In the digital age, we're obsessed with data retention. But here's a counterintuitive idea: sometimes, the most valuable knowledge is knowing what to forget. Welcome to the concept of "strategic forgetting" in knowledge management (KM).
Strategic forgetting isn't about erasing information haphazardly. It's a deliberate process of identifying, archiving, or discarding outdated, irrelevant, or redundant knowledge. This practice is crucial for maintaining an efficient, relevant knowledge base.
A global real estate firm we worked with demonstrates the importance of strategic forgetting. The global real estate investment and management company was struggling with an overload of outdated information in their business pitches. As part of their KM overhaul, we implemented a process for updating data at a fixed frequency and with appropriate tagging. This included not just adding new information, but also removing irrelevant statistics. This resulted in a 35% reduction in average time to market and a 30-40% reduction in request for proposal (RFP) response time.
Press Release
Evalueserve included in Forrester Research report, "The Knowledge Management Solutions Landscape, Q3 2024."
Why is strategic forgetting important?
- It reduces information overload, helping employees find relevant data faster.
- It prevents outdated information from influencing current decisions.
- It frees up resources—both digital and mental—for new, valuable knowledge.
Implementing strategic forgetting:
- Regularly audit your knowledge base. Set review cycles for different types of information.
- Establish clear criteria for what should be kept, archived, or removed.
- Use AI and analytics to identify rarely accessed or outdated information.
- Create a streamlined archiving process for information that may have future value.
The global government consulting firm we assisted was struggling with a cluttered repository of pre-sales assets. By implementing an AI-enabled digital solution with smart search functionalities and a customized recommendation engine, they were able to not only find relevant content faster but also identify and prioritize the most valuable and current information. This strategic approach to managing their knowledge base led to a 40% reduction in time taken to look up past pre-sales content.
Remember, the goal of KM isn't to hoard information—it's to maintain a dynamic, useful knowledge base. By mastering the art of strategic forgetting, you'll ensure your organization's knowledge remains a powerful, current asset.
