1. Describe ways that key disciplines can help knowledge leadership

2. Identify and describe the generic attributes of knowledge leaders

3. Describe the specific leadership roles the knowledge leader, core leaders and knowledge workers may take

4. Identify leadership strategies which support knowledge teams

5. Outline the ways knowledge networks can be supported

6. Identify issues to consider when selecting and recruiting knowledge leaders.

What do knowledge leaders do?How does leadership affect a

knowledge community?How does leadership support

knowledge teams and networks?How can good knowledge leaders be

identified and supported?Are you a potential knowledge

leader?

Lecture reference: Debowski, Chapter 3

Knowledge leaders play an important role in building effective knowledge communities

They ensure the knowledge vision and concepts are translated into real activities and practice

There are many different knowledge leaders within a knowledge community

Effective knowledge leadership is core to successful integration of a knowledge-centric organisation

Contributions come from four disciplines: Librarianship Information technology Human resource management Business management

Systems managementEnd-user support Collection management

How knowledge is digitised, captured, retrieved and distributed

Systems and their managementTechnical features and usabilitySystem versus user considerations

Social capitalCultural contextContinuous improvementKnowledge management as core

business

MarketingStrategic planningKnowledge philosophyFinancial managementProject management

Strategic visionaryMotivatorCommunicatorChange agentCoach, mentor, model Learning facilitatorKnowledge executor

The strategic knowledge leader

Core Leaders Manage staff and resources within

local operational units Put the strategic vision into practice Act as gatekeepers Need to see the value of knowledge

management May experience conflicting loyalties Reality check

Knowledge teams rely on interaction, communication and the sharing of expertise to achieve a common goal

Each knowledge worker operates as both leader and collaborator / contributor

Teams require different forms of leadership at different stages of their development

Self-managed knowledge teamShare the leadership, depending on

stage of developmentDynamics of group need to be fluid

and openScope and timeliness of project need

to be carefully controlled

Virtual knowledge teams Geographically, temporally or

organisationally separated teams Rely on technology to communicate Critical success factors include

technology, member training, team and organisation processes, leadership, leader and team capabilities

Knowledge networks are important forms of knowledge activity

Enable access to expertise Assist in building more advanced

knowledge across the communityVolitional involvementTransient leadership roles

Knowledge leaders need to be recruited

Organisations need to accommodate the different ways in which knowledge leaders work

Organisations may also need to consider the core competencies it requires of all employees as knowledge workers/leaders

What should an organisation seek in terms of knowledge leadership?

Knowledge leadership should operate throughout the organisation

Each knowledge worker will provide leadership at some point or other

Different forms of leadership will operate in different contexts and times

Organisations will be strongly influenced and changed by these practices, as new ways of working and interacting occur

What do knowledge leaders do?How does leadership affect a

knowledge community?How does leadership support

knowledge teams and networks?How can good knowledge leaders be

identified and supported?Are you a potential knowledge

leader?

Lecture reference: Debowski, Chapter 3