This document discusses using blogs for personal knowledge management (PKM). It defines PKM as taking responsibility for lifelong learning and organizing one's own ideas. Blogs are proposed as a tool for PKM because they allow for reflective thinking, annotation of links and resources, and networking within an organization. The document provides guidance on organizational culture and policies to support blogging, as well as software capabilities that facilitate PKM blogging.

1. Blogs for PersonalBlogs for Personal
Knowledge ManagementKnowledge Management
(PKM)(PKM)
Christina K. PikasChristina K. Pikas
Technical LibrarianTechnical Librarian
Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University
Applied Physics LaboratoryApplied Physics Laboratory
Laurel, MarylandLaurel, Maryland

2. 2
AgendaAgenda
•• What is PKM?What is PKM?
•• Why Blogs?Why Blogs?
•• Nuts and Bolts of Blogs for PKMNuts and Bolts of Blogs for PKM

3. 3
What is PKM?What is PKM?
•• Taking personal responsibility forTaking personal responsibility for
lifelong learning and organization of ideaslifelong learning and organization of ideas
•• Requires individual ownership andRequires individual ownership and
motivationmotivation11

4. 4
How is PKM different fromHow is PKM different from
personal information managementpersonal information management
(PIM)?(PIM)?
PKMPKM
•• ConnectionsConnections
•• AnalysisAnalysis
•• ConversationsConversations
•• IdeasIdeas
•• SelectionSelection
•• Sense Making
PIMPIM
•• FactsFacts
•• DocumentsDocuments
•• Addresses (URLAddresses (URL
and geographic)and geographic)
Sense Making

5. 5
How is PKM different from KM?How is PKM different from KM?
Organizational KM: Unlike personal KM (see definition
[below]), which centres on the individual, organizational
KM depends upon an enterprise-wide strategic decision to
actively manage knowledge through a range of processes,
tools and people.
Personal KM: A set of concepts, disciplines and tools for
organizing often previously unstructured knowledge, to
help individuals take responsibility for what they know
and who they know.
From European Guide to good Practice in KnowledgeFrom European Guide to good Practice in Knowledge
Management Part 5: KM TerminologyManagement Part 5: KM Terminology
(ftp://cenftp1.cenorm.be/PUBLIC/CWAs/e-Europe/KM/CWA14924-
05-2004-Mar.pdf)

6. 6
How is PKM different from KM?How is PKM different from KM?
(cont.)(cont.)
PKMPKM
•• Personal/IndividualPersonal/Individual
•• EnablingEnabling
•• Bottom upBottom up
•• Knowledge as part of yourKnowledge as part of your
habitat in your organization’shabitat in your organization’s
information ecologyinformation ecology
•• Straddles public/privateStraddles public/private
domainsdomains2
KMKM
•• Organizational/EnterpriseOrganizational/Enterprise
•• Doing forDoing for
•• Top downTop down
•• Knowledge as an objectKnowledge as an object
that can be identified,that can be identified,
stored, used out of contextstored, used out of context
•• Public (enterprisePublic (enterprise--wide)wide)
2

7. 7
Why Blogs?Why Blogs?
What I mean by blogsWhat I mean by blogs
Blogs for PKM are defined here asBlogs for PKM are defined here as
internal, enterpriseinternal, enterprise--supported individual effortssupported individual efforts
CorporateCorporate
ExternalExternal InternalInternal
SalesSales
RelationshipRelationship
BrandingBranding
KnowledgeKnowledge
CollaborationCollaboration
CultureCulture
From:From: Frederik WackaFrederik Wacka,, Corporate Blogging BlogCorporate Blogging Blog, August 10, 2004,, August 10, 2004,
http://www.corporateblogging.info/2004/08/six-types-of-business-
blogs.asp3

8. 8
Why Blogs?Why Blogs?
What I mean by blogsWhat I mean by blogs
PKM blog posts may be as simple as a link, or may bePKM blog posts may be as simple as a link, or may be
part of a long collection of analytical essayspart of a long collection of analytical essays
Seven Blog Posting Formats
•Short article
•Long article
•Series postings
•Link-only
•Link blurb
•Brief remark
•List
From: AmyFrom: Amy GahranGahran,, ContentiousContentious, September 22, 2004,, September 22, 2004,
http://blog.contentious.com/archives/2004/09/22/blogging-
style-the-basic-posting-formats-series-index

9. 9
Why Blogs?Why Blogs? -- VoiceVoice
•• Blogs are inherently personalBlogs are inherently personal
•• Encourages contributions from lurkersEncourages contributions from lurkers
•• Low technological barrier concentratesLow technological barrier concentrates
effort on content, not graphic design oreffort on content, not graphic design or
presentationpresentation
•• Informal style allows personality to showInformal style allows personality to show ––
author chooses tone, styleauthor chooses tone, style

