"Making It Real" extends and expands on The George Washington University (GWU) mantra: "Theory to Practice… a Continuum," coined to define the GWU Knowledge Management (KM) academic and real world journey initiated in 1998, accredited in 2000, and still going strong in 2012. Edited and led by Dr. Annie Green, an initial and veteran theorist/practitioner of the GWU KM program, this third book contains strong author representation from many members of GWU's Institute for Knowledge and Innovation (IKI) community.
The 14 chapter articles contribute a universe of usable methodologies, tools, and multiple real world applications vital to creating usable knowledge enabled environments for public, private, and academic enterprises. This text spans the power of "Story Telling narratives" used to transfer knowledge before and even post written language to today's globally connected digital world of "Socialnomics" and Web 2.0 and 3.0 participants. Mechanisms are presented for managing and valuing the "Intangible Knowledge Assets" recognized and inventoried by only a minuscule number of enterprises. A learning interlude, when the reader can "connect the dots," is offered by optimizing the flow of knowledge driven by the "Number of Individuals in a Given Group" and influenced by their cultural traits, attitudes and behavioral patterns. Ways and means for "Transferring and Preserving Organizational Knowledge," with the highly mobile and often transitory national and international workforce, reflects the realities of an interlocking global citizenry riding the currents of economic demands. These early themes in the book trend toward the "theory" aspects of KM. Later chapters transition the reader quickly into real world enterprises where organizational, leadership and technology challenges are faced in applying and implementing sound knowledge management principles and practices. Examples range from NASA programs to unidentified (but clearly representative private sector corporate settings), and continue with IT services, Cyber security and Health Care markets/applications all profiled to emphasize the transition from theory to (real world) practices.