Personal Reflective Journal: KM in Librarians' Job at Walters Cameron

This reflective journal details a project focused on knowledge management (KM) challenges at Walters Cameron and Partner (WCP), specifically within their library services. The author, a professional trainer and KM student, outlines the project's objectives, which include identifying KM-related problems, proposing solutions, and developing strategies to improve librarians' roles. The journal highlights issues such as a lack of strategic KM goals, inadequate performance evaluation parameters, insufficient knowledge sharing, and an inefficient ticketing system. The research process involved interviews, questionnaires, and knowledge mapping to assess the current KM status and identify gaps. Deliverables include a KM status report, a knowledge audit, and recommendations for KM goals and KPIs. The author emphasizes the importance of motivational counseling and proper evaluation to enhance librarians' performance. The journal concludes with a discussion of the potential benefits of successful KM implementation, such as increased ticket usage, improved librarian recognition, and better knowledge control.

Personal Reflective Journal
Knowledge Management in Librarians’ Job

Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
My role as professional trainer....................................................................................................................3
Schedule of project......................................................................................................................................3
Detection of KM related problems of WCP.................................................................................................4
Lack of strategic knowledge management goals.....................................................................................4
Absence of parameter to evaluate Librarians’ work................................................................................4
Inadequate knowledge sharing among librarians....................................................................................5
Non-productive and unfriendly ticketing system.....................................................................................5
Research Process.........................................................................................................................................5
Proposed objective..................................................................................................................................5
Proposed methodology...........................................................................................................................5
Knowledge audit / mapping....................................................................................................................6
Literature review.....................................................................................................................................6
Project deliverables.................................................................................................................................6
Probable inferences.................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................7
Bibliography................................................................................................................................................8
2 | P a g e

Introduction
This reflective journal is made to cover a project related to the problems faced by Walters
Cameron and Partner regarding knowledge management absorption and sharing with internal
stakeholders. Being a member of the project team as professional trainer, I have to understand
the problem of KM for WCP to derive the objective of this project followed by the adaptable
methodology and subsequent questionnaire setting to arrive at the deliverables of the project.
Knowledge Management is the latest application of Artificial Intelligence applicable in different
fields. In this project, applicability of knowledge management is evolving in problems of library
service of Walter Cameron and Partners. (Beesley L, 2008)
My role as professional trainer
I was selected as a member of the five-man team of the project to ensure proper execution of this
project. I was selected in this project as I am a working KM student in graduation level with the
background of professional trainer.
Schedule of project
Our team had decided to start this project on 17th February with expected completion on 22nd
April. The time line is appended below:
3 | P a g e

Detection of KM related problems of WCP
While we were engaged in detection of KM related problems of the clients by consulting WCP,
we were able to diagnose them with different level of criticality. (Boyes, 2016) Problems in
macro level were with the librarians of WCP, who were not able to cope up with the
advancement of technology by collaborating and sharing due to their independent work culture.
Their attitude blocked them to get the advantage of using technology for retaining and sharing
knowledge, which would prove to be the strength of them. I am appending below the problems
as per their characteristics:
Lack of strategic knowledge management goals
The prerequisite of any successful business is fixation of strategic management goal as per the
business objective. It is our observation that the R&IS team had never thought of implementing
the practice of km Goal and respective strategies, although WCP has strong knowledge
department with properly defined business objectives and strategies. WCP had urged to us to fix
the KM goals to be followed by R&IS Team. (Garfield, 2018)
Absence of parameter to evaluate Librarians’ work
We have gathered information from the client that there was no systematic approach to evaluate
the performance of the R&IS Team. It is essential to fix a parameter to evaluate the performance
4 | P a g e

