Enterprise SNA & KM


"How people work is the best kept secret in the USA." (Suchman 95)

This statement underscores the main challenge of the knowledge
economy. Work is moving rapidly from the routine
transactional/procedural domain to the knowledge-intensive
collaborative/expert domain. Today, it is critical to understand how
people use their minds and relationships in conducting work and
achieving goals. Leading knowledge-based work calls for a new
approach.

"Knowledge flows along existing pathways in organizations. If we want
to understand how to improve the flow of knowledge, we need to
understand those pathways." (Prusak 97)

Leaders try all manner of organizational models including hierarchy,
communities, departments, far-flung teams, boards, committees and so
forth and so on. The fact remains the effectiveness of every
knowledge-intensive organization depends entirely on the strength of
the relationships of people and the knowledge flows among them.

"People are five-times more likely to ask a co-worker for information
than consult the Intranet, portal or other enterprise subsystem."
(MIT 03).

Technology solutions for the knowledge-intensive workplace continue
to be a major disappointment. Finally, leaders are accepting the well-
established fact that learning, innovation and productivity growth
are social processes. Organizations require social techniques to
drive fundamental improvements in performance.

Social-network analysis (SNA) is a diagnostic method for collecting
and analyzing data about the patterns of relationships and knowledge
flows among people in groups. SNA makes the invisible work visible.
It shows how knowledge-intensive work is done.

Someone once said, "trying to understand communities of practice w/o
SNA, is like photography with the lens cap on!"

In the Spring of 04, sponsors of the KM Cluster action/research
network led two East/West Summits on Social Networks and SNA. The
standing-room-only crowd gained a deep appreciation of the
importance, history, theory and advantages of social networks and
social networks analysis.

By participant demand, a number of KM Cluster action/research
sponsors have adopted Enterprise SNA as their Fall 04 theme. They
feel it is now time to master the tools and practice of social
network analysis and begin enjoying the benefits such as:

o Lower cost structures through far better balance and use of
existing resources;
o Improve financial performance by optimizing contribution of top
performers;
o Focus attention on the importance of tacit knowledge and intangible
assets;
o Uncover your best knowledge resources and conduits in the
organization;
o Achieve fundamental improvements and speed in innovation and R&D.



For a more exhaustive list of proven benefits, please visit the link
below.

Enterprise SNA Benefits PDF:
http://www.kmcluster.com/sfo/SNA_Benefits.pdf


The Fall 2004 KM Cluster regional sponsors are extremely pleased and
honored to announce Valdis Krebs will lead day-long tutorials on
Enterprise Social Network Analysis (SNA) at the following locations:

Silicon Valley: Enterprise SNA (SFO): http://www.kmcluster.com/sfo/
New York Cisy: Enterprise SNA (NYC): http://www.kmcluster.com/nyc/
Washington DC: Enterprise SNA (IAD): http://www.kmcluster.com/bos/
(government/military focus)

Testimonials: http://www.kmcluster.com/testimonials.htm


This includes many practical, real life enterprise SNA success
stories from respected organizations such as IBM, Aventis,
CapitalOne, CDC, Lucent, Shell, PwC, Booz-Allen and KPMG.

This is not traditional corporate training fare. Rather, it is small
numbers of participants, using narrative methods, proximate
conversation and hands-on techniques to create the future. The goal
is how to apply quickly the benefits and advantages of SNA for your
organization.

In addition, this gathering will use InFlow 3.0 Network Mapping
Software. This robust, friendly technology is used to effectively map
and measure networks, flows, and relationships in organizations,
communities and other complex human systems. Paired with proven
enterprise SNA techniques, these practical methods are instrumental
in building and optimizing the dynamic knowledge ecosystems essential
to productivity, innovation and the future of all knowledge-based
organizations.

Each Enterprise SNA participant receives a fully-functional 75-node
participant copy of InFlow Software to quickly bootstrap you SNA
pilot projects. Follow-on telephone consulting is available to assure
your success. Participants also receive a discount on InFlow Software
and services.

As usual, all materials, meals, refreshments, registration, shared
services and other logistics are covered by your Fall 2004 KM Cluster
tuition. In addition, all participants also receive a complimentary
copy of The Hidden Power of Social Networks: Understanding How Work
Really Gets Done in Organizations, by Rob Cross and Andrew Parker.

Secure Online registration:

SFO: https://www.kmcluster.com/sfo/Registration_SFO_km_cluster.htm
NYC: https://www.kmcluster.com/nyc/Registration_NYC_km_cluster.htm
DC: https://www.kmcluster.com/iad/Registration_IAD_km_cluster.htm


This is among the very first available, non-academic SNA tutorial
with a pure and practical focus on the enterprise. It is intended for
practitioners, executives, R&D directors, HR professionals, line-of-
business managers, vendors, researchers, enterprise architects,
educators, consultants and everyone needing a fast start for their
enterprise SNA initiatives.

You are encouraged to register early because this event will fill-up
fast. There is a 10% discount for early registration.


Most respectfully,



Regional KM Cluster Sponsors

John/jheuristic