Leading an Online Community with Stan Garfield

Feb 12, 2025

Stan Garfield, a seasoned knowledge management leader with over 25 years of experience, shares his journey from the Midwest to spearheading global online communities. He discusses the origin of his knowledge management community, highlighting its evolution since 2005. The conversation covers the vital role of succession planning and knowledge transfer for community leaders. Additionally, Stan emphasizes strategies for enhancing community engagement, nurturing communities of practice, and the importance of creating captivating content to foster active participation and knowledge retention.

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ANECDOTE

SIKM Origin Story

In 2005, Stan Garfield started the SIKM Leaders community after a successful Birds of a Feather session at a conference.
The community, initially focused on systems integration and knowledge management, expanded to encompass broader KM interests.

ADVICE

Document for Succession

Document your processes and knowledge, especially for community leadership roles.
This ensures continuity and simplifies knowledge transfer for successors.

INSIGHT

Knowledge Retention and Reuse

Knowledge reuse within communities is crucial.
Encourage members to search past discussions before starting new threads to avoid redundancy.

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Knowledge Management Matters

Words of Wisdom from Leading Practitioners

Stan Garfield

Arthur Shelley

Anthony J. Rhem

Shawn Callahan

JoAnn Girard

Douglas Weidner

Nancy M. Dixon

Paul Corney

John Girard

Stephanie Barnes

Stan Garfield's "Knowledge Management Matters" compiles insights and wisdom from leading practitioners in the field of knowledge management. The book offers a collection of perspectives, experiences, and best practices from experts across various industries. It explores a range of topics related to KM, including strategy, implementation, and measurement. The book provides valuable lessons learned and practical advice for KM professionals and organizational leaders. It emphasizes the importance of adapting KM strategies to specific organizational contexts and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. The book serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to enhance their understanding of KM.

The Five Cs of KM

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Stan Garfield

Stan Garfield's "The Five Cs of KM" presents a concise framework for understanding and implementing effective knowledge management strategies. The book introduces five core components of successful KM: Capture, Connect, Create, Cultivate, and Communicate. Each 'C' represents a critical aspect of the KM process, from capturing valuable knowledge to effectively communicating it throughout the organization. The book provides practical guidance on implementing each component, emphasizing the importance of aligning KM strategies with organizational goals and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration. It offers a clear and accessible approach to KM, making it suitable for professionals at all levels. The book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their organization's knowledge management capabilities.

Proven Practices for Promoting a Knowledge Management Program

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Stan Garfield

Stan Garfield's "Proven Practices for Promoting a Knowledge Management Program" provides a practical guide to promoting and sustaining knowledge management initiatives within organizations. The book explores various strategies for promoting KM, including communication, training, and incentives. It emphasizes the importance of building a strong business case for KM, demonstrating its value to stakeholders, and aligning it with organizational goals. The book also offers insights into overcoming resistance to change and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration. It provides practical tools and techniques for measuring the effectiveness of KM programs and demonstrating their impact. The book is a valuable resource for KM professionals and organizational leaders.

Measuring the ROI of Knowledge Management

2nd Edition, Chapter 7: The case against ROI for knowledge management

Stan Garfield

Stan Garfield's "Measuring the ROI of Knowledge Management" explores the challenges and opportunities of measuring the return on investment for knowledge management initiatives. The book examines various methods for measuring the impact of KM programs, including quantitative and qualitative approaches. It provides practical guidance on selecting appropriate metrics, collecting data, and analyzing results. The book also addresses the complexities of attributing specific outcomes to KM initiatives and the limitations of traditional ROI calculations in the context of KM. It emphasizes the importance of demonstrating the value of KM through tangible results and aligning KM strategies with organizational objectives. The book is a valuable resource for KM professionals and organizational leaders.

Implementing a Successful KM Program

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Stan Garfield

Stan Garfield's "Implementing a Successful KM Program" provides a practical framework for establishing and managing effective knowledge management initiatives within organizations. The book explores key aspects of KM implementation, including defining goals, building a business case, securing buy-in from stakeholders, and selecting appropriate tools and technologies. It emphasizes the importance of aligning KM strategies with organizational objectives and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration. The book also offers insights into measuring the effectiveness of KM programs and demonstrating their value to the organization. It serves as a valuable resource for KM professionals and organizational leaders.

