B. Federal KM Working Group

While consulting services, pharmaceutical companies, and other private sector organizations have used knowledge management practices for more than ten years, it took a few forward-thinking professionals from Federal civilian and military organizations to bring this new discipline to work for Federal employees and the American people. Together, they formed the Federal Knowledge Management Working Group, bringing together representatives from more than 30 agencies to begin developing and sharing what has been called the world's largest storehouse of knowledge and expertise. In less than two years this small, self-managed group has delivered on its initial goals and objectives, and has begun to remove the barriers that were preventing the best minds in government from working together, regardless of their position or location.

The Federal Chief Information Officers Council (CIO Council) established the Knowledge Management Working Group (KMWG) as an interagency body to bring the benefits of the government's intellectual assets to all Federal organizations, customers, and partners. The KMWG is chartered under the sponsorship of the Best Practices Committee. The KMWG is charged with identifying best practices in KM within and beyond Federal agencies; encouraging the dissemination of information related to the KM discipline; and ensuring the development of competency profiles for agency Chief Knowledge Officers.

The Knowledge Management Working Group brings together guidance on the content, process and technology needed to ensure the Federal community makes full use of its collective knowledge, experience, and abilities. The working group's vision is to be a major resource for the government as the government takes greater advantage of its most important resource, the knowledge of the Federal workforce (human capital). The KMWG Charter was adopted on March 1, 2000. Members of the KMWG are a subset of the Federal CIO Council and others designated by the CIO Council. At the option of the KMWG, representatives of organizations both in and out of government are periodically invited to attend, observe, or contribute to meetings and activities.

The KMWG is chartered to have co-chairs that serve at the request of the CIO Council. The first co-chairs of the group were Dr. Shereen Remez (CKO of GSA) and Alex Bennet (CKO of Dept of Navy). When Dr. Remez left government service in 2001, Elsa Rhoads (Knowledge Management Architect of Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation) joined Alex Bennet as co-chair. In January 2002, Giora Hadar (FAA) and Nat Heiner (CKO of US Coast Guard) took the reins of service.

With more than 30 Federal organizations participating in the Working Group, and preliminary discussions beginning on collaboration and knowledge sharing with state and local groups, the ultimate reach of the group is very large. While most private corporations have already realized their ultimate value lies in the knowledge they own, cultivate and sell, the government has just begun to realize the full potential of its collective expertise.

Initiatives sponsored by the Knowledge Management Working Group are accomplished through Special Interest Groups (SIGs). The number and focus of Special Interest Groups reflects current needs and resources, and therefore changes periodically. Currently the KMWG has eight Special Interest Groups, 1) Communities of Practice, 2) Government-wide Communities of Practice, 3) Content Management, 4) KM Education, Learning and Development, 5) KM.GOV Content and KM Technology, 6) KM Stories, 7) Public Policy and Outreach, and 8) KM Surveys. Each Special Interest Group has a Chairperson, (with a Co-Chairperson when possible), elected by members of the KMWG. Through these SIGs and periodic meetings and events, the Working Group is quickly becoming a major KM resource for the Federal government, facilitating the exchange of successes, and developing tools and other resources.

For example, in December 2000, the Knowledge Management Working Group invited industry and academic partners who have active KM certification programs to join government representatives in identifying criteria for a government-approved KM certification program. This eclectic group identified 14 learning objectives important to KM certification, including necessary areas of competence, ways to facilitate the flow of information, and tools for implementation. The learning objectives also serve to define KM for the U.S. Government.

In addition to holding periodic open meetings, the Working Group maintains a Knowledge Management Website (KM.GOV) to ensure communications among members and provide information about knowledge management to Federal agencies.

Related Resources:

GAO identified Human Capital as a critical risk area for the Federal Government.

1. GAO Report — Human Capital: Meeting the Governmentwide High-Risk Challenge (PDF) (Download Adobe Acrobat here)
2. GAO Briefing Presentation — Human Capital and Knowledge Management: Connecting People to Information (Online PPT Slides)
   (Delivered by the Honorable David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, April 12, 2001)
3. Knowledge Management Statement of Intent (see image below)

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File Size(Kb) User Date Version KM_Statement_of_Intent.gif 90 Karl Hebenstreit Mar 01, 2008 2:47 PM 1 Nat_Heiner.jpg 8 Karl Hebenstreit Feb 27, 2008 6:57 PM 1 Giora_Hadar.jpg 6 Karl Hebenstreit Feb 27, 2008 6:55 PM 1