KM Challenges in a Global EnvironmentHow Baker & McKenzie meets the challenges

NSW KM Forum – September 2010

Mark Andrews – Director, Knowledge & IT

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Outline– What we think…– Alternate perspectives– Describing culture– Global challenges– About Baker & McKenzie– Meeting the challenges

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What we think…

– Individualist Vs collectivist– No fear of loosing face Vs fear of

loosing face– Small Vs large power distance– Monochronic Vs polychronic

Score each between 1 and 10Total score out of 40

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Alternate perspectives – Western– Rational (Plato, Descartes)

– Knowledge is the result of an ideal mental model (as in mathematics)

– Experimental (Aristotle, Locke)– Knowledge is deducted from what we experience with our senses

– Favour objective and “true” knowledge – ie. explicit– Can “true” knowledge exist?

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Alternate perspectives – Eastern– Unity of mankind and nature

– Experience is dominant not theorization : an individual in its environment

– This is translated in the language– Unity of body and soul

– Emotions, perceptions of the environment are central to knowledge– Wisdom derives from the entire personality

– Unity of myself and the other– Importance of the collective

– Favour subjective and “contextual” knowledge and hence tacit knowledge

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Describing culture– The way we do things– A sense of belonging– Defines what is acceptable and what is not acceptable– Emergent not designed– Often tacit– Influences all interactions– Cannot be changed easily

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Global challenges– Culture

– country, race and ethnicity– company, head office, other offices

– Language– Scope and scale– Technology– Ability to influenceetc

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Global challenges for law firms– Jurisdiction– Legal Professional Privilege– Educational paradigm – degree to which dialogue based pedagogy is

used– IP protection– Return on local investment

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About Baker & McKenzie– A leading Global Law Firm– 39 countries– 67 offices– 60 nationalities– Admitted to practice in almost 250 jurisdictions– More than 70 languages spoken– Educated at over 1,200 institutions– 17 major areas of practice with numerous

specialisations– Over 10,000 lawyers, supporting professionals

and staff

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Meeting the challenges – our Global approach

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Meeting the challenges – our Global approach

– Governance and Practice & Industry Group leadership– Knowledge Management team

– Global– Local

– Development framework, appraisals and time recording– Technology

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Governance and Leadership – Executive Committee liaison– Global KM Director– Global Knowledge and Talent Management Steering Committee– Knowledge responsibilities for Practice and Industry Leaders– Knowledge Partners – Office and Practice Group level

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Knowledge Management team – Knowledge Management team

– Global Directors and PSLs– Australia and London management roles– Local PSLs– Other professional support functions

– Relationship with Global and Local IT

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Baker & McKenzie Development Framework– Key Result Areas

– Business Development– Client Service– Legal Knowledge and Expertise– Matter Management– People Management

– Personal Qualities– Intellect– Dedication– Humanity– Gravitas

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Baker & McKenzie Development Framework– Legal Knowledge and Expertise

– Core legal expertise– Specialist legal expertise– Knowledge management

– Application of policies, procedures etc– Contribution– Sharing– Usage– Promotion– Adaptation– Leadership

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Technology – Microsoft

– Office Suite and Email– SharePoint – intranet

– OpenText– DM

– Recommind– Mindserver

KM Challenges in a Global EnvironmentDeveloping a culture of knowledge sharing

THANKYOU

NSW KM Forum – September 2010

Mark Andrews – Director, Knowledge & IT