Replying to LO19191 and LO19187
To Thomas Petzinger Jr.: you were reacting to my message, not Richard
Webster's, just to keep things straight.
To DrEskow: It's interesting that you raise the issue of 'participative'
and 'possessive' being judgmental of the 'knowers.' It's not really
intended in that sense, although I think your point is well taken. I guess
there are judgmental types on both sides!
The distinction (participative vs possessive) can be seen as a reaction to
the notion of knowledge (or 'truth') as something that's 'out there' which
we can all apprehend similarly if we try hard enough.
As I'm sure you're well aware, the late-modern or post-modern
('constructivist' and/or 'hermeneutic') view holds that knowledge is
'socially constructed.' We 'construct' knowledge and our understanding of
the world communally through conversation. That's what we mean by
'participative.'
So the 'accumulation' of knowledge (as though it were a material thing
that could be piled in one place) is somewhat problematic for some
students of KM. Yet, as you point out, certainly culture is the result of
knowledge 'accumulation' or accretion in the sense that we are all
'pygmies standing on the shoulders of giants.'
But in organizational Knowledge Management (or as I say, a 'knowledge
orientation'), is 'accumulation' the key to business value and leverage?
That is, is it the 'accumulation' (storing) or is it the act of sharing
(let's call it 'circulation')?
Compare an agricultural water reservoir and a network of irrigation canals
that circulate water. Both may be necessary, but which is key to short
term water use? I suggest circulation is the key. (Although the system
without a reservoir might run dry, so your point is served by the same
analogy.)
Your mention of Crane Brinton's categories of knowledge as 'cumulative,'
and 'non-cumulative' is interesting. I remember reading his 'Anatomy of a
Revolution,' but nothing else of his. Where does that comment appear?
Neil Olonoff
Conversant Associates
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com>
Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>