A Complete Guide to Knowledge Management Tools
Knowledge management tools are implemented to effectively collect, share, and utilize information—such as the knowledge, skills, and experience—held by organizations and individuals. With various companies releasing tools suited for knowledge management, many people may find themselves unsure of what criteria to use when selecting one. In this article, we’ll explain how to choose a knowledge management tool and provide tips on how to make the most of it after implementation. Please use this as a reference when considering the implementation of a knowledge management tool. What Is Knowledge Management? Knowledge management (KM) refers to a series of processes in which companies and organizations aggregate and share the knowledge, experience, and know-how possessed by individuals to enhance organizational capabilities. The knowledge held by a company or organization consists of two types: knowledge that individuals have gained intuitively through their work (tacit knowledge) and objective knowledge (explicit knowledge) that has been verbalized and documented so that anyone within the company can understand it, and which is shared throughout the organization. In knowledge management, it is crucial to convert tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge so that it can be shared and utilized. The “SECI Model” as a Knowledge Management Methodology: The SECI (Sekki) Model is a representative framework for implementing knowledge management. It can be broadly divided into four steps. Socialization: The process of transmitting tacit knowledge through shared experiences. Externalization: The process of verbalizing an individual’s tacit knowledge and sharing it among team members. Combination: The process of combining externalized explicit knowledge to create new knowledge. Internalization: The process of assimilating newly acquired explicit knowledge as tacit knowledge. When implementing the SECI Model, the key to achieving results is to cycle through these four steps. Back to Table of Contents Benefits of Implementing Knowledge Management Tools The two main benefits of implementing knowledge management tools are “operational efficiency” and “prevention of knowledge silos.” These tools promote communication and knowledge sharing within the organization, leading to improved productivity and sustainable growth. Let’s take a closer look at these two benefits below. Operational Efficiency In terms of improving the efficiency of knowledge management operations, the following benefits can be realized: Improved Searchability: Accessing the database makes it easier to retrieve necessary information, leading to reduced work time. Avoidance of Duplicate Work: Since you can verify whether information already exists, this prevents duplicate efforts in registering or updating information. Strengthened Teamwork: Sharing information and collaborating becomes much easier. When multiple members are involved in the same project, sharing information instantly and exchanging opinions and ideas improves teamwork and enables efficient task execution. Prevention of Knowledge Dependency on Individuals: By introducing knowledge management tools, organizations can share advanced information—such as the wealth of experience and skills held by individuals—thereby gaining the following benefits in terms of preventing knowledge dependency on specific individuals. Prevention of Knowledge Loss: Even when employees are transferred or retire, know-how is not lost, ensuring that business operations can continue smoothly. Visualization of Work: Implicit knowledge acquired intuitively by individuals is articulated, clarifying workflows; this promotes knowledge sharing and contributes to the development of a robust management framework. Raising the Overall Level of the Organization: By enabling other employees to learn the work methods of veteran and high-performing employees, it is possible to raise the overall level of knowledge and skills across the organization. Eliminating reliance on specific individuals and achieving operational transparency will also help prevent operational errors and issues. Return to Table of Contents Types of Knowledge Management Tools Knowledge management tools aggregate information—such as knowledge, skills, and experience—within organizations and among individuals, systematize it, and build a database. Depending on their functions and purposes, they can be broadly classified into the following four types. Help Desk (FAQ) Type: This type of tool systematically organizes frequently asked questions (FAQs) in an easy-to-understand manner, enabling users to resolve inquiries from both inside and outside the company on their own. It is implemented to provide quick access to operational procedures and related knowledge within the organization, such as for customer support or help desk teams handling user inquiries. Document Management (File Sharing) Type: This type is used to share, organize, and search for documents and files within an organization. By implementing tools that not only allow users to upload and share documents but also include management features such as access restrictions and update notifications, information sharing within the organization can be made more efficient. Data Mining and Search-Specialized Type: This type of tool extracts valuable information from large volumes of data and documents and enables quick searches. By utilizing text management and machine learning technologies, it helps identify patterns within documents and find relevant information. It is used as an internal search engine for tasks such as information gathering. Knowledge Sharing (Groupware) Type: These tools are used to effectively share individual knowledge and information within an organization and to promote collaboration. They typically combine groupware features—such as messaging (group chat and bulletin boards), file sharing, and task management—and help improve team productivity. Back to Table of Contents: Criteria for Selecting Knowledge Management Tools Now that we’ve reviewed the types of knowledge management tools, what factors should you prioritize when considering implementation? Rather than choosing based solely on price or features, the following seven points are also important. 1. Clarify Objectives and Requirements Before selecting a tool, it is important to first clarify its intended use and necessary requirements. Establish criteria for choosing the optimal tool by clearly defining the challenges your organization aims to solve, the purpose of implementing the tool, and the requirements necessary to meet those objectives. 2. Is the Tool User-Friendly? Choosing a tool that is easy for users to use makes it easier to share knowledge and information within the organization. Check whether the interface is intuitive, whether users can easily register, update, and view content without specialized knowledge, and whether the search function is user-friendly. It is also helpful to take advantage of free trial periods and demonstrations, and to refer to reviews from existing users. 