Internal Knowledge Sharing Sessions
Internal Knowledge Sharing Sessions are organised meetings within a company where team members share insights, experiences, learnings, or introduce new technologies and methodologies to each other.
Goal
To foster a culture of continuous learning, facilitate the spread of knowledge and expertise, and encourage collaboration and innovation across autonomous, empowered product teams.
Context
In a functional structure new ideas, technologies and skills can easily disseminate across functional areas. However this is more difficult in cross-functional team structures. Therefore knowledge sharing needs to become more intentional.
Activities
| Activities | Description |
|---|---|
| Tech Talks | Presentations on specific technologies, tools, or programming concepts. |
| Workshops | Interactive sessions focused on hands-on learning and skill development. |
| Brown Bag Sessions | Informal meetings over lunch where team members share knowledge on various topics. |
| Show and Tell | Demonstrations of completed work or projects in progress to gather feedback and share insights. |
Inputs
| Artifact | Description |
|---|---|
| Prototypes | Completed or in-progress prototypes that can be shared with the team for feedback and learning. |
| Improved Process Outcomes | Documented enhancements to workflows, practices, or methodologies following a PDCA cycle. |
Outputs
| Artifact | Description | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Improved Product Outcomes | Investment in training can lead to higher quality deliverables and fewer defects. | Improved customer satisfaction and reduced rework costs. |
Anti-patterns
- Lack of Structure or Planning: Unstructured sessions can be meandering and ineffective. Invest time in planning the topic, format, and desired outcomes.
- One-way Knowledge Transfer: Focus on creating an interactive environment that encourages discussion and questions, not just lectures.
- Limited Participation: Encourage participation from all team members, regardless of experience level. Consider using techniques like anonymous Q&A to foster open communication.
- Inaccessible Knowledge Sharing: If sessions are not well documented or recordings are not shared, the knowledge gained may not be accessible to those who couldn't attend.
- Focus on Entertainment Over Learning: While some informality can be beneficial, ensure the session stays focused on knowledge sharing and learning objectives.