Tuesday, May 07, 2002

Tuesday Night Takeaways – My Random Thoughts from Class (4/30/02) In thinking about the class discussion on tools, I think tool selection is probably the last thing that you would need to implement a knowledge management project. I like the idea of starting with how knowledge management is currently occurring in the organization. Then take small incremental steps on how to improve it. See what works in one area and see if it could be adapted to another department. If you slam in a system or tool, you can probably get it installed, but I don’t think you would be able to get people to use it. I agree completely that determining what the right question to ask is important, but also using the right terminology and jargon. However, does this lead to creating a knowledge management system in order to learn how to use a knowledge management system? Most intriguing concept from the discussion was that storytelling should be part of a business student’s curriculum. Whenever we write a deck at Kraft, the key question is always what is the story we are trying to tell? Does anyone know how feasible it is for an evening student to take a storytelling class? 11:51:44 AM     Tuesday Night Takeaways – My Random Thoughts from Class (4/23/02) I like the description of the course as being part technology, part philosophy. I would add that it should also be one part theology because you need faith and religion that this will all come together by the end of class. I think I am finally understanding the concept of a weblog. The key for me was the comment in class to think of it as a journal, rather than only a place to post and discuss articles. I had it in my head that this was similar to a discussion group. I think that somebody suggested that this is similar to a discussion group, but you are writing for yourself. One question raised in class was if Knowledge Management involves moving culture. I think if it is done well, there has to be a shift in culture. The organization needs to embrace knowledge management both top-down and bottom-up. Bottom-up is the better way to start a knowledge management process, but to be embraced by the entire organziation, it also needs a top-down approach, with upper management approval and funding. 11:50:41 AM     Mark Kaczkowski Biography I am currently working on target marketing for Kraft Foods. That means I get to figure out the consumers which will be part of various marketing programs. I work on both brand and corporate programs. Before Kraft, I did basically the same thing for Abbott Laboratories in their Pharmaceutical Products Divisions. The biggest differences from Kraft is that at Abbott we targeted physicians and managed care organizations rather than consumers and we got to sell drugs rather than food. I worked at Andersen Consulting before joining Abbott. When I started, Consulting was a division of Arthur Andersen. [Insert your favorite Arthur Andersen joke here.] Andersen was my first job out of college, which was the University of Illinois 11:49:33 AM

© Copyright 2002 Mark Kaczkowski. Last update: 6/4/2002; 5:39:17 PM. This theme is based on the SoundWaves (blue) Manila theme.