Capitalizing On Knowledge: From E-Business To K-Business

Description:
Many organizations are embracing knowledge management as a source of strategic advantage. But already people are asking: 'what comes next?' Likewise almost every large organization is heavily involved in e-commerce and turning their organizations into e-businesses. At the moment most e-commerce is focused on selling traditional products and services through the new medium of the Internet. However, the more an organization evolves into an e-business, the more they can exploit knowledge flows between themselves and their marketplace. This book draws together the two strands of knowledge and e-business into the emerging field that this book has called k-business. A k-business is one that turns an organization's knowledge assets into knowledge products and services and uses the Internet to market and deliver them online. Despite its newness, the Delphi Group have forecast that within 5 years person-to-person information e-commerce (a major aspect of k-business) will be a $5 billion business leveraging $50 billion in sales of other products and services. 'Capitalizing on Knowledge' aims to give professionals and managers early insights into how to develop successful k-businesses. It takes a critical and balanced view of the building blocks of a k-business including knowledge productizing, e-commerce enablers and Internet marketing. It draws on lessons from successes and failures in the dot.com landscape and of the early pioneers of knowledge markets. The writing style engenders interest and readability supported by diagrams, screen images, check lists and frameworks. There are 'points to ponder' to stimulate thinking and decision-making. Five case studies and over 50 illustrative examples provide insights into the application of the book's concepts. No other book brings all the elements of a k-business together in one place to provide a thought provoking yet practical companion for those who want to capitalize on their knowledge. This book demonstrates how the overlap of the two high profile strands of e-business and knowledge management is creating new k-business opportunities. It describes new business models for marketing knowledge over the Internet. It provides practical guidelines for packaging knowledge and participating in knowledge markets.

Review:
This book, written for knowledge management practitioners, is based on a good theory and two great insights. The theory is that, in our increasingly virtual world, knowledge has commercial value. The insights are, first, that the commercialization of knowledge and the growth of e-business are rapidly converging and, second, that all business will soon be e-businesses. It follows that all businesses must understand their knowledge assets and find ways to exploit their commercial value. This book shows how. Writtten by one of the original KM practitioners, the book is easy to read and has a down-to-earth practical flavour, with lots of case histories and nearly 50 self-contained 'knowledge nuggets'. If you accept the theory and recognise the insights, then buy the book and learn how to capitalize on your knowledge assets. Tony Brewer, Director, IMPACT e-Business Network David Skyrme has observed and reflected on the KM community from its inception and he has acquired a better overview of the practices of knowledge management than any one I know. When he now focuses his considerable analytical skills on the art of using the internet to create a profitable knowledge business he is worth listening to. This is a very rich book; as full of useful insights as it is free of hype! A must-read for any aspiring knowledge capitalist. Dr. Karl-Erik Sveiby 'Capitalizing on Knowledge' is an excellent example of its own message: Exploit what you know to the benefit of the k-providers, k-enablers and k-seekers alike. The book is a comprehensive source of insights and inspiration from someone who has been there. Skyrme is a true practitioner with a deep understanding of the forces behind the future knowledge business and its vast opportunities. Klas Mellander, Chief learning designer, Celemi David Skyrme has a clarity of thinking and a straightforward style that is a very welcome contribution to knowledge management. Capitalizing on Knowledge is an important road map for managers who wish make practical use of knowledge management. Gerry McGovern, Author of 'Content Critical' and 'The Web Content Style Manual' ' Anyone seriously interested in knowledge commerce can benefit greatly from David Skyrme's ground breaking exploration of the intellectual capital fission and fusion being ignited in the emergence of the next generation e-knowledge market frontier..' Bryan Davis, President, The Kaieteur Institute For Knowledge Management 'Deeply pragmatic without being patronising - a fascinating exploration of the gritty, practical end of engaging in the Knowledge Economy'. Dave Snowden, Director (EMEA), IBM Institute for Knowledge Management 'Knowledge is at the heart of wealth creation. Capitalizing on Knowledge is a most impressive coverage, with illustrative and practical references, on an emerging very important value space - creation and growth of knowledge business...' Leif Edvinsson, Professor of Knowledge Economics, Lund University, Sweden David Skyrme's book is easy to follow and to read and is clearly backed by a sound theoretical knowledge. The book is well organised with a good index enabling easy access to its contents. Not only are you provided with a good overview of the concept of knowledge management and the various techniques involved, but the reader is provided with a good introduction to ecommerce and kcommerce. Jargon is explained and practical examples are used to help illustrate the points being made. I will certainly recommned it to my students. Shona McTavish, Northumbria University 'Skyrme forecasts some directions in the emerging knowledge economy, as well as the challenges and dilemmas that will affect corporate strategy and policy in the near future. Skyrme provides many helpful aides in this compact book - points to ponder at the end of each chapter; mini cases and annecdotes; and four appendices of templates, check-lists, and working tools to further k-business. For those who wish to stay on the leading edge of the new work culture, this book is a mind-stretcher and real bargain! ' Reviewed by Philip R. Harris, Ph.D.. European Business Review

Table of Contents:
Knowledge inside-out; E-business: a platform for knowledge; K-business: new markets, new models; Online knowledge markets; Productizing knowledge; Marketing revisited; The 10Ps of Internet marketing; Developing a k-business; Directions and dilemmas; Appendices.