The Bukowitz and Williams KM Cycle

Knowledge is information that is in meaningful forms such as understanding, awareness and

ability. It is typically acquired by experience, information, experimentation and thought
processes such as imagination and critical thinking.
Management cycle is a process of transforming information into knowledge within an organizati
on. It explains how knowledge is captured, processed, and distributed in an organization.

Bukowitz and Williams KM Cycle:

Bukowitz and Williams portray a knowledge management process framework
that outlines how organizations generate, maintain and expand a strategically of knowledge to
create value.
In this framework knowledge includes knowledge relationships, information technologies,
communications infrastructure, functional skill sets, process know-how, environmental
responsiveness, organizational intelligence, and external sources.
In this cycle the major stages of processes of matching intellectual capital to strategic needs.
Stages of Bukowitz & Williams KM Cycle:
 Get Stage
 Use Stage
 Learn Stage
 Contribute stage
 Access Stage
 Build and Sustain stage

1. Get Stage
Get Stage is the first stage, it consists of seeking out information required in order
to make decisions, solve problems, or innovate.

Examples:
An organization collect all data and information Tacit and Explicit.

2. Use Stage
Use Stage is the next stage, and it deals with how to combine information in new
and interesting ways in order to foster organizational innovation. The spotlight is
primarily on individuals and then on groups.

Examples:
In this stage all the organizational collected information combine in new and
 interested ways to encourage the development of organizational innovation.

3. Learn Stage
The learn stage refers to the formal process of learning from experiences as a
means of creating competitive advantage. An organizational memory is created so
that organizational learning becomes possible from both successes and failures.

Example:
Learning is absolutely essential after the ‘getting’ and ‘using’ of content; otherwise
content is simply warehoused and does not make a difference how things are done
in the organization.

4. Contribute stage
The Contribute Stage of the Knowledge Management cycle deals with encouraging
employees to post what they have learnt to the communal knowledge base . Only
in this way, can individual knowledge be made visible and available to the entire
organization, where and when appropriate.

Example:
Contribute stage deals with getting employees to post what they have learned to
the repository Sharing of best practices and lessons learned so that others do not
repeat the same mistakes.

5. Access Stage
The assess stage deals more with the group and organizational level. Assessment
refers to the evaluation of intellectual capital and requires that the organization
define mission critical knowledge and map current intellectual capital against
future knowledge.

Example:
In this stage organization identify useful things and persons to asses system and
standards and link them directly with business.

6. Build and Sustain stage

The build and sustain step in the KM cycle ensures that the organization’s future
intellectual capital will keep the organization viable and competitive.

Example:
In the last stage organization allocate resources to maintain knowledge base and
keep organization competitive.