Comments for When silos work

Comment from Ken Nordan on 2007-06-20

2007-06-20T18:18:12Z

Silos (I think) generally relate to how they are used in farming. A function of storage, rather than distribution.

The same can be said about knowledge silos. It is a function of storage not distribution.

When a storage silo is broken open what happens to the corn inside? It falls out and spills all over the place. Covering everything in its path. The same is true of knowledge silos, break them open and we get too much information.

Distribution systems resolve these problem in corn and in knowledge. Preorders for corn, just in time delivery systems, rail, truck and other systems get the corn to the place it is needed. Corn still rots, people still go hungry, these are distribution problems (in many cases).

Again the same is true with knowledge. Good distribution systems resolve the (too much/too little) problem. Instead of sending knowledge to everyone (a "push" system), people should be able to pre-order or request it (a knowledge "pull" system). Efficient transporation systems need to be built.

Comment from stefan on 2007-06-22

2007-06-22T15:44:24Z

Jack, great thought. i would like to expand on it and say that while we are now able to tab into the 'indexed' knowledge of the world, and we are getting overwhelmed at times, we still need to make sure we don't miss anything relevant. One way to do that is to apply filter mechanisms. These obviously may differ by person/role/interest, but IMHO need to be individually dynamic and adjustable. If i am interested in KM2.0 today, it will be performance patterns of professional networks tomorrow.

Cheers,
Stefan

Comment from David on 2007-07-28

2007-07-28T18:12:08Z

"Kaye talks about another direction here. She's in an organization where the old walls have been torn down, and information is available everywhere"

So context has changed and silo equates with concentration of expertise but without impermeable walls. Tis true info overload means we may congregate around areas of common interest rather than becoming bloated by overconsumption.....the latter is a big issue unless we allow for choice and search engines make pre-determined choices....how many people grasp this is another matter.

David

Comment from David on 2007-07-28

2007-07-28T18:12:08Z

"Kaye talks about another direction here. She's in an organization where the old walls have been torn down, and information is available everywhere"

David

Comment from David on 2007-07-28

2007-07-28T18:32:20Z

"Kaye talks about another direction here. She's in an organization where the old walls have been torn down, and information is available everywhere"

But as Stefan pointed out it's about whether a silo functions as a store but is isolated from a distribution network which is the key.

Siberia has shedloads of oil but it won't help anyone unless we can get it out and distribute it.
David

Comment from jackvinson on 2007-07-28

2007-07-28T21:01:15Z

Nice point, Dave. The walls of the new silos we create must be glass or plastic or something transparent and flexible. But they really can't be silos at all because we need to be able to realize when the "silo" doesn't have what we need and start looking at the people in other "silos" for that stuff.