A Knowledge Audit focuses on understanding the Knowledge Management related business processes and practices within an organisation. The Knowledge Audit exercise sets out recommendations aimed at delivering a Knowledge Management solution within this context and the potential benefits that can be realised.
Key objectives for a Knowledge Audit are to:
- Understand the current strategy/objectives within the organisation
- Review departmental information and knowledge usage. This will include all of the main departments to define the overall Knowledge Management strategy and ensure that any initial projects are delivered with that overall Knowledge Management strategy in mind
- Identify “Knowledge Areas” within the organisation
- Outline the required “Communication Maps”
- Understand the technical environment such that the recommendations incorporate existing systems where possible
- Identify bottlenecks and other sources of frustration, which prevent people from working together effectively
- Identify the cultural issues faced by each department.
- Identify and agree target areas/departments which would receive the largest potential benefit for further investigation and for tackling the issues/opportunities identified by the review
