Records Management and Knowledge Mobilisation -- Reading now

Records Management and Knowledge Mobilisation: A Handbook for Regulation, Innovation and Transformation, by Stephen Harries. Chandos Publishing (Oxford) Ltd / Woodhead Publishing -- Distributed in the US by Neil-Schuman Publishers (2011). ISBN-10: 1843346532
About the Book:

Over the last 15 years, records managers have tackled problems of electronic information and built a strong case for information governance based on a model of regulation and management control. The public sector environment is now changing rapidly, with more emphasis on efficiency, flexibility, loosening regulation, and cutting budgets. This book shows how records management can continue to contribute to public sector reform and transformation in this new climate. By linking practical ideas about the use and management of knowledge, Harries draws on insights from the study of policy-making and program delivery to show how managing the relationship between records and knowledge and their creation and use can thrive and reconcile the demands of regulation through a wider concept of the governance of knowledge and information.

CONTENTS:

Managing records and growing knowledge: an interactive strategy

Records management in a turbulent world

The turbulent world of records management

What is knowledge mobilisation?

Connecting records management and knowledge mobilisation
PART 1: PRINCIPLES

The changing role of government: transformation

Concepts, codes and meanings: bridging knowledge and records

Records, knowledge and action: an interacting design model

Regulation and institutions: rules, roles and frames

Innovation and change: ideas, networks and communities
PART 2: PRACTICES

Bridging policy and delivery with knowledge: the case for intervention

Achieving added value: efficiency, effectiveness and public value

Planning a knowledge-based intervention: strategy, tools, analysis

Fomenting knowledge development: plans, techniques, architecture

Reframing records management: towards knowledge governance

Structural change in the public sector

A strategic role for knowledge governance

Using Google Power Tools for Gathering Competitive Intelligence

"Gathering information about competitors can be relatively easy if you know where to look and what you're looking for, according to competitive-intelligence professionals." David Gibson, co-ordinator of the Toronto chapter of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP).

Interestingly, Google search is now the leader in helping you find what you want, when you want. It is no more a simple link finder--if one remembers those days when Yahoo and Hotbot were the market leaders in vertical searching, and Google was no where. Google is no more a competitor with any of those who tried their best to Bing or whatever (let alone its once proposed partner: Yahoo).

Google keeps adding power tools. Other than the general purpose of a search engine, some of these Google's tools are a powerful aid in gathering Web analytics (e.g., search within links, domain, titles, subject, etc.), some for gathering competitive intelligence / market research (see examples, below), so on and so forth. Additionally, Google AdWords, Google Analytics, and many more Google applications are a major attraction for techies.

Google as a power search tool helps you in finding facts, figures and data. And the example here is finding competitive intelligence on any given subject. The list of tools Google offers includes (located in Google's vertical sidebars or in the main menu):

Trends on a subject of example Market Research

News on the subject of market research in the last 24 hours (you can change the time, if you like)

Images, that are limited to a subject of your choice, e.g., Market Research--you can change to default results, i.e., relevance

Limiting search to a specific Domain name, e.g., .biz, and market research

Discussions, on Market Research

Finance in relation to market research -- one can limit to related companies

Books (with a free preview option), for example on Market Research

Chel Wolverton - Google Reader - Public - Questions to Ask Competitive Intelligence Software Providers - Cooperative Intelligence

5 Lonely Google Applications For Competitive Intelligence, By Ian Smith

Business Intelligence vs. Competitive Intelligence, Jan Steyl

Culture of secrecy keeping Canadians in the dark, Toronto Star

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