Firstly we need to pinpoint what all elements will go into making a Total Quality Knowledge Management System, according to me the following elements form the substance of KM – quality oriented->Identify knowledge requirements,Obtain existing knowledge assets, Identify knowledge gaps, Address knowledge gaps to fulfill requirements, and Continually preserve and expand knowledge to reflect dynamic requirements.
Thus KM is a continuum perspective since it transforms data into wisdom.
When Knowledge management complements and enhances other organizational initiatives such as total quality management, business process re-engineering and organizational learning, then it begins to provide a new and urgent focus to sustain competitive position and enhance the quality aspect too.
Total Quality Knowledge Management can be described as the application of knowledge management practices to achieve quality management principles that include
Customer focus, Leadership, Involvement of people, Process approach, Systems approach to management, Continual improvement, Factual approach to decision-making, and Mutually beneficial supplier relation.
The Following points can be imbibed for implementing KM for improving quality processes
Develop Basic Process Competence.
Identify Missing Metrics.
Consider Benchmarking.
Work to Diffuse Internal Knowledge/Practices.
Provide Supportive Learning Environment.
Address Known Knowledge Gaps.
Check/Recheck Assumptions.
Make the Implicit Explicit.
Learn from Malfunctions.
Conclusion
Knowledge in and knowledge of the process is fragmented. No one person/group of people has a full understanding of the entire process. This points to the potential value of a KM effort that enables efficient access and sharing of high-quality, relevant, timely knowledge up, down, and across organizational lines, especially those functional and organizational lines that result in fragmented processes.
©®Chitra Lele