Managing Organizational Knowledge

chapter one

Knowledge as an asset—Really?

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.

Mark Twain

“Knowledge is our most valuable asset!” You hear that statement from many business leaders. But is it really? If organizational knowledge were such a valuable asset, wouldn’t it be handled with greater care?

Physical assets are treated with great respect. Think about the last time your organization chose to purchase a new vehicle, add new equipment, or make a major computer hardware upgrade. You likely spent days or weeks examining your options before making the “buy” decision. You certified that it was a true need, not just a short-term want. Then you invested carefully, making sure you had sufficient ...