The thorn speaks:

Yes, the thorn finally makes his post. At least i'm a thorn amongst roses and not a thorn in someone's side.

So, my answer to the question:

How does knowledge sharing and creation enhance your personal innovative capabilities?

I found thought this to be a strange question. As I would have thought the answer would be pretty obvious to most. I believe that knowledge sharing and creation enhances my innovative capabilities by providing me with more knowledge to work with. With more knowledge comes more opportunities to combine knowledge and to innovate. The real question should be: What can you do to increase knowledge sharing and creation in your own life?

My response to that would be: We need to be active and aware about knowledge sharing in our daily lives. Knowledge sharing occurs already. As prof mentioned, in pantry areas, in places where we hang out and talk to friends, when we share/recieve a past year project from teammates. Its happening all the time. The difference was that prior to this course we weren't aware of this, and so it occurred passively. Now with our awareness of KM. We can pro-actively start and divert conversations that will aid us in knowledge sharing as well as being proactive in internalizing this knowledge and putting it to use rather than it all just being information.

Visiting the IBO

The guru has put in a request to see something from our visit yesterday. this is a sneak peek! happy now, guru? :)

i love the new IBO office. it is open concept and i think it really facilitates knowledge sharing. i shan't say too much here, listen to our presentation for more details.

knowledge management in this BLOG!

some thoughts on blogging here:
using a blog for personal innovation certainly is new and innovative (at least to me) but what we were told to blog about was very technical. it's difficult for the layperson to come here and be actively engaged in our subject matter. shikin did a great job to try and bring km down to the tai tai level, i think we should continue this and try to simplify, simplify, simplify! hahaha.

improving personal innovation is such a big topic! i think we should aaalll make the effort to break it down into several short posts, instead of one long chunk. much more digestible this way!

How will you apply what you are learning in this course to your career?

This is easy.
Career : Tai-tai.

Knowledge sharing is key as a tai-tai will primarily need to know of any great sales going on. Also, activities are done in pairs or groups (to go shopping, go for manicures, spa treatments, hi-tea sessions etc), hence further knowledge sharing (gossiping about others) can take place whilst carrying out main activities. Knowledge sharing is mutually beneficial.

Forming thematic teams of like-minded women (or gay men friends) are necessary for knowledge sharing to take place.

The key enablers are:

1) Leadership:
- need a leader to initiate sharing knowledge about product and shop launches, share fashion tips, to inform others about fabulous sales going on or to initiate shopping trips,

2) Culture (very strong culture of knowledge sharing, usually innate),

3) HRM systems
- recruitment of employees/friends with similar KM beliefs, and training is provided to enhance KM within this thematic team,

4) Technology is utilized at fairly minimal level (used often but not high-tech):
- the use of pink-coloured diamante encrusted mobile phones to communicate with one another and external stakeholders (e.g. receptionist at manicurist, to book appointments). This is very important as the tai-tai does not rely on assistants to book daily appointments for her. Having an assistant to do that for you, cheri, is tres passe. Besides, a bunch of chicks within the last decade sang something about being an Independent Woman and whatnot, so yea...,
-mobile phones as MMS (multimedia message system) tool to capture and disseminate pictures of a new gorgeous bag snagged at a sale. Once again, this is a very important element of knowledge sharing - it is shared instantaneously. Fabulous, dah-ling!
- mobile phones as amusement tool to keep one occupied when bored, e.g. taking pictures of self, playing Puzzle Bobble on the mobile phone, using the mp3 function to listen to songs... oh wait, these are not KM.

There's much more I would like to share with all of you beautiful people but I shall stop. Let's save the rest for another day.

Toodles for now, I've got to catch up on some beauty sleep!

How does knowledge sharing and creation enhance your personal innovative capabilities?

I've been thinking hard about this question and like what Trina has mentioned, whatever knowledge sharing there is, it has to be with passion.

At times like this when we are being "forced" to think of reasons why or how knowledge sharing and creation can enhance your personal innovative capabilities, it is almost impossible to think of any answers.

*Pause to think*

Let's see.. project meetings and discussions...

During project meetings and discussions, there is inevitably knowledge sharing as members try to share whatever they know. I guess to a certain extent, everyone starts to think of newer and more creative approaches to present a case, so as to score better marks for the presentation or report. So maybe that's how group members enhance their personal innovative capabilities?

