Shareconomy – sharing knowledge increases knowledge

Knowledge is the most important resource of the information age. It is a hard-hitting competitive factor in an era when new knowledge keeps overtaking the old at an ever-more rapid pace. It is therefore crucial for companies to exploit their know-how and competencies as thoroughly as possible.

Sharing platforms have already demonstrated their value in innovative companies, enabling staff to exchange information across department boundaries. As they do so, this social communication promotes the formation of powerful teams benefiting from individuals’ bundled professional knowledge. The communication also facilitates searches for in-house specialists who can quickly explain difficult matters. Micro-blogging and instant-messaging services target a project’s participants and distribute information to them quickly. Forums also serve as platforms for fast and unbureaucratic discussions of internal processes, problems and potential improvements.

In addition, these approaches to sharing can create transparency within the company. This is because employees often work parallel to one another on similar issues. A more broadly based access to content – e.g. to analyses, proposals or customer reports – saves time while boosting efficiency. Centrally accessible blogs, wikis and FAQs are a channel making employees’ specialized knowledge accessible to a wider group. These solutions become essential if a responsible party’s departure would result in the loss of knowledge.

The scenarios for knowledge-sharing and participation are not immobile at all. Field representatives benefit from access to a centralized pool of knowledge. They can call up company information during their field work, such as visits to the clients, and use it purposefully in their dealings with them.

Even beyond the limits of the company, the shareconomy has become a critical factor for success. For example, there is a demand for elements that integrate suppliers and customers into internal processes. This especially applies to intercompany cooperation and research projects with universities. Information technologies play an increasingly important role in a growing number of industry sectors, including plant engineering and logistics.  Social Media can be used to easily integrate external partner, consultants, supplier and customer into your companies processes (Prof. Dieter Kempf, DATEV eG, #01-2013 www.B4BMITTELSTAND.DE).

After „Cloud Technology“ in 2011 and „Managing Trust“ in 2012, „Shareconomy“ is the keynote theme for CeBIT 2013. Cloud-based applications are clearly on the rise, and have now earned user trust. Successful companies benefit from the expertise of their partners and thus increase their odds of success – since knowledge is the resource that you increase by sharing. How does Your company share knowledge?