3-4-3

The cycle of knowledge from creation and organization through sharing and reuse is well documented in the literature.

Figure 3.1 The Cycle of Knowledge from Creation and Organization through Sharing and Reuse

Knowledge management refers to activities related to:

  • cultivating social and learning communities,
  • providing knowledge codification and dissemination,
  • creating a learning organization,
  • developing less tenured employees, and
  • building and growing the agency’s knowledge bases.

The table below includes examples of the subcategories within knowledge management, along with the associated activities and capabilities that are built through this strategy.

Table 3.3 Knowledge Management Strategies

Strategy subcategorySample ActivitiesCapabilities Addressed
Social and Learning CommunitiesFacilitating Communities of Practice that meet periodically to share experiences and brainstorm about solutions to common problemsAligning Skills to Needs
Attracting and Retaining Workforce
Agility & Resilience
Technology Adoption
Operations Focus
Knowledge Capture and TransferCreating a curated, validated lessons learned databaseAligning Skills to Needs
Agility & Resilience
Technology Adoption
Operations Focus
Knowledge AuditsConducting an employee survey to discover and catalog where certain types of expertise exist in the agencyAligning Skills to Needs
Agility & Resilience
Technology Adoption
Operations Focus
Learning OrganizationLeadership training to model behaviors conducive to learning and innovation Aligning Skills to Needs
Attracting and Retaining Workforce
Agility & Resilience
Technology Adoption
Operations Focus
MentoringMatching up less experienced employees with more senior employees to meet periodically and discuss challengesAligning Skills to Needs
Attracting and Retaining Workforce
Agility & Resilience
Technology Adoption
Operations Focus
Expertise DirectoriesCreating a directory of employees with expertise in certain specialized areas Aligning Skills to Needs
Agility & Resilience
Technology Adoption
Operations Focus

The Evolution of Knowledge Management within Washington State DOT

Washington DOT (WSDOT) has established a knowledge management approach for addressing:

  • Loss of institutional knowledge due to an aging workforce nearing retirement
  • Pressure for increased efficiency in the face of inadequate resources
  • Organizational strategic direction to support innovation and knowledge sharing

NCHRP Scan 12-04 Advances in Transportation Agency Knowledge Management: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/docs/nchrp20-68a_12-04.pdf

They have implemented several KM initiatives, including:

  • Communities of practice (CoPs)
  • Knowledge Capture interviews of retiring staff
  • Knowledge management and information systems to support practical solutions
  1. https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/896-1.pdf
  2. A Guide to Agency-Wide Knowledge Management for State Departments of Transportation: https://www.nap.edu/download/22098

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