of the librarians’ deliverables to understand their contribution to the organization in both quality
and quantity with subsequent rewarding method. (Binegenheimer, 2008)
Inadequate knowledge sharing among librarians
We had gathered information about knowledge sharing amongst the librarians. Our observations
found that the librarians are not so comfortable about knowledge sharing within the internal
stakeholders of the firm; even they would prefer to keep the knowledge in isolated manner.
Non-productive and unfriendly ticketing system
We have diagnosed that ticketing system was non-productive and unfriendly in nature due to IT
application, which was not initiated considering the needs of the stakeholders. We have also
found that due to complicacy and tiring system of ticketing, the librarians, at times, used to get
frustrated. This ticketing system was also not justifying the abilities of the librarians, as it is not
proved to be friendly.
Research Process
Proposed objective
After diagnosing the problem of WCP, we have set project objectives. They are KM related
problems faced by R&IS Team along with facilitation of adapting to the newly transforming role
of librarians of law firms. At the end, KM related strategies and goals are to be customized for
the team, so that they can be able to manage KM process in better way with identification of
KPIs. This objective, set by us, will ensure better evaluation of librarians’ performance with
quantifiably visible output.
Proposed methodology
We have to fix the project methodology to ensure best probable result by assessing different KM
related issues of the client. We have decided to conduct interviews with the internal stakeholders
like chief knowledge officer and librarians to understand the KM status of WCP. We will then
conduct a questionnaire survey by fixing questionnaire about the KM needs and status of the
firm along with the issues of collaboration, knowledge sharing and any probable difficulty to
adopt their changing role.
5 | P a g e

Knowledge audit / mapping
As per demand of the project, we have suggested conducting knowledge mapping for the R&IS
Team to detect knowledge requirement and gaps. (M, 2018) Moreover, audit of different KM
software applications prevailing in WCP is also suggested by us to understand their usage,
shortcomings, and best practices with exploration of opportunities to improve. The radar chart
recommending level of KM strength and weakness is also enclosed by me below for reference:
Literature review
For better understanding of KM related issues, we have consulted different scholarly articles like
journals, empirical studies to compare this case in respect to Km related issues of other law
firms. (Gao, Chao, & Y, 2018)
Project deliverables
After completion of methodology process, we will be in a position to provide a report of the KM
status of WCP, a knowledge audit/ mapping report to identify the requirements, gaps and
6 | P a g e

knowledge possessors of R&IS team and recommendation KM goals with feasible KM actions
for the R&IS Team and KPIs and parameter to quantify the performance of the librarians.
Probable inferences
We believe that successful application of ideal KM measures can produce following results:
 Increasing level of ticket usage system for research requests;
 Enhanced recognition for the contribution and value addition of the librarians;
 Better inventory control of knowledge through preservation, sharing and recycling by the
R&IS Team.
Conclusion
I believe this project will give right direction to WCP for proper guideline to ensure better result
for KM assurance with proper human resource evaluation and subsequent rewarding. As a
professional trainer, I have gone through existing KM management prevailing in WCP and took
part in methodology procedure of interview with the librarians to understand their obstacles
towards delivering their output quantitatively and qualitatively. This project demands high level
of motivational counseling for the stakeholders, which I would take care for enhancement of
mental and moral boosting for the librarians and others related to this domain.
7 | P a g e

Bibliography
Beesley L, C. C. (2008). Defining Knowledge Management (KM) Activities: Towards Consensus. Journal of
Knowledge Managment , 12 (3), 48-62.
Binegenheimer, F. N. (2008). How to Manage a Law Firm Library: Leading Librarians on Providing Effective
Services, Managing Costs, and Updating and Maintaining Resources (Inside the Minds). Thompson
Reuters.
Boyes, B. (2016, February 17). Trends, issues and challenges in knowledge management and sharing: research
review. (RealKM, Producer) Retrieved April 7, 2019, from RealKM:
https://realkm.com/2016/02/17/trends-issues-and-challenges-in-knowledge-management-and-sharing-
research-review/
Gao, T., Chao, Y., & Y, L. (2018). A review of knowledge management about theoretical conception and designing
approaches. International Journal of Crowd Science. , 2 (1), 42-51.
Garfield, S. (2018, April 23). 10 Types of Knowledge Managment Strategies. (A Medium Corporation) Retrieved
April 7, 2019, from Medium: https://medium.com/@stangarfield/10-types-of-knowledge-management-
strategies-f947f28599a7
M, H. (2018, July 16). 4-Step Guide to Knowledge Mapping. (APQC) Retrieved April 7, 2019, from APQC.ORG:
https://www.apqc.org/blog/4-step-guide-knowledge-mapping
8 | P a g e