3 key roles in a KM pilot project

To achieve success in a KM pilot, there are three major roles that need to be in place.

Blickling Hall, Gardens and Park by Martin Pettitt, on Flickr

KM pilot projects are when you take Knowledge Management out into the business, and “try it for real”. They are a public road-test for knowledge management, and a crucial step in your implementation, You can’t afford for them to fail.

In order to ensure success, you need to set up 3 key roles.

The first role is that of the business sponsor, who acts as the customer for the project within the business. They play an active role in setting the direction, providing resources, and agreeing objectives and deliverables. The business sponsor is likely to be the manager of the business unit, and it is crucial that they be committed to the success of the project.

 The second role is that of the local pilot project manager. This person will be accountable for delivering the results of the project. It is important that this role is owned by somebody within the business, so that the project is seen as internal to the business, rather than something “which is being done to us by outside specialists”. The KM person should never be the pilot project manager.

 The third role is that of the knowledge management adviser or supporter, who works closely with the local project manager in implementing the project; providing the knowledge management processes tools and technologies. The knowledge management adviser will be a member of the KM implementation team, and provides learning from the pilot project back to the KM team. They may work full-time on the pilot project, depending on its complexity and scope.