Learn the crucial first step HR directors should take when developing a formal knowledge management system during a merger or acquisition. Expert guidance for SHRM-SCP certification exam prep.
Table of Contents
Question
As part of an organization’s merger/acquisition the HR talent management director is tasked with developing a formal knowledge management system for the new combined organization. What should the HR director do first?
Answer
Assemble an HR team to gather and analyze existing documents from both organizations. The first step is to identify exactly what knowledge exists in the new organization. This may involve gathering and analyzing existing documents and identifying employees with specific knowledge and skills. When assets have been identified, the team can plan for how to make them accessible and how to retain knowledge as the new organization goes forward.
Explanation
The first and most critical step the HR talent management director should take when developing a formal knowledge management system for the newly combined organization is to assemble an HR team to gather and analyze all existing documents and knowledge assets from both organizations involved in the merger/acquisition.
The goal of this initial phase is to comprehensively identify and catalog exactly what knowledge currently exists across the two organizations that are coming together. This process will likely involve:
- Collecting and thoroughly analyzing all relevant existing documents
- Identifying specific employees who possess critical knowledge, skills, and expertise
- Interviewing and gathering input from key personnel
- Creating a centralized inventory of knowledge assets and intellectual capital
Only once the HR team has systematically identified and taken stock of all the available knowledge assets can they then proceed to the next phases of developing an effective knowledge management system, which include:
- Planning how to integrate, organize and provide access to the knowledge
- Determining strategies for retaining and transferring key knowledge
- Establishing processes to continuously capture new knowledge going forward
By first focusing on assembling a clear and complete picture of the existing knowledge landscape, the HR director will lay the essential groundwork for building a robust knowledge management framework that leverages the combined strengths of the merged organization. This initial assessment phase is indispensable for the overall success of the knowledge management initiative.
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