KM:  Collaborative Work Systems ("CWS")

Strategy for CWS

In order for a CWS to be effective, there must be a strategic design process in place that will help facilitate its development, flow and success.

• craft a culture of collaboration and entrepreneurism;
• design using an array of structures;
• align support systems;
• plan employee empowerment;
• define new roles of leaders;
• apply effective change principles;
• build the business case;
• identify needs and assess progress;
• launch the change leadership team;
• charter the change leadership team; and
• think strategically about change.

The concept that knowledge is power tends to keep individuals from sharing knowledge, thus a method for rewarding knowledge sharing should be implemented within organizations so that individuals will more freely release and/or share the knowledge they have. 

Further, Gretta Rusanow (2003) states management must be in front of, and behind, KM.  In addition, the strategic as well as the operational elements of KM have to be considered.  Conerly, Kelley and Mitchell indicate that "collaboration is the most strategic approach to work that we know.  It enables teams and work groups to function, whenever necessary, with 'strategic intelligence,' and we all know teams need it" (The Collaborative Organization).  Using elements of the strategy above will help facilitate collaboration among team members and provide a greater rate of success in implementation of CWS.

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