facebook, zuckerberg & social media users critically need personal knowledge management (PKM)
Personal data and information breaches
I spent a fascinating few hours listening to the US Congress interrogate Mark Zuckerberg from facebook about personal data and, allegedly, data and information breaches of trust, revealed so far in the Cambridge Analytica affair and more. This is fundamental, and trust between humans will always be a first requirement for any sustainable business models. Alongside this development the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will be effective in May 2018, affecting all organisations across the world who collect data and information from European residents.
Because new innovative technologies will always develop much faster than humans can ever fully predict and understand the implications, this needs to be deeply considered. We need to especially be concerning with self-regulation and creative freedom, versus governmental regulation and compliance, which is likely to impact much innovation.
But my post today is made because I strongly believe that, in addition to that important debate, we must much better realise that people, who are naturally curious and keen to develop and grow, will immediately be interested in new empowering tools, especially if they are free, like facebook and all other social media. I still think these are miraculous and massively empowering global communication tools. We have become global individuals!
Personal knowledge management
But I have always argued that we must not just assign the inevitable mistakes, that will be made along the way, to the sole responsibility of the highly innovative technology companies and Government legislation, but we must, as individuals, also take proper personal responsibility.
How can we do this? Well, as a knowledge management practitioner and consultant, it has been staring me in the face for a very long time. We need to learn the basic skills of personal data, information and knowledge management. It is now vital.
In the recently published book ‘Knowledge Management Matters: Words of Wisdom from Leading Practitioners’ edited by John and Joann Girad, I have written a chapter that describes the five critical dimensions – personal, team, organisation, inter-organisation and global. If we do not consider all five dimensions, our results will be mediocre at best, and a complete failure (including breach of trust and personal ownership) at worst.
Educate … educate … educate
It is quite quick and easy to learn the basics of effective personal data, information and knowledge management.
In the book I say “I am still convinced today that personal knowledge management is ‘the most essential life skill’ for the 21st century for the knowledge worker”.
I think I would now say that it is the most essential skill for everyone who is connected to the Internet for the 21st Century.
As well as students and adults, we should be teaching our children these skills at an early age.
Both share and protect
We need to understand, much better, when and how we should share our data, information and knowledge and, most importantly, when and how we should better protect our data, information and knowledge. It’s not just about sharing.
Let’s face it. For the global knowledge economy, our personal data, information, and knowledge, will be our greatest assets. Those who manage these critical assets wisely are most likely to succeed.
I am very passionate about personal information and knowledge management as I believe it is only by practicing this, daily, that our paradigm changes to fully understand this.
Concerning facebook, social media generally, and the Internet Service Providers, I do hope that we don’t end up ‘throwing the baby out with the bathwater’.
If you want to know more about personal data, information and knowledge management, and if there is sufficient interest, give me some feedback below and let’s set up some webinars & discussions together.
Ron Young
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Tags: Asset Management, Company Knowledge Management, Facebook, Knowledge Asset Management, Knowledge Management, Small Business Knowledge Management
