This question makes me think of the joke my EHS Manager had posted on his door…
Legacy knowledge is the collective experience, process and expertise accumulated over time for business practices and procedures.
Understanding how the loss of legacy knowledge can impact production, customer service and operations is critical
Legacy knowledge is the stuff that turns a production schedule upside down when “Bob” goes on vacation because he is the only one who knows how to do such and such. Within a sales team it turns exceptional customer service into head scratching, failed attempts to get orders correct when their favorite salesperson retires. In purchasing, it is the knowledge of what vendors are better suited to supply certain, specialty materials. In agriculture, it’s crop rotation, weather patterns and father to son traditions.
For those of you whose heads are screaming about new technologies to make reliance on Bob unnecessary, I am not suggesting newer, faster, stronger innovations are not part of the process. What I am saying is that if we don’t capture our historical practices, if we let the fundamentals fall by the wayside, we risk losing valuable knowledge and customers who are dependent on the expertise and the success of our proven processes.
What are some key benefits for incorporating this knowledge into best practices?
Creating best practices based on legacy knowledge is an invaluable approach for optimizing processes and decision-making within an organization. The most successful harvesters of legacy knowledge understand the fundamental why behind the action or task…create and test a repeatable process and THEN apply new technologies and strategies to be trained and adapted by ALL team members thus ensuring consistent external and internal customer service.
An additional benefit of integrating the wisdom of the past into our best practices is that we promote a culture of learning where people are valued and appreciated. They become part of the future and aren’t left feeling irrelevant. As we harness the power of knowledge to drive innovation and improvement, we pave the way for a profitable future.
Not only do successes offer valuable insights, but past failures do too. Legacy knowledge helps identify pitfalls and mistakes, enabling teams to avoid repeating them and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
A few ways to start capturing legacy knowledge now
Every organization has its unique history, challenges, and experiences. This institutional wisdom is often embedded in the minds of long-term employees and documented in various forms like company archives, operating procedures, and lessons learned. Harnessing this knowledge helps preserve valuable insights that might otherwise be lost with employee turnover, restructuring or shifts in organizational priorities.
Encourage employees to embrace a learning culture by sharing their experiences and lessons learned. Once the knowledge is gathered, establish a system to capture and document legacy knowledge systematically. This could include archiving past project reports, conducting exit interviews with departing employees, workshops or brainstorming sessions with experienced employees and encouraging knowledge-sharing sessions among team members.
Remember, best practices are not static; they evolve with time and experience. Continuous evaluation of their effectiveness in order to make improvements and adapt to new technologies is critical. At Novel Expressions, we would love to join you on a transformative journey to turn your legacy knowledge into a sustainable best practice and training program. Reach out today to get more information - we can’t wait to get started!
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