10. 10
Why Blogs?Why Blogs? –– Reflective ThinkingReflective Thinking
•• Like more traditional journaling, posting canLike more traditional journaling, posting can
require reflective thinking, distillation ofrequire reflective thinking, distillation of
ideasideas44
•• Practice writing for later publicationPractice writing for later publication ––
reflect and polishreflect and polish
•• Exploration of new research areas orExploration of new research areas or
testing of new ideas with low or no risktesting of new ideas with low or no risk
•• Encourage a higher level of “informationEncourage a higher level of “information
engagement”engagement” 55

11. 11
Why Blogs?Why Blogs? –– AnnotationsAnnotations
•• Documenting links encountered via blog posting does moreDocumenting links encountered via blog posting does more
than provide accessthan provide access
–– SelectionSelection
–– Annotation with analysisAnnotation with analysis
–– Added contextAdded context –– in time, relationship to other items, meaning toin time, relationship to other items, meaning to
fieldfield
•• As part of Bates’ “berry picking process”As part of Bates’ “berry picking process”66
–– To place street signs along the pathTo place street signs along the path
–– Berries can be savedBerries can be saved
–– Path can be retraced (reverse) chronologicallyPath can be retraced (reverse) chronologically
•• Nonlinear information seeking processes can be traced viaNonlinear information seeking processes can be traced via
category filteringcategory filtering77

12. 12
Nuts & BoltsNuts & Bolts –– Organizational CultureOrganizational Culture
•• Sharing or knowledge hoardingSharing or knowledge hoarding
•• Management supportManagement support
•• IT supportIT support
•• PoliciesPolicies77
–– Gentle but firm guidelinesGentle but firm guidelines
–– Time allowedTime allowed
–– IP considerations (may need access control)IP considerations (may need access control)
–– Levels of access/privacy, use of informationLevels of access/privacy, use of information

13. 13
Nuts & BoltsNuts & Bolts –– The softwareThe software
•• Post viaPost via
–– EE--mailmail
–– Web formWeb form –– from anywhere by VPN?from anywhere by VPN?
–– BookmarkletBookmarklet
•• Ability to customize look and feelAbility to customize look and feel
•• Ability to add new blogs quicklyAbility to add new blogs quickly
•• NiceNice--toto--have itemshave items
–– Levels of accessLevels of access
–– Ability to post files (drawings, recordings, etc.)Ability to post files (drawings, recordings, etc.)
–– Ability to cache page viewsAbility to cache page views
–– Company specific metaCompany specific meta--data assignmentdata assignment

14. 14
Nuts & BoltsNuts & Bolts
Access and PreservationAccess and Preservation
•• SearchSearch
–– An enterprise search may take care of thisAn enterprise search may take care of this
–– Changing the post template to add metaChanging the post template to add meta--data may helpdata may help
•• CategorizationCategorization
–– NOT assigned from above or default, assigned on the flyNOT assigned from above or default, assigned on the fly
–– Crosswalks to existing taxonomies may be helpfulCrosswalks to existing taxonomies may be helpful
•• ArchivesArchives

15. 15
Nuts & BoltsNuts & Bolts
ROI, Elevator Talk, Why Us?ROI, Elevator Talk, Why Us?
With such a personal focus, what does the organization haveWith such a personal focus, what does the organization have
to gain? (brainstormed ideas)to gain? (brainstormed ideas)
•• Very functional tools are free or are inexpensive.Very functional tools are free or are inexpensive.
More integrated and advanced tools are available to plugMore integrated and advanced tools are available to plug
into other CMS or KM suites… low bar to show return.into other CMS or KM suites… low bar to show return.
•• Efficiency of knowledge workersEfficiency of knowledge workers
–– Less time spent finding what they already knowLess time spent finding what they already know
–– Writing activities can be done in piecesWriting activities can be done in pieces
•• Better networkingBetter networking ––
search across to find someone with a good ideasearch across to find someone with a good idea
•• Organizational learning / distributed apprenticeshipOrganizational learning / distributed apprenticeship

16. 16
ConclusionConclusion
•• PKM blogging is an inexpensive partialPKM blogging is an inexpensive partial
solution to a complex problemsolution to a complex problem
•• Blogs can be an important part of anBlogs can be an important part of an
organization’s tool kitorganization’s tool kit ––
help knowledge workers get more out ofhelp knowledge workers get more out of
their reading, meetings, and thoughttheir reading, meetings, and thought

