If Only We Knew What We Know: The Transfer of Internal Knowledge and Best Practice

O'Dell, Carla S.; Grayson, C. Jackson; Essaides, Nilly; O'Dell, Carla

ISBN 10: 0684844745 / ISBN 13: 9780684844749

Published by The Free Press, New York, 1998

About this Item

VG/VG. First edition. 238 pp. DJ rubbed with shallow edge curling, scattered light surface scratches. Front DJ panel has small area of deep scratch marks near top edge. Board edges rubbed. Spine very slightly cocked, tight. About five pages have underlining, marginal emphases. Rest of interior bright, clean. Nice reading/reference copy.

Seller Inventory # 10244

Bibliographic Details

• Title: If Only We Knew What We Know: The Transfer of Internal Knowledge and Best Practice
• Publisher: The Free Press, New York
• Publication Date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0684844745
• ISBN 13: 9780684844749
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Donations 2011

About this title

Synopsis

While companies search the world over to benchmark best practices, vast treasure troves of knowledge and know-how remain hidden right under their noses: in the minds of their own employees, in the often unique structure of their operations, and in the written history of their organizations. Now, acclaimed productivity and quality experts Carla O'Dell and Jack Grayson explain for the first time how applying the ideas of Knowledge Management can help employers identify their own internal best practices and share this intellectual capital throughout their organizations.

Knowledge Management (KM) is a conscious strategy of getting the right information to the right people at the right time so they can take action and create value. Basing KM on three major studies of best practices at one hundred companies, the authors demonstrate how managers can utilize a visual process model to actually transfer best practices from one business unit of the organization to another. Rich with case studies, concrete examples, and revealing anecdotes from companies including Texas Instruments, Amoco, Buckman, Chevron, Sequent Computer, the World Bank, and USAA, this valuable guide reveals how knowledge treasure chests can be unlocked to reduce product development cycle time, implement more cost-efficient operations, or create a loyal customer base. Finally, O'Dell and Grayson present three "value propositions" built around customers, products, and operations that could result in staggering payoffs as they did at the companies cited above.

No amount of knowledge or insight can keep a company ahead if it is not properly distributed where it's needed. Entirely accessible and immensely readable, If Only We Knew What We Know is a much-needed companion for business leaders everywhere.

About the Author

Carla O'Dell is president of the American Productivity & Quality Center and director of the Center's International Benchmarking Clearinghouse in Houston, Texas. Dr. O'Dell is co-author with C. Jackson Grayson, Jr., of American Business: A Two Minute Warning.