The ScreenSteps Blog for Onboarding, Training, and Enablement

What Happens When Companies Climb the Knowledge Ops Maturity Model?

Written by Jonathan DeVore | Jul 25, 2023 4:52:15 PM

Is tribal knowledge holding your company back? 

When your business relies on tribal knowledge, operations are slower and the likelihood of mistakes increases.

As the Head Consultant at ScreenSteps — a knowledge ops solution — I've coached dozens of businesses on how to escape tribal knowledge and build a more efficient knowledge transfer strategy.

And that involves creating a better knowledge transfer plan and climbing the Knowledge Ops Maturity Model.

Watch the 3-minute video to learn the benefits of leaving tribal knowledge behind and advancing on the Knowledge Ops Maturity Model. 

What is the Knowledge Ops Maturity Model?

The Knowledge Ops Maturity Model is a tool that helps you assess how effectively your organization transfers and uses knowledge.

Companies use the model to understand how they are using knowledge and set goals to gain efficiencies as they move up through the various stages of the model.

What happens as you advance on the Knowledge Ops Maturity Model?

Companies that rely on tribal knowledge are in the Tribal Stage, which is the lowest level on the Knowledge Ops Maturity Model. That is the stage that most businesses are operating in or revert back to when their knowledge transfer plan isn't working.

In the Tribal Stage, things feel chaotic. There is no consistency in how employees handle procedures. There are little to no documented procedures. Training takes a long time. And it just feels like everyone is treading water. 

Things change as you adopt a more efficient knowledge transfer strategy. That's how you move into the Guide, Train, and Accelerate Stages of the Knowledge Ops Maturity Model. 

In the video, you'll learn about the state of your knowledge operations in the lowest stages and how that changes as you move up the Knowledge Ops Maturity Model, including the economic impact.

Identify which stage you are in and make a plan to leave tribal knowledge behind

While tribal knowledge is the default knowledge transfer strategy, it is the weakest plan. Luckily, there are other options to help your knowledge operations run smoother.

As you make the necessary changes and climb the Knowledge Ops Maturity Model, you will develop a culture of less stress, more confidence, and greater accountability.

ScreenSteps has both a software system (knowledge ops platform) and a framework (Find & Follow) to help businesses escape tribal knowledge. Together these help businesses train up to 87% faster and improve employee performance scores.

Do you know which stage your company is in on the Knowledge Ops Maturity Model?

Take our short self-evaluation to find out which stage your business is currently in. Then you can work towards the next stage of knowledge operations.