As generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot take on an increasingly central role in everyday work life, it’s becoming more and more important for organisations to ensure that the data in play is relevant, trustworthy, protected and well-governed.
Those that manage their knowledge effectively stand to reap tangible rewards in the form of productivity boosts, operational efficiencies and enhanced customer care. Those that don’t risk falling behind the competitive curve as inefficiencies, inaccuracies and information silos limit their ability to leverage AI’s game-changing enhancements.
Know your “Managements”
Records
Management
Records Management deals with the lifecycle management of an organisation’s official records, ensuring they are appropriately handled at every stage, from creation all the way through to eventual disposition.
Information
Management
Information Management focusses on maximising the value and usability of information assets, enabling more effective decision-making and improvements to business processes.
Information
Management
Information Management focusses on maximising the value and usability of information assets, enabling more effective decision-making and improvements to business processes.
How Knowledge Managers can help
Knowledge Managers (KMs) design and implement processes to capture, store, and distribute corporate knowledge, ensuring employees have easy access to accurate information. They actively grow and maintain knowledge bases, foster a culture of knowledge sharing, and monitor the effectiveness of knowledge management programs using analytics and feedback.
When it comes to getting the most out of Copilot, Knowledge Managers can make a world of difference by:
- Curating and organising top quality content for the AI engine (and employees) to
use. - Integrating Copilot into the organisations knowledge management systems.
- Sharing knowledge on how to use Copilot’s features and best practices.
- Establishing channels for employees to share feedback on their Copilot usage and
experiences that can be used to refine and enhance its implementation.
- Curating and organising top quality content for the AI engine (and employees) to
Where are all the Knowledge Managers?
In light of AI’s influence on the importance of knowledge management, you’d be forgiven for thinking Knowledge Managers would be commonplace in most business sectors by now. In reality, these roles are still largely limited to the public sector and law firms.
In the public sector, it’s the need for appropriate handling, preservation and disposition of official records that has been responsible for ensuring the role of Knowledge and Records Managers has endured beyond the days of paper filing.
In law firms, on the other hand, Knowledge Managers have taken on the critical role of transforming organisational knowledge into intellectual capital to drive innovation and efficiencies and enhance their firm’s competitive edge. (A worthy mission that can absolutely be applied to other business sectors.)
Knowledge Managers, GenAI and the future
Of course, neither the public sector nor law firms are known for their enthusiasm for trailblazing new technology. That said, there is no doubt that these sectors, with their already well-organised and well-managed data estates, have a sizeable advantage when it comes to taking on the challenges – and opportunities – of GenAI.
In the wider business landscape, knowledge and information management/governance has been fighting an uphill battle to get the recognition and funding it deserves. Regulations have forced businesses to take a more active stance on data protection by investing in technology and appointing a Data Protection Officer. However, the broader job of governing organisations’ information and knowledge still falls through the cracks more often than not.
If you ask us, this is a mind-bogglingly large, missed opportunity – one we hope will soon reach a tipping point thanks to the rise of AI.
Don’t let your invaluable organisational knowledge go to waste. Get it the management it deserves and start unlocking the full competitive advantage of GenAI in your organisation.
Need help? Get in touch.