17. 17
NotesNotes
These and other relevant links can be found on our collaborativeThese and other relevant links can be found on our collaborative blog:blog:
http://asistkblogpanel.blogspot.comhttp://asistkblogpanel.blogspot.com
1.1. For a reading list on PKM see:For a reading list on PKM see:
http://wiki.knowledgenetworker.net/wakka.php?wakka=ReadingListhttp://wiki.knowledgenetworker.net/wakka.php?wakka=ReadingList
2.2. SeeSee TorillTorill Mortensen and Jill Walker, “Blogging thoughts personal publicatMortensen and Jill Walker, “Blogging thoughts personal publicationion
as an online research tool,” chapter inas an online research tool,” chapter in SKIKTSKIKT--Researchers' Conference 2002:Researchers' Conference 2002:
ResearchingResearching ICTsICTs in Contextin Context, Oslo, Norway:, Oslo, Norway: InterMediaInterMedia, 2002, pp.256, 2002, pp.256--9.9.
3.3. See alsoSee also Frederik WackaFrederik Wacka, Beginner’s Guide to Corporate Blogging,, Beginner’s Guide to Corporate Blogging,
http://www.corporateblogging.info/basics/corporatebloggingprimerhttp://www.corporateblogging.info/basics/corporatebloggingprimer.pdf.pdf
4.4. For more on blogging and reflective practice see Sebastian FiedlFor more on blogging and reflective practice see Sebastian Fiedler. “Personaler. “Personal
WebpublishingWebpublishing as a reflective conversational tool for selfas a reflective conversational tool for self--organized learning.”organized learning.”
In T. Burg, ed.In T. Burg, ed. BlogTalksBlogTalks. Vienna:. Vienna: ZentrumZentrum fürfür wissenschaftliche Forschungwissenschaftliche Forschung
undund DienstleistungDienstleistung , 2004. 190, 2004. 190--216. (draft available216. (draft available
http://seblogging.cognitivearchitects.com/stories/storyReader$96http://seblogging.cognitivearchitects.com/stories/storyReader$9633 , accessed, accessed
11/4/2004) or P. Hernandez11/4/2004) or P. Hernandez--Ramos, "Web Logs and Online Discussions AsRamos, "Web Logs and Online Discussions As
Tools to Promote Reflective Practice."Tools to Promote Reflective Practice." Journal of Interactive Online LearningJournal of Interactive Online Learning 3,3,
no. 1 (June 2004). Available:no. 1 (June 2004). Available:
http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/archives/2004/summer/04/index.htmhttp://www.ncolr.org/jiol/archives/2004/summer/04/index.htm (accessed(accessed
11/3/2004).11/3/2004).

18. 18
NotesNotes
5.5. Thomas H. Davenport, "Information Behavior and Culture.“ InThomas H. Davenport, "Information Behavior and Culture.“ In
Information Ecology: Mastering the Information and KnowledgeInformation Ecology: Mastering the Information and Knowledge
Environment.Environment. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Page 93 hasNew York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Page 93 has
a graphic demonstrating “a hierarchy of information engagement”a graphic demonstrating “a hierarchy of information engagement”
from read/view through simulate/live.from read/view through simulate/live.
6.6. Marcia J. Bates. “The design of browsing andMarcia J. Bates. “The design of browsing and berrypickingberrypicking techniquestechniques
for the online search interface.”for the online search interface.” Online ReviewOnline Review v13 n5 (1989): 407v13 n5 (1989): 407--
24.24.
7.7. There are several good discussions of corporate blogging policieThere are several good discussions of corporate blogging policies thats that
are generally intended for external blogs. A very recent one isare generally intended for external blogs. A very recent one is fromfrom
Charlene Li of Forrester Research,Charlene Li of Forrester Research,
http://forrester.typepad.com/charleneli/2004/11/blogging_policy.http://forrester.typepad.com/charleneli/2004/11/blogging_policy.htmlhtml
(accessed 11/9/2004)(accessed 11/9/2004)
8.8. In fact, the informationIn fact, the information--seeking behavior described in Allen Foster,seeking behavior described in Allen Foster,
“A nonlinear model of information“A nonlinear model of information--seeking behavior”seeking behavior” JASISTJASIST v55 n3v55 n3
((FebraryFebrary 1, 2004): 2281, 2004): 228--237, speaks directly to professionals doing237, speaks directly to professionals doing
interdisciplinary research.interdisciplinary research.

19. 19
Contact InformationContact Information
Christina K. Pikas, MLSChristina K. Pikas, MLS
R.E. Gibson Library & Information CenterR.E. Gibson Library & Information Center
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryThe Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
VoiceVoice 240.228.4812 (Washington)240.228.4812 (Washington)
443.778.4812 (Baltimore)443.778.4812 (Baltimore)
EE--mailmail Christina.Pikas@jhuapl.eduChristina.Pikas@jhuapl.edu
BlogBlog http://christinaslibraryrant.blogspot.comhttp://christinaslibraryrant.blogspot.com
http://http://asistkblogpanelasistkblogpanel..blogspotblogspot.com.com