A Consultancy's 2 Knowledge Types

When it comes to knowledge management for consultancies, it's important to distinguish between two types of knowledge assets: organisational knowledge and consulting intellectual property (IP).

While both are valuable, the former is significantly more important than the latter. Here's a brief overview of each type:

Organisational knowledge

Organisational knowledge refers to the collective information and know-how that an organisation needs to function effectively. This includes things like:

• Company policies and procedures
• Employee handbooks and role descriptions
• Process documentation and workflows
• Training materials and e-learning modules

This type of knowledge is generally codified, widely shared, and remains stable over time. It helps ensure consistency and compliance in how the organisation operates.

Consulting IP

Consulting IP, on the other hand, is the unique expertise and insights that a consultancy develops through client engagements. This includes:

• Proprietary frameworks and methodologies
• Customised tools and templates
• Client deliverables and work products
• Lessons learned and best practices from projects

Unlike organisational knowledge, consulting IP is often bespoke, contextual, and evolving. It's a signifier of the firm's unique approach to solving client challenges and is a key source of a firm's competitive advantage.

So why does this distinction matter?

For one, it impacts how these knowledge assets are captured and shared. Organisational knowledge is typically documented in central repositories and made widely accessible to employees. The goal is broad dissemination, accessability and adoption of policies.

Consulting IP, on the other hand, requires more nuanced management. While some elements - a framework of methodology can be templatised and reused, much of the value lies in the nuanced judgement, previous experience & expertise of consultants. Capturing and sharing this tacit knowledge requires different strategies to ensure that it stays in the firm as functional knowledge that can be used by future consultants.

The distinction also matters for IP protection. Organisational knowledge, while important, is rarely proprietary. Consulting IP, however, is often what sets a firm apart and drives its value. It requires more robust safeguarding, through knowledge capture, management & dissemination systems, as well as confidentiality policies.

As a consultancy grows and evolves, it needs a clear strategy for managing both its foundational organisational knowledge and its high-value consulting IP. For more information on how KnowPro captures, manages and shares consulting IP for growing consultancy firms, visit tryknowpro.com