Pre-AIIM forum addresses critical business problems

Putting knowledge management to practical application and learning to create wealth from intellectual assets are top requirements among most corporate and government strategists right now. However, searching for the guidance and thought leadership necessary to accomplish these tasks often results in a mixed bag of conferences, seminars and literature. Some are useful and instructive, but many aren't.

In cooperation with AIIM International (www.aiim.org), KMWorld is sponsoring a day-long "Practical Forum on KM" April 11 at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta. The full-day forum will be held as a pre-conference session to the AIIM'99 conference and exposition.

Stressing a practical approach that would mirror the steps and considerations involved in the assessment, deployment and management of a KM initiative, the KMWorld Forum will draw upon the expertise and experience of world-class practitioners from the user community and the top consultancy practices. Together, the perspectives from "both sides of the table" will provide a balanced agenda of theoretical advice and real-life experience.

Covered in the forum will be examinations of:

• needs assessment and readiness
• realistic objectives and milestones
• cultural impact
• business functions that can be improved by "knowledge-based systems"
• technology and infrastructure issues
• measurement and assessment techniques
• scale-out opportunities to other business units

AIIM has recently begun emphasizing its focus on knowledge management as part of its commitment to its membership through chapter support, standards-setting initiatives and with a high profile in the AIIM'99 Conference proceedings in general. By partnering with KMWorld on this Forum, knowledge management has clearly become a key driver for AIIM.

"We're delighted that AIIM is devoting so much attention and resources to knowledge management," said Andy Moore, KMWorld editor in chief and Forum organizer. "Obviously, we think it is a validation of our long-held belief that elevating the message from one of 'document technologies' to one of business performance and solutions is the greater value that educators such as AIIM and ourselves can bring to a new business reality--that intellectual and expertise assets are the most valuable assets in play today."

The pre-conference forum on KM was originally to be sponsored by the Knowledge Management Consortium (KMC, www.km.org), which opted to forego the opportunity. "We couldn't be happier to take on the project," said Moore. "KMWorld is simply the best partner for AIIM in this event."

The pre-conference forum sessions are part of AIIM International's efforts to add value for conference attendees. The cost for the KM Forum for registered AIIM conference attendees is $275 ($300 after March 15). Non-AIIM conference attendees (Forum only) pay $500 ($600 after March 15).

For more information and to register for the KMWorld "Practical Forum on Knowledge Management," go to www. aiim.org and follow the links through AIIM'99 "conference" then "forum" pages. Also, KMWorld Online (www. kmworld.com) provides information and navigation links to the eventinformation.