FAQs

If you have a question that we haven't answered here, please submit it with the form below. Someone will get back to you with answers.

Email address:
(required)

Your question:

What do you mean when you say "Knowledge Map"?

Click here to gain a better understanding of what Knowledge Maps are.

Why are Knowledge Maps more effective than traditional methods of training or communicating with employees?

Unlike common presentations where employees passively receive information via presentations, our techniques challenge employees to process marketplace information. The information is presented in a logical and engaging manner, which allows employees to independently reach conclusions that are aligned with company objectives.

Employees are asked to assume a magnitude of challenges and change initiatives, which require an internalizing process. This process includes the opportunity for employees to raise issues and determine common solutions. The experience undergoes rigorous testing and a focus group session to ensure that employees will accomplish this internalization at a relatively quick pace.

Will Knowledge Maps reduce the time it takes employees to understand our issue or initiative?

Yes, customized Knowledge Maps allow accelerated learning to occur. Employees raise questions and find answers for themselves in real-time conversations. This process ensures that as each aspect of an issue is raised, it is understood and accepted as well. Our focus group testing process ensures that every group within an organization will consistently achieve the targeted learning outcomes. It also ensures that topics that would otherwise confuse or derail a conversation are eliminated or minimized.

Using traditional forms of training and communication, it may take days to achieve the level of comprehension and acceptance that Knowledge Maps generate in a matter of hours.

How much time does it take to go through a Knowledge Map?

Target completion time for most Knowledge Maps is sixty minutes. Most clients run a series of 3 to 5 maps back-to-back. The series of Knowledge Maps are designed with client time specifications and learning objectives in mind.

How many Knowledge Maps would we need?

The number of maps needed is directly related to the complexity and magnitude of change that you want your employees to understand, accept and support. To gain a quick estimate of what your organization is likely to need, click here to send us an email describing your situation or contact us by phone at 1-888-590-6080. Callers from outside the U.S. can call 419-885-6080.

How quickly can I get all of my employees through a series of Knowledge Maps?

Our Knowledge Maps provide clients with the flexibility to reach all employees as quickly as they deem appropriate for their organization. Since the maps do not require a subject matter expert to be present, companies can concurrently run as many Knowledge Map sessions as they choose. We've had clients deploy a series of Knowledge Maps to thousands of employees in a single day. In comparison, another company cascaded a series of maps to over 50,000 employees over a 4 month period.

How quickly can you develop Knowledge Maps for my company?

The time to design and test a series of Knowledge Maps is typically 2 to 4 months. The complexity of the organizational issues and that of the organization determine the development time. In some cases, the development can be accelerated to meet organizational needs.

Once the development process has begun, how do I create support and buy-in for the use and implementation of Knowledge Maps?

Our preference is to be involved in the internal "selling" process prior to the project kick-off. Leveraging our experience in working with dozens of other complex organizations, we are able to address and resolve most if not all internal questions and concerns. Once a project has begun, we help build support within an organization by collaborating with key leaders and line-managers in your company throughout the development process. Their participation in the development process provides them with an opportunity to flag their needs and gain confidence in the project outcomes. In highly complex organizations we will either customize the Knowledge Maps to take into account an operating division's unique needs or develop complimentary maps to set the right divisional context.

Can you help us if we have identified the key business issues at the corporate level, but don't clearly know the specific needs of each business unit within our company?

The nature of our development process and the design of our Knowledge Maps allow us the flexibility to work with some or all of your business units to further customize the series of "corporate" Knowledge Maps to meet their specific needs. Business unit or functional area specific maps can be integrated with the corporate series of Knowledge Maps.

Are Knowledge Maps best used to target specific strategic issues?

Knowledge Maps have been used to address a wide range of strategic and operational topics. You can find a description of some of the most common solutions by clicking here.

What industries do you serve?

We have worked with clients from almost all industries including automotive, consumer products, energy & utilities, financial services & insurance, food & beverage, health care & pharmaceuticals, retail, technology, telecommunications and transportation.