(Re)visiting PKM

Been thinking about the 'PKM' movement again and wondering why I have this disconnect with personal knowledge activities that seek to enhance thought organization, push public rather than community voicing, and the focus on 'individual' responsibility for knowledge work.

Social learning & networking
When it comes to learning, I'm behind those that recognize the centrality of community and the importance of relationships. Here I follow writings of Etienne Wenger, Jean Lave and the social networking ideas of Rob Cross, Ron Burt and Wayne Baker.

What you know is who you are, and whom you connect with

Personal learning thoughts

Knowledge creation
Happens in community, it is driven through making fine distinctions, participation in creative abrasion and deep dialog, surfacing and verification of patterns and feeding on group awareness.

None of this can happen in isolation - the power comes from social construction, exposure to idea diversity and immersion in group inquiry. Arranging personal thoughts, building rolodexes, networking for social capital, refinement of personal intellectual capital just does not deliver.

So why is there all this hype around k-logs?

More PKM thoughts

Comments

[Neil Olonoff]

PKM - All Knowledge is "Personal"

The notion of Personal Knowledge Management should be further elaborated and eventually folded into the general KM framework as an essential part of the philosophy, methodology and toolset. Here's why:

First, all Tacit knowledge is personal, by definition. The original wellsprings of innovation and creation are personal, as is most creative art. (Not that individual creation isn't influenced by externals. But it's a mysterious alchemy.)

Certainly, memory and work are social and collaborative, but we submerge the individual at our risk. We're asking the creative individual to contribute; we should return the favor by honoring their process with appropriate tools and support.

Plus, let's not forget that many collaborative, 'connected' workers are actually sitting alone in home offices with no one but a whiny cat to collaborate with, face-to-face. For that person -- and there are millions of them -- personal KM is not a theory, it's a vital resource!