by Justin Yuen, Oregon Chapter, Knowledge Management Division

We live in the information age. A multitude of data streams to us in emails, text messages, instant messages, voicemails, blogs, status updates, and tweets. Still more data exists in endless shared drive folders, magazines, newspapers, books, TV, videos, iPods and smart phones.

How do we make sense of it all? Simply, we do it by being human and getting a little help from our friends at work, and friends at home.

In this never-ending universe of information, we reach out a helping hand to people around us. We recommend articles. We tell people we “like” what they’ve shared. We carry on a dialogue about topics of the day, or post questions that trigger immediate answers.

Over the past several years, collaboration has shifted dramatically from being document or data centric to people centric. Trusted advice or a quick take on complex issues are just a friend away. Technology has not only made the world of information a smaller place; it’s strengthened and broadened our social networks to help make sense of the world.

What does this mean for you as a knowledge management professional?

The importance of people who facilitate collaboration and forge connections to relevant content is critical to our knowledge economy. When it comes down to it, an organization is more than the products or services it produces. It is about the depth of its social network, breadth of knowledge, and the speed by which it can bring its ideas to market.

You are the catalyst to helping your organization make the shift from document or data centric to people centric. The solutions you bring today need to deliver strong social networks, a nimble way for people to share content everyday, and a faster fast for making dreams come true to make the world a better place. It’s time to be powered by human energy.

Justin Yuen is President of FMYI [for my innovation], a social collaboration software company with a commitment to the triple bottom line (people, planet, and profit). Prior to starting FMYI, Justin had a seven year international career at Nike which involved aspects of knowledge management each step of the way. He has been involved with SLA since presenting on best practices in emerging web technologies at an Oregon Special Libraries Association meeting last year.  You can read more at http://www.fmyi.com/company/team_page_content/

by Ellen Naylor, Rocky Mountain Chapter, Competitive Intelligence Division

There has never been more ways to connect and stay in touch 24/7 than today! I predict that this trend will continue. Yet many of these connections, especially through social networks, are shallow. I think they will become deeper as people connect through more relevant social networks such as Quora (www.quora.com) or CI2020 (http://ci2020.com) for competitive intelligence. Also connections are more real-time: witness how quickly news travels through Twitter, and how immediately we can connect with SKYPE video, and for a price SKYPE video teleconferencing.

In our excitement with this technology it’s easy to forget about the individuals behind our connections. The info pro/librarian who understands the motivation of the people s/he serves will excel.

I am a cooperative intelligence practitioner. Through a cooperative attitude and practices, you will be more successful in your business endeavors, and certainly as an info pro. This works since the other person–the one you are serving–feels that you are putting their needs first. You are helping them without strings attached–without expecting “something” in return.

You listen to what they need, ask good questions about why they have this need, and what they will use the information for. You find out how they’re motivated so you can communicate your findings in a way that they can digest, in their language using their analytical tools. You also connect them with the right people to help their cause.

There are two skills that often get overlooked in this information explosion: critical thinking and intuition. With the abundance of information we jump to conclusions with more certainty; yet we don’t test them by standing back and questioning our assumptions in a broader context. Likewise, many of us have lost touch with our intuition, which I consider the barometer of veracity. No amount of information replaces that gut reaction that tells the experienced info pro that something doesn’t feel right or something is missing.

I hope in the future that we become better at cooperative intelligence; retain our ability to stand back and be critical thinkers; and stay true to ourselves by trusting our intuition as the sixth sense of research.

All the best,
Ellen

Ellen Naylor is the owner of The Business Intelligence Source (http://www.thecisource.com). Read more of her insights at http://cooperativeintelligenceblog.com.