Successful Knowledge Leadership: Principles and Practice

Principles and Practice

Stan Garfield

Stan Garfield's "Successful Knowledge Leadership: Principles and Practice" explores the essential elements of effective knowledge leadership. The book examines the role of knowledge leaders in fostering a culture of knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovation. It delves into the principles of successful knowledge leadership, including strategic vision, effective communication, and building strong relationships. The book also provides practical guidance on implementing knowledge leadership strategies and measuring their impact. It emphasizes the importance of aligning knowledge leadership with organizational goals and creating a supportive environment for knowledge creation and dissemination. The book is a valuable resource for aspiring and experienced knowledge leaders.

Gaining Buy-in for KM

Chapter 2: Obtaining support for KM: The ten commitments

Stan Garfield

Stan Garfield's "Gaining Buy-in for KM" offers practical strategies for securing support and commitment for knowledge management initiatives within organizations. The book explores the challenges of gaining buy-in from stakeholders at all levels, from individual contributors to senior executives. It provides a step-by-step approach to building a compelling business case for KM, demonstrating its value and aligning it with organizational goals. The book also offers insights into overcoming resistance to change and fostering a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing. It emphasizes the importance of effective communication, stakeholder engagement, and demonstrating tangible results. The book is a valuable resource for KM professionals and organizational leaders.

Handbook of Community Management: A Guide to Leading Communities of Practice

A Guide to Leading Communities of Practice

Stan Garfield

Stan Garfield's "Handbook of Community Management" offers a comprehensive guide to leading and fostering successful communities of practice. The book delves into the principles and practices of effective community leadership, covering topics such as membership management, fostering positive culture, and content curation. It provides practical strategies for building trust, encouraging collaboration, and ensuring the long-term success of communities. The handbook also explores the importance of monitoring discussions, providing timely responses, and leveraging the collective knowledge of community members. It serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to build and manage thriving communities.

The show you are about to experience serves twofold. First and foremost, this conversation design elicits knowledge from an experienced individual or expert. It is modeled on conversational theory and utilizes a protagonist, me, to crack into deeper knowledge by a vigorous discussion. Pioneer Knowledge Services has become adept in this practice and offers it as a service. Think of all those super smart people retiring. It is the best way to secure and transfer knowledge. The other piece of what this show provides is a self-help guide leading a community group. It will aid anyone as an example to leading communities. Stan Garfield, a true leader in the field of knowledge management, has been a friend to Pioneer Knowledge Services® for many years. Find him on LinkedIn and learn more about the Systems Integration and Knowledge Management (SIKM) Leaders Community. Stan Garfield is a knowledge management author, speaker, and community leader based in Northville, Michigan. This is his 30th year in the field of knowledge management.. Stan spent 8 years at Deloitte leading communities and enterprise social networking. Prior to that, he spent 25 years at HP, Compaq, and Digital Equipment Corporation. Stan launched Digital's first knowledge management program in 1996, helped develop the corporate KM strategy for Compaq, and led the Worldwide Consulting & Integration Knowledge Management Program for HP. He also worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, St. Louis University School of Medicine, and Washington University School of Medicine. Stan holds a BS in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from Washington University in St. Louis. He leads the SIKM Leaders Community, February 2025, it has 1,264 members globally. The community’s main activities are Online threaded discussions – discussions on the field of knowledge management, questions and answers, and links to job postings Monthly calls – presentations by members and invited speakers Stan is invited to present at numerous conferences, including KMWorld and the APQC KM Conference. He has published over 1,000 articles on leadership, innovation, knowledge management, communities of practice, enterprise social networks, and social media. He is the author of the Profiles in Knowledge series featuring knowledge management thought leaders. Books Implementing a Successful KM Program (2007) Successful Knowledge Leadership: Principles and Practice (2013), Chapter 5: The Modern Knowledge Leader: A Results-Oriented Approach Gaining Buy-in for KM (2014), Chapter 2: Obtaining support for KM: The ten commitments Measuring the ROI of Knowledge Management (2016), 2nd Edition, Chapter 7: The case against ROI for knowledge management Proven Practices for Promoting a Knowledge Management Program (2017) Knowledge Management Matters: Words of Wisdom from Leading Practitioners (2018), Chapter 6: Communities Manifesto Handbook of Community Management: A Guide to Leading Communities of Practice (2020) The Five Cs of KM (2022) Knowledge Nuggets: 100 KM Infographics (2023) Profiles in Knowledge: 120 Thought Leaders in Knowledge Management (2024) Content Knowledge Management Site: http://sites.google.com/site/stangarfield/ LinkedIn Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/stangarfield/ Twitter Feed: http://twitter.com/stangarfield