Episode 10: Doing something that only you can, with Sue Hanley (Susan Hanley LLC)
Jan 7, 2025
auto_awesome
Sue Hanley, a renowned business analyst and information architect, shares her expertise in knowledge management and intranets. She discusses the critical role of networks and personal knowledge management in today’s digital landscape. Sue highlights the value of in-person conferences for knowledge transfer, illustrating her points with engaging personal anecdotes. The conversation also touches on storytelling’s power in communication and the joy of diverse learning styles, melding professional insights with a delightful note on Swedish fika.
Susan Hanley highlights the critical role of technology and diverse communication methods in enhancing knowledge sharing within organizations.
She underscores the importance of a supportive network and storytelling in fostering an effective knowledge management culture.
Deep dives
Sue Hanley's Journey into Knowledge Management
Sue Hanley explains her entry into knowledge management during the mid-1990s when the field was just emerging. Working for a global consultancy, she was required to demonstrate how she leveraged knowledge to promote others' success, highlighting an organizational culture steeped in knowledge sharing. Her responsibilities included creating a Knowledge Center that acted as an extension of the library, emphasizing the role of librarians in finding and disseminating knowledge. This foundational experience led her to understand that knowledge management was not just a procedure but a blend of people, processes, and technology that resonated with her background in psychology and information systems.
The Evolution of Intranets and Knowledge Sharing
The conversation transitions to the evolution of intranets, particularly through the lens of tools like Lotus Notes and later, SharePoint. Hanley details her role as director of the portal at a Microsoft partner company, where she focused on deploying effective intranet solutions and fostering collaboration. She emphasizes the importance of technology in knowledge management, advocating that organizations should leverage available tools to enhance knowledge sharing. The discussion also touches on the role of storytelling in intranets, suggesting that providing engaging content can foster better communication compared to traditional document-heavy approaches.
Balancing Video and Other Knowledge Transfer Methods
The podcast highlights the challenges and benefits of using video for knowledge transfer, raising the question of its sustainability in corporate environments. Hanley notes that while video can be an engaging communication tool, it should not stand alone; instead, it should be complemented with transcripts to cater to different learning preferences and situations. She maintains that effective knowledge management must consider diverse formats to reach employees effectively, emphasizing that everyone's absorption of knowledge varies. This holistic approach underlines the need to adapt communication methods to accommodate different audiences and learning styles for optimal knowledge transfer.
Susan Hanley, known as the “Queen of Intranets,” (by some of us!) is a renowned business analyst and information architect with a focus on intranets, knowledge management, and collaboration solutions. She has been recognized as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for her significant contributions to the Microsoft community many years running, and for helping companies improve organizational communication and collaboration with Microsoft 365 and SharePoint.
A sought-after speaker and author, Susan shares her expertise at conferences and through her writings, offering practical advice and best practices for building effective intranet and knowledge management solutions.
In the latest Knowledge Fika episode, Susan discusses the importance of a great network, personal knowledge management, and multi-media approaches to knowledge management, along with a few personal stories that showcase her unique fire and experience.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode