Social networking tool help drive knowledge sharing

Big Blue points out that nearly 22 million workers are set to retire this year in the US alone, exposing serious problems for companies needing to retain industry expertise. Hence the drive for a system designed to help companies, regardless of size, to get their workforces sharing information more easily. IBM says that is tool integrates knowledge management, social networking and Web 2.0 to simplify the way information is shared. It enables users to access, share and rate essential information; while also categorising it, from the web or an intranet. Contributors can also determine how broadly their information is shared and who else can collaborate. “Organizations looking to on-board new resources, conduct business process training, and complement formal education with an informal tool that serves up essential information will find Pass It Along useful,” comments Dr Tony O’Driscoll, professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. “Software developers in particular can use the technology within their existing IT infrastructure without the typical administration costs associated with traditional knowledge management applications.”