In a previous article, we discussed the international ISO decision led by the Standards Institute of Israel and Mrs. Havi Sarel to establish a global standard for knowledge management. As the chair of the expert committee, I am committed to keeping the Israeli public informed about the developments within the professional committee and the progress made in drafting the standard. Your input and ideas are not just welcome; they are crucial in shaping this global standard.
What's currently under discussion? Following the agreement to develop a certification standard rather than a manual, several questions have arisen regarding the writing framework. On one hand, this standard is part of a series focusing on human resources, while on the other, it falls under management standards. Each category has its own set of standards and writing conventions. It was decided that the management standard would serve as our guiding framework. For those curious about the significance of this decision, it marks another milestone in our global recognition as a management discipline. While we haven't yet reached our ultimate goal or come close to it (consider, for example, the scarcity of knowledge management programs worldwide), every step in this direction is positive.
Another apparently formal yet potentially contentious issue revolves around definitions. It's crucial to clarify these definitions, as there are numerous points of agreement among knowledge management professionals, as well as significant disagreements. The primary challenge lies in defining "knowledge management" itself. At this point, consensus on this term remains elusive. However, we are focusing on agreeing upon a list of terms crucial for delineating the standard. This process will also involve utilizing an initial draft incorporating Israeli definitions in the field.
Moving on to more substantive matters, discussions have arisen concerning the chapters "Knowledge Management Solutions" and "Organizational Culture," which are expected to be foundational. The "Knowledge Management Solutions" chapter will adopt the Israeli framework with slight modifications and a significant addition: a requirement stipulating that every organizational knowledge management solution must align with the organization's business objectives (a crucial consideration overlooked in Israel until now). Similarly, the "Organizational Culture" chapter will draw from the Israeli model (though not without trepidation, as there's a concern about overrepresentation) while also incorporating characteristics/components of the cultural concept suggested by Nick Milton of Knoco. What lies ahead? In November, the committee will convene face-to-face meetings in Texas. In the meantime, we'll draft chapter headings and commence the formal and substantive content-creation processes. Soon, the standard will start taking shape.
That concludes our update thus far. We're eager to share and look forward to receiving fruitful ideas on everyday issues, both now and in the future. Best of luck to us all!
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