dr Vaine gave a short speech at the ACTKM Annual Conference Dinner in October earlier this year where he outlined the key features of Fourth Generation Knowledge Management, and dealt with the difficult question of managing the transition between Generation X and Generation Y in the workplace.

Here are the first three generations of KM according to David Vaine! Enjoy the video!

Ist generation KM pioneered by No Knuckles "making tacit knowledge explicit"
2nd generation characterised by David Green Teen "lets all just chat"
3rd generation characterised by Dennis Snowden "its all about complexity, complexity"

You will find other video talks from David Vaine and more serious ones from Patrick Lambe on Patricks blip.tv channel.

We cannot problem solve our way into fundamental change, or transformation

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:39:56 +0000

By David Gurteen

Whenever I run my Knowledge Cafe Masterclasses, a few people always have a serious problem with the fact that when run in its "pure form" there are no tangible outcomes of a Knowledge Cafe.

There are plenty of intangible ones, such as a better understanding of the issue, a better understanding of ones own views, a better understanding of others perspectives, improved relationships and genuine engagement and motivation to pursue the subject but no outcomes in the form of a decision or a consensus or a to-do list.

I and many others don't have a problem with this -- the intangibles are worthy outcomes. And then I recently came across this quote from Peter Block in an online booklet of his entited Civic Engagement and theRestoration of Community: Changing the Nature of the Conversation

My belief is that the way we create conversations that overcome the fragmented nature of our communities is what creates an alternative future.

This can be a difficult stance to take for we have a deeply held belief that the way to make a difference in the world is to define problems and needs and then recommend actions to solve those needs.

We are all problem solvers, action oriented and results minded. It is illegal in this culture to leave a meeting without a to-do list.

We want measurable outcomes and we want them now.

What is hard to grasp is that it is this very mindset which prevents anything fundamental from changing.

We cannot problem solve our way into fundamental change, or transformation.

This is not an argument against problem solving; it is an intention to shift the context and language within which problem solving takes place.

Authentic transformation is about a shift in context and a shift in language and conversation. It is about changing our idea of what constitutes action.

Credit: Civic Engagement and theRestoration of Community: Changing the Nature of the Conversation by David Block

So another intangible I should add to my list: "a shift in context and in language and conversation that changes our idea of what constitutes action."

No More Consultants

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:13:23 +0000

By David Gurteen

Chris Collison and Geoff Parcell have recently released a new book entitled No More Consultants: We know more than we think.

Chris and Geoff's first book was Learning to Fly and I consider it one of the best books available on KM. This new book is of equal calibre.

We have been taught to look to "experts" for help and advice. And although we often do need guidance, we know more than we think. Given the complexity of our twenty-first century organizations it is dangerous to rely on external consultants who can never fully understand the richness of the context in which we work.

In this book, Chris and Geoff provide tools and techniques that allow us to tap into our innate capabilities and to do away with rather than automatically relying upon external consultants!

The chef & the recipe book user

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:12:56 +0000

By David Gurteen

I wrote recently on On best practice and thinking for yourself! and linked to some others with similar views.

Well, in the last few weeks Dave Snowden has blogged on the issue once more with a post entitled The chef & the recipe book user and so has Steve Barth on How to Treat Best Practices

I like Dave's metaphor of the chef and the recipe book. Coincidentally Steve's post also has a food theme!

The story of TOMS Shoes

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:57:52 +0000

By David Gurteen

I love this story of TOMS shoes. So far they have given over 150,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world. The story is a great example of how you can create a for-profit business and still do "social good".

Blake Mycoskie, while on holiday in Argentina. and with no desire to get into philanthropy, met some kids who didn't have shoes and the idea was born. One man! One great idea!

An interview with Theodore Zeldin

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:19:56 +0000

By David Gurteen

You may be interested in this recent interview with Theodore Zeldin by Ana Neves. It seems it was me that put Ana on to Theodore and as many of you will know I love his work and quote him in most of my talks and workshops. You will find lots more about him on my website including some of my favorite quotes of his.

How to organise a children's party

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:56:32 +0000

By David Gurteen

If you have heard Dave Snowden speak you will almost certainly have heard his children's party story. I must have heard it a dozen time or more and it get better with each rendition. Take a look :-)

You will find two more videos on the Cognitive Edge YouTube Channel and I gather from Dave that several more will be posted over the coming months.

Name Tags: Hello my name is David

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:44:41 +0100

By David Gurteen

After a conference, have you ever left your name tag on by mistake and had complete strangers say hello to you.This happened to Scott Ginsberg some years ago and he decided to keep his name tag on. He has been wearing a name tag now 24 x 7 for over ten years and turned it into his trademark.

I wore a name badge once at a talk by Theodore Zeldin at the Tate Modern in London. It was a public event and I wore the badge so other people who were attending whom I had invited but never met would recognise me. I was the only one there with a badge and was surprised at the number of strangers who said hello and started up conversations with me. So I can emphasise with Luke's experiences.

I love it in hotels, restaurants, conferences etc when people wear name tags so I can address them by name. Its just so much more friendly and makes it easier to strike up a conversation. One criticism I have of many conference organisers is that the persons name is in very small print so you cannot read it, or the badge is covered with marketing logos so the name gets lost or those name tags you hang around your neck that always twist away from you so once again you cannot read the name. The best name tags contain the name only as BIG as possible and with the given name larger and in bold compared wit the family name!!

As I love to network and talk to strange, I like the idea of always wearing a name tag much of the time though I am not so sure about 24 x 7. Do I have the courage? LOL! I am not too sure. Do you?