GLOSSARY OF TERMS

At-risk Knowledge: Business knowledge at risk of being lost, usually through retirements or attrition as work moves to other geographies, or workers leave during long gaps between product development activities.

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Business Relevance: Having to do (as closely as possible) with the core reason for the company’s existence.  Usually delivering a product or service at a profit.

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Business Successes:  Anything that helps the bottom line. Typically problems solved that were holding up business or an employee – even as simple as provided through networking or crowd sourcing. Cycle Time (CT) reduction, capacity freed up, or other financial benefits.

 

Business Systems: The computers, IT infrastructure, security protocols, email, collaboration, timecard, performance review, and other electronic systems within a company that employees must interface with while performing their job. 

 

Capabilities: Organizational or company business ability to do something, or deliver something.

Financial Benefits:  OH reductions, …

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ISO 30401: International standard for Knowledge Management Systems.

 

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSA): The knowledge skills and abilities an employee possesses.  Collectively refers to experiential knowledge, facts remembered, tasks one is particularly skilled at doing, and ability to do things, but also to perceive things or draw conclusions from observations.  Can be measured pre and post KT around specific at-risk knowledge areas.  

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Operating Unit: A self contained business organization that produces a product or service using employees, suppliers, property, plants and equipment. 

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Overhead Group: A self contained business organization that provides a service or capability that supports a P&L or Operating unit.  Costs of an Overhead (OH) group are usually spread among the P&L's.  OH Groups don't usually generate business income from external customers. 

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P&L:  A profit and loss business entity. Similar to an Operating Unit.  A P&L produces a product or service, usually at a profit. But it can generate a financial loss if the revenues generated are offset by the costs of operating.

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Program: Usually a self contained effort to product a product or service under a contract to a customer.  The program would incur costs for employees and suppliers, and would received flow downs or cost burdens from the P&L entity the program fits in.  The profits of the program would roll up into the P&L the program fits in.

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Project: An activity geared to provide a specific outcome (product, recommendation, plan, etc.) for a program or business.  

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Reach Back: Ability to reach back to knowledge holders throughout your organization, rapidly, and accurately.

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IN WORK