Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know
When new-car developers at Ford Motor Company wanted to learn  why the original Taurus design team was so successful, no one could tell  them. No one remembered or had recorded what made that effort so  special; the knowledge gained in the Taurus project was lost forever.  Indeed, the most valuable asset in any company is probably also its  most elusive and difficult to manage: knowledge. Authors Thomas H.  Davenport and Laurence Prusak assert that learning how to identify,  manage, and foster knowledge is vital for companies who hope to compete in today's fast-moving global  economy.Working Knowledgeexamines how knowledge can be  nurtured in organizations. Building trust throughout a company is the  key to creating a knowledge-oriented corporate culture, a positive  environment in which employees are encouraged to make decisions that  are efficient, productive, and innovative. The book includes numerous  examples of successful knowledge projects at companies such as British  Petroleum, 3M, Mobil Oil, and Hewlett-Packard. Concise and clearly  written,Working Knowledgeis an excellent resource for managers  who want to better harness the experience and wisdom within their  organizations.