Maturity models and benchmarks in knowledge management

How does an organization assess its progress with knowledge management? How can we set directions for growth in our KM programs? How can we communicate within our own organizations and to our own management about our goals? Benchmarks provide an important-measuring stick for this type of evaluation. Maturity models reveal step-wise growth at the organization level. They are useful to the knowledge management practitioners, to the end users, and to upper management. In this session, we will consider the state of maturity models and benchmarks in the knowledge management space. Our panelists will discuss maturity models and benchmarks such as PMI, the Capability Maturity Model, and the American Productivity and Quality Center's Benchmarking Practices. Panelists will review how these tools can be applied, and how they have been used in their respective organizations. They will consider the place of benchmarking as a strategic tool, for competitive intelligence, and as a driver for building strong learning environments. They will discuss the pivotal key role of benchmarks in development of best practices, and share the insights gained from their own experiences in using maturity models and benchmarks in their respective organizations.