I suddenly remembered videos of "creative" companies and they operate. Their methods of operation seem to be the push factor that allow individuals to enhance their personal innovative capabilities and hence come up with more innovative and creative ways to solve problems / design products.

Knowledge is shared through regular meetings in the open concept office, with one main person sharing her/his knowledge of the problem at hand, what are some characteristics of some of the resources available, what are the key criteria that the solution/product must encompass etc. Through this (seemingly) simple way of knowledge sharing devoid of any high level of technology, knowledge is effectively shared and every member of the group is able to come up with innovations, knowing well their limitations and requirements.

Hence, building upon knowledge shared by others can help one come up with creative ideas, enhancing their personal innovative capabilities.

Another way is to break large groups into thematic teams. Each smaller group is then assigned to specific areas or competencies. This allows greater focus which may lead to enhanced innovative capabilities.

I hope what I have posted makes sense.

Random thoughts of the sleep-deprived mind. Haha.

Knowledge is POWER?

If knowledge is POWER...why would people want to share it?

Love this quote,
"Knowledge is power (But only if you know how to acquire it)." The Economist, May 8, 2003.

Think it ties in very well with this module!! Prof you should use this as your motto! Haha!

Found it on this Wikipedia page.

Begin with the end in mind...

Wow…our team had a REALLY great experience today. We visited the good people at the International Baccalaureate Organisation in their Singapore office and spent about…3 hours discussing with them on what knowledge management tools and systems they had in place.

It was super insightful, and I’m not saying that just for the sake of it, but it was like the concepts and systems we learnt in class suddenly materialised in front of us, real-life concrete examples, sometimes what we lack in academia.

It got me thinking again about the key question of this blog, “How can knowledge sharing and creation enhance your personal innovation capabilities?” and “How will you apply what you are learning in this course to your career?”

Honestly, I never knew or thought much about knowledge management prior to this course. Sure, I knew about resource management, database collection, and even the importance of communication in an organisation, but the term knowledge management never really jumped out to me. I personally think it’s like a life skill, and perhaps we should be taught this in Year 1 instead of Statistics. Then again, statistics can contribute to KM in a way. You need to understand how to interpret statistics in bulks of information…

I never really liked statistics, I always feel kind of adverse to numbers. If I had improved my knowledge sharing, management and creation skills, perhaps, I could have just gotten that A+ in Stats 101?

I think it really starts with having a KM mindset. Just like Mr. Kan from the Singapore Police Force who kindly gave us a talk today, he’s so passionate about KM that it becomes ingrained in him. If we ingrain KM in us, sharing and seeking for ‘knowledge avenues’ will constantly be a part of our life, just like how some of us look endlessly for the best bargains and discounts. To begin, I suggest that one should start the sharing. Offer your past assignments to your friends, maybe they’ll offer your theirs as well. Utilise tools online such as Google Reader and Google Alerts to keep yourself updated with topics that could help you in school or at work. Personally, I use to work as a marketing communications assistant, and having a Google Reader that keeps me updated on RSS feeds relating to new marketing and communication skills is really useful. Also in my studies as a political science student, news updates are especially important, and now we can even get them on our mobile phone!

As I’ve mentioned, I think it really starts from the inside. Before you begin throwing yourself at all the tools and Lotus notes, OpenSource platforms and even social networking sites like Facebook, begin with the end in mind. To enhance innovation and knowledge sharing & creation!

Walk the Talk

Knowledge management and new technologies – that has been the buzz catch words for the longest time. But is it for you? Think about it. When the night has come, do realise that creating a knowledge management system is such a significant yet tiring process, for one must have the much needed support throughout the organization.

Now let’s get over the introduction and back to my 2 cents.

Students, young and matured, are the drivers (some say the future) of tomorrow’s leaders. So what are we really good at? Well, at least for me (and a few others), we basically can’t go by a day without at least talking to someone or something, either via cyberspace method or the traditional (yes, traditional) face-to-face talks. So living in the web 2.0 world, we’ve come so far to engage in a variety of online tools such as participating in the (compulsory) online discussion forums (some hinted it’s because of the dangling carrot syndrome *psst: class participation), and online messaging systems such as MSN, Skype, Pfingo and the list goes on. These countless forms of online messaging tools today are vast – practically covering everything under the sun, in attempt to cover innumerable specialty topics (or sometimes simply to pass time) for anyone and everyone. Such innovations (not sure when it started but I was hooked to it back in upper secondary), provide alternatives to educational courses and more specifically enabling people like me to bond over such given personal air-time (interaction - hence contributing to part of the e-learning process).

