Three critical values of Knowledge Sharing especially using ICT4d

In the last decade and over that I have been engaged in knowledge sharing activities that brings various practitioners, experts and domain persons come together to interact, learn, share knowledge and experiences, I have noticed that the role of the facilitator is very important. It is so important that it can make or mar a communities strength. A lot of energy and investments of time, effort and sincerity are made to make it possible for a moderator or facilitator of a community to build and nurture an online community.

While working on various aspects of this theme, and having myself moderated a number of discussion groups, and having lead the programme management of CoP, I have learnt that there are three key and critical values of knowledge sharing.

Free knowledge sharing happens only when there is a free flow of knowledge, experiences and events; narratives are told, only when one feels comfortable and respected, and finally, the virtual community needs to accord immense trust with the person sharing as well as the knowledge shared.

The situation becomes even more complex when one tries to look at the features more carefully:
- trust
- will
- sincerity

The online world comprises of spaces that are out there in the open, and one is treading unfamiliar paths. Our minds are not so easily tuned in to "new spaces" and "open spaces". Thus, it is important that the community defines its space, sets its rules collectively, and honours it, keeping in mind the culturally plural nature of virtual spaces.

It is thus important to build the three core critical values.

Even in organisations working on lofty goals and working in new domains, the same philosophy holds good.

How does knowledge flow in an organisation which is pretty ICT savvy?

Today was an interesting day at work. The Internet connectivity was intermittent, or none, depending on whether someone had access to a data card or not. This being the case, one saw a lot of face to face knowledge exchange happening. People were also trying to get some off-line work done.

But in general, the mood appeared to be one of relaxation, and destressed situation with most colleagues, except the team on Digital Learning which is fighting some deadlines, and desperately looking for online connectivity. Looks and truly feels like a Friday afternoon.

Today was also a day to spend some time with a colleague to understand the nuances of knowledge flow in our own organisation, where a lot happens through the mails, notes and shared file system among team members. The phone was the next best thing put to use when the Internet connectivity denied email as the option to send out notes, updates and information to each other.

People also generally walked around the office and chit-chatted a bit, not necessarily always about work. But this to me, appeared as a crucial necessity to share ideas, thoughts and friendship.

To promote more knowledge sharing, it would be a great idea to have a No Internet Day (once a month) and promote free-flowing sharing of ideas.