Knowledge transfer simply put, is a method of sharing information, ability, and ideas across any area of your organisation.
Whether the company you work for is large or small it is highly likely that a large volume of your time is spent communicating with the team you work with and also other people within your organisation. So it’s important that the right information gets to the right person at the right time. This can be referred to as the flow of information.
Miscommunication can cause delays, as can information falling through the cracks. These issues can be detrimental to your company.
Having a straightforward system/method of communication and collaboration is key to avoiding these issues.
Having an established knowledge transfer system will help you to streamline your communication so that everyone in your team has the information they need which keeps your business running smoothly.
What is knowledge transfer?
It is a practical method of transitioning knowledge from one part of the business to another, or one person in your business to other people.
It is both a practice and a theory – which means that once understood it can be applied to your company culture and also to your business systems.
It is more that just communication – it does involve the circulation of information, tasks, ideas documents processes and much more.
Knowledge transfer is not training and it is not simply the circulation of information.
Follow these steps to create a Knowledge Transfer Plan for your business:
- Identify the key knowledge holders in your organization. How does the knowledge flow? Is communication top down? Are people given the right people the opportunity to share the knowledge they have.
- Motivate people to share. Encourage the ideas people and internal experts to share their knowledge. Provide a platform for this, whether through a communication channel like Slack, by giving them time during company meetings, or providing another opportunity.
- Make sharing easy. Have simple tools available for people and departments to share information.
- Measure results. Set benchmarks. Monitor the progress. Communicate the results to your keep. Be open to input and make adjustments if needed.
- Apply the knowledge. Don’t let the business sit on the knowledge available. A good idea if of no use if it isn’t put into action. Encourage taking appropriate risks.
- Continue generating knowledge. Offer training, hold brainstorm sessions, and bring in industry experts to continuously spark ideas. If you encounter a problem, encourage your team to think up solutions. Don’t be a company that says “We have always done it this way”. Look for different ways to do things.
Ready to improve your company culture, boost innovation, and increase collaboration in your company? Contact us for more information.