ABSTRACT
This chapter defines knowledge management and its uses, describes how to establish a knowledge-based company, and introduces knowledge-led project processes. The means to share knowledge within a business community will give a practice a critical edge in an ever-more competitive marketplace. Knowledge management helps individuals and groups to: share insights; reduce redundant work or ‘reinventing the wheel’; reduce training time for new employees; retain knowledge as employees move to other companies; and adapt to changing environments and markets. Knowledge processes can be applied to great effect at a project level. The core principles that will make knowledge management work are: the establishment of ‘coaches’; and the workshop as the place where design takes place. The coaching process must encompass all design activities, from inception through to post-project feedback.
