Protect knowledge despite staff turnover

Knowledge is a strategic asset. First, because success in today’s business world depends more than ever on intellectual capital. Second, because this knowledge is held by employees who are more mobile than ever. Whether they leave as a result of corporate restructuring or to advance their careers by changing jobs, departing employees often take a part of the collective memory of the organization with them when they go.

While most books on knowledge management principally cover how information is disseminated within the organization, “Continuity Management” concerns the transfer of knowledge from generation to generation of employees. The authors note that organizations almost always lose some knowledge when employees leave. As baby-boomers start to retire, companies must therefore take active steps to tackle this issue.

We identified three particularly salient messages in the book:

– Focus efforts on ensuring the continuity of knowledge critical to the success of the company.

– Develop specific knowledge continuity tools, and make sure they are utilized.

– Give people more reason to share their knowledge than to hoard it.