Knowledge Retention Strategies and Solutions

As the baby boomer generation approaches retirement age, many organizations are facing the potential crisis of "lost knowledge," Devised to help those organizations who are dependent on the accumulated knowledge of stakeholders, this book details a proactive approach to knowledge retention. Written by Jay Liebowitz, one of the most sought after knowledge management experts, this text explains how to identify "at risk" knowledge areas, and then demonstrates how to keep those areas from becoming knowledge vacuums. To reinforce his points, the book contains case studies from The Aerospace Corporation, Chevron, and Knowledge Harvesting Inc., which have become models for the implementation of knowledge retention strategies

As baby boomers approach retirement age and the work patterns of younger workers constantly change, many organizations worldwide are experiencing a far-reaching knowledge bleed.  Therefore, it is imperative that organizations find ways to best leverage and retain that vital knowledge before workers leave the organization and attrition occurs. Answers the Call of Businesses Worldwide In light of global workforce changes, many organizations’ are faced with a dilemma – how to maintain the right set of people at the right time in order to meet the company’s long-term goals and vision.  Knowledge Retention: Strategies and Solutions supplies the answer in the form of strategic human capital management. Written by one of the most sought after knowledge management experts, this easy-to-read, concise guide helps companies adopt proven retention strategies and techniques to capture and share knowledge which is otherwise at risk of being lost in transition. The text also discusses key case studies by leading organizations applying knowledge retention strategies. Build Institutional Memory and Social Networks Addresses These Important Questions: How do you know what knowledge is important to capture? What is the best approach to developing a knowledge retention framework? How do you calculate the loss of knowledge? What are the appropriate steps once the damage is assessed? How do you identify knowledge flows and gaps in an organization? Since you never know when someone will retire or move on, the book emphasizes the importance of minimizing business disruption and accelerating competency development.  Operating around four key framework pillars – competency, performance, knowledge, and change management – this text demonstrates why a knowledge-retention strategy should be woven into an organization’s fabric from day one. 

Setting the Stage Determining Critical “At-Risk” Knowledge Easy-to-Accomplish Knowledge Retention Techniques Developing a Knowledge Retention Framework Knowledge Retention: Learning from Others Calculating the Loss of Knowledge Using Organizational Network Analysis to Inform Knowledge Retention Efforts Case Study: Knowledge Harvesting During the Big Crew Change, J.E. Stemke, L.T. Wilson (Chevron and Knowledge Harvesting Inc.) The Aerospace Corporation Case Study S. Sutton, J. Betser, M. Hornickel, M. Gregorio, J. Kern, C. Lincoln, and J. Crisostomo Knowledge Retention: The Future