How can an organization's knowledge management be assessed?

Using different maturity models, we can analyze how an organization develops through different levels. The focus is on People, Process, and Technology. Most knowledge managment maturity models (KMMM) consist of 5 maturity levels, and are based on the Capability Maturity Model established by the Software Engineering Institute in 1993.

SIEMENS AG KM Maturity Model

The model was developed by Siemens AG's Competence Center for Knowledge Management. It helps analyze all the relevant key areas of knowledge management such as corporate environment, culture, strategy, etc. to define a firm's current position and the future directions it should take. In Siemens AG KMMM, the 5 maturity levels are:

Initial:

• Knowledge management is a one-time process

• There are no formal KM practices within the organization

Repeatable:

• The significance of KM is recognized

• KM processes are implemented and tested

Defined:

• KM is supported by day-to-day activities

• KM roles are created, defined, and filled

Managed:

• Basically, this stage includes everything in the "defined" stage, except that it is more standardized

• Organization-wide KM practices are defined

• The effectiveness of KM is measured regularly

Optimized:

• KM is perfected and mastered

• Flexible to external and internal changes

5iKM3 KM Maturity Model

The model was developed by Tata Consultancy Services. It is based on the belief that in any organzation, the goal of KM is to transform organizational knowledge into business benefits. In this model, each maturity level is defined based on how people, process, and technology interact with each other within the organization and are influenced by the corporate culture.

Initial:

• No formal processes for effectively combining KM with business delivery

Intent:

• The potential of KM to help realize business benefits is acknowledged

Initiative:

• The organization has already integrated KM with its business processes

• The benefits and impacts of KM are observed

Intelligent:

• Collaboration and sharing in all business processes

• Collective and collaborative organizational intelligence

Innovative:

• Knowledge becomes the organization's own asset

• The organization is able to use its knowledge to optimize its business processes and gain a competitive advantage

InfoSys KM Maturity Model

Infosys Technologies' KM vision is to become "an organization where every action is fully enabled by the power of knowledge". As a result, they developed a KM maturity model to help them assess the maturity level of their KM system. Again, 5 maturity levels are defined, and each level is characterized by the efficiency of the knowledege life cycle, which consists of Knowledege Acquistion, Knoweledge Dissemination, and Knowledge Reuse.

Default:

• The only way to create organizational knowledge is via formal training

• There is no management of knowledge

Reactive:

• Knowledge is only shared when the need arises

Aware:

• A basic KM system is developed and meets business needs

• Knowledge-sharing activities are actively encouraged

• The benefits of KM are beginning to be realized

Convinced:

• Enterprise-wide KM system has been established

• Quality and usage of contents are ensured

• Knowledge is resused at a project level

Sharing:

• Knowledge sharing becomes an organizational culture

• Organizational boundaries are eliminated

• Knowledge processes are continuously improve