Tacit Knowledge, Learning, and Qualitative Metrics with Maggie Starkey
Feb 7, 2024
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Maggie Starkey, an accomplished Knowledge Management Specialist, discusses the importance of knowledge sharing in manufacturing companies and the challenges they face. She emphasizes the significance of collaboration and communication within organizations and highlights the role of qualitative metrics in measuring knowledge transfer. The advantages of small group interactions for learning and the impact of knowledge loss on companies are also explored.
Preventing loss of valuable knowledge is crucial for organizational success, especially in a safety-focused environment.
Evaluating the effectiveness of knowledge sharing should include qualitative metrics like success stories and individual testimonials.
Deep dives
Capturing and Sharing Knowledge in a Scientific Environment
In this podcast episode, Maggie Starkey, a Knowledge Management Specialist at Kraton Corporation, discusses the importance of capturing and sharing knowledge within the organization. Maggie emphasizes the need to prevent loss of valuable knowledge when employees leave or retire. She highlights the impact that losing knowledge can have on the company's bottom line, especially in a safety-focused environment like theirs. Maggie's role is to put processes in place to ensure that knowledge is captured and shared effectively, preventing potential financial losses. She also discusses the challenge of encouraging a culture of collaboration and communication in a predominantly scientific and process-driven organization. Maggie shares various strategies they employ, such as small group interactions, mentoring sessions, and knowledge cafes, to engage employees in active learning and sharing.
Qualitative Metrics and Success Stories
A key aspect of knowledge management, according to Maggie, is focusing on qualitative metrics rather than solely relying on quantitative data. She explains that while numbers can be useful, they may not always capture the true impact of knowledge sharing. Instead, Maggie prioritizes capturing success stories and testimonials from individuals who have benefited from knowledge transfer within the organization. By collecting qualitative feedback, they can better understand the value and effectiveness of their knowledge sharing initiatives. Maggie also emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement by using qualitative metrics to identify areas for enhancement and adaptation.
Nurturing a Culture of Collaboration and Communication
Maggie highlights the challenge of fostering a culture of collaboration and communication in their organization, particularly among scientists who are often focused on experiments and projects. She shares their strategies for encouraging collaboration, such as organizing small group interactions, knowledge cafes, and events for team bonding. Maggie underlines the significance of building trust and connections with employees to gain their support and participation in knowledge sharing initiatives. She describes her efforts to create engaging and appealing communications, using tools like Canva to make information visually attractive and capture employees' attention. Maggie believes that creating a culture that values collaboration and communication is crucial for successful knowledge management.
Tracking Knowledge Sharing Impact
Tracking the impact of knowledge sharing is an important aspect of knowledge management, according to Maggie. She acknowledges that capturing the full value of knowledge transfer can be challenging, especially when trying to measure the return on investment. While quantitative metrics can be useful, Maggie advises organizations to also focus on qualitative measures to evaluate the effectiveness of knowledge sharing initiatives. She discusses their approach of assessing the confidence levels of employees before and after knowledge transfer activities, as well as tracking the hours spent on knowledge sharing and the number of individuals directly impacted. Maggie believes that measuring qualitative impacts and success stories provides valuable insights for continuous improvement in knowledge management practices.
Maggie Starkey is an accomplished Knowledge Management Specialist with 10+ years of distinguished performance in multiple roles in the manufacturing industry. She is an innovator who seeks out opportunities for improvements and implements new ideas to make a positive difference for her colleagues at Kraton Corporation. In 2020, she found her passion for knowledge management after seeing the vast amount of knowledge being lost at Kraton and became the key player in the creation and implementation of the Knowledge Management program. She holds an associate degree in business management and a BS in Public Relations and Marketing and a MS in Knowledge Management. Among her vast knowledge from experience and higher education, she regularly attends conferences and trainings to continually be a great leader, expert in knowledge management and other key areas that tie directly to KM.
She is a change agent for Kraton, continually developing and implementing new tools and mechanisms to improve work processes and share knowledge across the R&D organization she represents at Kraton. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her boyfriend, playing with her dog, Bella, and cooking.
Sponsor of this podcast
Website https://www.simcorp.com
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