Question: KM Experiment

You are a talent scout for a professional sports team. Over the years, the players you have recommended have had outstanding performance records for your team. Indeed, although you are only in your late thirties, you are frequently cited as one of the top talent recruiters in the league. You have read and reread the study guide on knowledge management your general manager provided you two weeks ago. In addition to some basic definitions and discussion of KM, it includes several examples of successful applications of KM to the selection of top recruits for academic and athletic scholarships. Now you are sitting in your hotel room staring at the email from the general manager. He wants you to become the subject of a KM experiment for the team. The goal is to train the other three talent scouts for the team in your approach.

Review Questions

1. Do you think that shadowing or joint problem solving would be a more effective way to share your tacit knowledge with the other scouts? Why?

2. Would the formation of a community of practice be an effective method for sharing tacit knowledge among all the scouts? How might such a CoP operate?

Critical Thinking Questions

1. For years, you have competed against the other scouts to sign the most productive new talent. How do you feel about being asked to share your insights and expertise with the other scouts?

2. What sort of bonus or incentive could management offer to make you strongly motivated to participate in this experiment and make it a success?