Introduction


The knowledge game

Learning through knowledge should be no stranger to us. We have accomplished this playing games as children or in perfecting new skills later in life. Business, like life, is full of countless opportunities for us to build our capacity, agility and expertise. To a very large extent business success is determined by how well we play these knowledge games and how well we understand the dynamics of being human.

Whether we are at home or work winning the knowledge game is a skill we cannot ignore. Irrespective of whether you like or dislike the games people play, it is very difficult to remain detached and unaffected by the fact that you will need to interact and learn with each other to solve life s challenges.

To be successful contemporary business needs a knowledge game plan. Managers must encourage a business culture where ideas and talent can be built without unnecessary obstruction and interference. Knowledge is not something that you can manage or box. It often has a personality all of its own, where it can grow, fade away and change without warning. As a result, managers need to be wary of exerting too much control and command and be more tolerant of teamwork, collaboration and sharing.

More often than not it is our capacity to inspire imagination , foster talent and put knowledge to work that makes us stand apart from other businesses. As Laurence Prusak, an international authority on knowledge and innovation, says “ the only thing that gives an organization a competitive edge “ the only thing that is sustainable “ is what it knows; how it uses what it knows ; and how fast it can know something new.

As life has taught us, knowledge games by themselves do not necessarily generate benefits. We need to approach them with purpose, rules and intentions to reap the rewards. We have to be confident that we are deploying the right tactics and methods . Here are seven rules that have helped me play and succeed in games in the past and I believe these have direct application to the world of business. To be successful in winning with knowledge we must:

  • be clear with what and why you are playing

  • understand the game s rules, objectives and conditions

  • inspire oneself and others to put in their best effort

  • where possible, have a game plan which builds on shared goals

  • learn as you go and position your knowledge

  • evaluate and compare your progress and revise your strategy

  • go back and apply what you have learnt for next time.

Of course these rules are no miracle cure. You must be prepared to stimulate fertile ground for innovation and performance improvement by searching out new insights, securing strong relationships and being courageous enough to build a plan of action.

In some cases your goal in winning the knowledge game may be about becoming the best, the first or even the largest. While on other occasions you may be quite happy to build on the ideas of others and quietly innovate. Winning the knowledge game in business need not be played using a win/lose scenario. Increasingly, leading organizations find that pooling expertise, even amongst traditional competitors , is smart business. By doing so you raise the chance that everyone can win in an ever-changing world. Alternatively, your focus may be around the theme of greater contribution to society or enhancing customer value. Whatever your position or intention in business each manager needs to respond smartly with the right tactic, tool or system in order to succeed. Particularly when we consider that often we do not know who is going to be our next critic, competitor or customer.




Winning the Knowledge Game. Smarter Learning for Business Excellence
Winning the Knowledge Game. Smarter Learning for Business Excellence
ISBN: 750658096
EAN: N/A
Year: 2003
Pages: 129

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