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How to Identify Critical Knowledge

Critical knowledge refers to the know-how on which an organization’s growth prospects, competitive advantage, or even survival ultimately rests. Finding the right way to identify and enhance this knowledge is a valuable practice that attracts many schools of thought. In this Insight, drawn from our partner ILO’s work with NASA, we explore three of the top models for recognizing critical knowledge.

How to Identify Critical Knowledge

U+, in partnership with the ILO Institute, is excited to bring you highlights from ILO’s Weekly Virtual Gatherings. This week, we’re bringing you some insights about critical knowledge in organizations, derived from ILO’s work with NASA.

From our work for NASA on Critical Knowledge

Based on many interviews with organizational leaders, we believe that thinking about critical knowledge in these three different ways may help advance the understanding of how best to identify it:

The Fixed Model of critical knowledge. Most common among large organizations, but perhaps least important of the three, is to create a static list of knowledge that is felt to be critical today, or to become critical soon.

The Dynamic Model. Far less common but more important is to establish a model for understanding the criticality of knowledge – when and under what circumstances does knowledge become critical?

In a sense, this task is about creating the algorithm for how criticality moves across different categories and instances of knowledge.

The Pattern-Shifting Model. Finally, and perhaps most important, some organizations engage in the building of the ability to recognize and formulate these algorithms, to cultivate in people the ability to recognize changing patterns of what makes some knowledge critically important.

The U+ Method can efficiently and effectively lead the development, implementation, and improvement of innovations in any sector. To date, we have used this method to bring 100+ products to market, creating over $1 billion in value for Fortune 1000 companies. Check out U+ success stories here.

Get 20 minutes with Sean, the Managing Partner of U+ Americas, to learn more about how U+ can help your company innovate successfully.

Launched in 2005, ILO is a membership organization for large companies, government agencies and not-for-profits, bringing senior executives leading innovation together for knowledge sharing and community building. ILO has completed more than 300 best-practice research reports, focusing on emerging challenges and opportunities. To learn more about ILO, membership benefits, and how to join, visit www.iloinstitute.net.