However, personally it has crossed my mind a couple of times with respect to the online discussion forums (be it school or otherwise). Yes, there’s some incentive (hidden agenda to score well) but at the end of the day, is that a reliable tangible product? What incentives do I have besides scoring well and gaining new knowledge? One of the challenges we all fear perhaps is the sustainability of attracting active contributors and maintaining a circle of life within chat rooms and forums. Selfish thoughts as these may sound, oh c’mon, this is the real world. The one thing I fear most is for these selfless thoughts to carry on at the workplace in due time. Perception you see, my friend is I feel the bigger tool to overcome. The basis of online participation is to be engaged via a shared platform with a shared goal; the valuable opportunity to learn from each other. Unless we train the young ones of our current and future generations, the egotistical value of’ knowledge is power’ will be here to stay.

Scary isn’t it.

Well, it’s up to you and me, to change minds and impact lives.

What are you waiting for?

Oh behold, for 'tis the season to be jolly.

The Guru Says: A little background info

We shall have highlights from TM himself, on a little segment on our blog entitled The Guru Says, or, TGS for short.
Here on TGS, TM recommends we do a little background work by referring to the two sites below. These are concerned with enabling 'personal knowledge management' so as to speed up your own innovative capabilities.
Personal Toolkit
The Gurteen Knowledge Website

Also, TGS : "One person is working and the others are watching. GO DO BACKGROUND WORK!"

very wise words indeed. thanks Guru!

KM CHANGES your LIFE

GOOOODDDDD MOOORNING! Welcome to the official fansite of Thomas Menkhoff. Watch for updates as we bring you the best (and worst) from the GURU himself:

more pictures coming your way!



A quick introduction to the group:
Even though it is summer, our love for TM and more importantly KM brought us together to change our lives!

Marc: The Thorn amongst the roses, he hates blogging!

BONG: An expert in photoshop, stay tuned for more creative turns and crazy spins from this lighthearted maniac who we affectionately call: THE ASSASINATOR!!! and/or BONGSTER!!!

Shikin: A soft spoken but FORMIDABLE force!

Eunice: A budding sociologist, she LOVES people! that includes you! love love love!

Sarah: LOVES HER LAPTOP!

...

That concludes our introduction for now. We have very exciting posts in store, so stay tuned!

do you Google Doc the talk?

So you think you have a problem tracking different countless (hopelessly lost in the midst) versions of word, excel, powerpoint files sent via the monstrous (flooded) email.

Well, fret not because you’re so not alone. (On the side note) I’ve been a fan of gmail for whatever reason you don’t wanna know. And the truth is perhaps I’ve been embracing the wonders of Google Docs for the longest time (ever since I landed in poly). So basically, I personally feel it’s like somewhat a earlier version before the ever-so-praised wiki came onboard. Call me traditional, but as much as I would certainly like to try out and be in the wiki craze, I would still like to be loyal to the great ol’ Google Docs & Spreadsheets- ‘cos basically it did helped heaps: surviving dreadful cashflow spreadsheets for my finance in poly & securing not-the-last-position when it came to computer analysis tool (that silly CAT module) a semester ago in smu – specifically @ SIS.

Oh wells, Goggle’s invention does save time, money, hassle, complaints by a significant bit. Why? 1) Keeps current docs, 2) allows updates for invited guests (don’t worry about terriorists who might hijack the heat-soul-sweat projects), 3) coordination could be better facilitated (else why use Google Doc in the first place, right?). Yeah, I guess this tool will help me (in a way) if you’re considering the matter on “personal knowledge management” or PKM. In addition to the sch-project-stuff, I can even check my personal to-do list from basically anywhere (with my lappy and connection) or even, help facilitate group discussions (penned down of ‘cos, virtually).

But you know, enough of singing praises of this tool. The only problem I encountered is that it does not really work well for synchronous editing, meaning to say a lot of people can basically sit and watch while one poor ass edits; otherwise hurhur all the edits don’t get saved anyway. So yes, the challange here – programmes that allow for simultaneous editing of docs online.

I hope wiki solves it (i have to check it out either way, soon).
Or else... what can i say
I leave you with the most sought after vid of the KM season.
watch it