3. Customization and Scalability: With medium- to long-term operations in mind, it is important to consider whether the tool can be customized to meet your organization’s needs and whether it offers the scalability to add new features. Verify that the tool is flexible and can adapt to your organization’s unique processes and workflows. 4. Mobile Support and Offline Access In today’s business environment, mobile devices—such as smartphones and tablets—play a crucial role alongside desktop computers. Make sure the tool supports mobile devices so users can check information and enter data outside the office, whether they’re on the go or working remotely from home. Tools equipped with mobile apps or responsive design allow users to access information anytime, anywhere. Access in offline environments is also important. Be sure to verify whether information can be accessed even when not connected to a network. 5. Robust Security The information aggregated and shared via knowledge management tools may include confidential data and represents a critical information asset for your company. It is essential to implement risk mitigation measures against threats such as data breaches caused by unauthorized access. Be sure to verify the security features of any tool you are considering implementing. 6. Post-Implementation Adoption Support (Customer Success) Even after implementing a knowledge management tool, ongoing support is essential for its effective use. Whether the tool provider offers a Customer Success (CS) program is a key consideration during the selection process. Verify that the provider offers support—such as implementation assistance and user training from CS representatives, as well as regular updates and technical support—to ensure your organization can make the most of the tool. This will promote knowledge sharing, effective communication, and collaboration within your organization. 7. Evaluating Usage Costs and Cost-Effectiveness When selecting a knowledge management tool, it is also important to assess usage costs and cost-effectiveness. It is advisable to understand the costs associated with implementation and operation, including initial setup fees, subscription fees, additional costs for customization and customer support, and maintenance fees. To evaluate cost-effectiveness, we recommend using the following metrics to measure and compare changes in key figures before and after implementation: Changes in the time and resources required for information sharing and problem-solving Changes in the time required to complete specific tasks or processes Return to Table of Contents Points to Consider When Using Knowledge Management Tools Next, we’ll take a closer look at key points to keep in mind when using knowledge management tools. Use the following four points as a guide to make effective use of the tool. 1. Define the Purpose of Using the Knowledge Management Tool As mentioned in Chapter 4, “Criteria for Selecting a Knowledge Management Tool,” the first step is to define the purpose of its use. This is a crucial step for clarifying what information will be shared among employees and how the tool will be utilized. The key is to set these objectives from the user’s perspective. By establishing specific goals—such as “improving operational efficiency,” “facilitating the smooth progress of new projects,” or “streamlining new employee training”—you can clarify how the tool should be used and what information needs to be shared. 2. Clarify the Knowledge to Be Shared Once you have established the purpose of using the tool, the knowledge that should be shared will become clear. For example, identify the specific knowledge you want to share, such as technical expertise, operational manuals, internal training materials, and market trends. Once you have determined the knowledge to be shared, deciding “how to share it” is another key consideration. Specifically, the following three methods can be considered: Compile information in an FAQ format; improve searchability to make knowledge easier to find; and utilize the tool’s chat or bulletin board features. The optimal method for sharing varies depending on the purpose of the knowledge and the skill level of the employees using it. Select the best sharing method while taking user feedback into account. 3. Establish a System for Integrating Knowledge Management Tools into Daily Operations To effectively utilize the tool, a clear system for incorporating it into daily operations is essential. It is necessary to establish mechanisms for knowledge sharing and utilization, such as setting schedules for regular updates and revisions, conducting in-house training to improve tool proficiency, and phasing in the tool gradually based on actual business needs. 4. Improve and Streamline Workflows By documenting workflows and visualizing processes using these tools, you can identify bottlenecks and find efficient ways to improve them. By utilizing workflow and task management features, you can monitor the progress of work while making necessary adjustments and setting priorities, which will lead to improved productivity and enhanced competitiveness across the entire organization. Additionally, data accumulates as the tools are used. Let’s put the “PDCA cycle” into practice: create improvement proposals based on hypotheses built from this data, and after implementation, reflect on what worked and what didn’t to develop the next set of improvement proposals. Return to Table of Contents: Making Effective Use of Knowledge Management Tools This article explained how to select and utilize knowledge management tools. Ideally, you should select a tool by clarifying your organization’s implementation objectives and focusing on key points such as whether it is easy for anyone who wants to use it to do so, and whether appropriate support is available to ensure adoption after implementation. We recommend “learningBOX” as one of the tools well-suited for knowledge management. learningBOX is an e-learning system that offers a full suite of features for creating and distributing learning materials, managing grades, and managing learners. Its key advantage is that anyone can easily set up a web-based learning environment. Furthermore, when combined with “learningBOX ON,” which allows you to add a wide variety of training content, you can design original learning materials and further expand the scope of knowledge sharing. When implementing knowledge management initiatives, be sure to take advantage of services that facilitate in-house training content creation. With learningBOX’s free plan, you can use the service for up to 10 accounts at no cost. Feel free to give it a try. ▼ Also Recommended! Related Articles Return to Table of Contents