Are you certifiable in knowledge management?

Originally published July 27, 2015

I am frequently asked about the value of knowledge management (KM) certification. I don’t recommend KM certification, but some of the associated training can be helpful.

When I worked at Washington University School of Medicine’s Biomedical Computer Laboratory, we taught a course called “Introduction to Programming the Laboratory Computer” which was aimed at doctors and other medical professionals. In two days, they were supposed to learn how to program a computer using assembly language. This was not a realistic goal, and most of them could not write a computer program after such minimal instruction and experience.

My colleague, Janet Johnson, and I created a spoof of this course, which we called “Survey of Medical Techniques.” In two days, the course was supposed to teach the entire field of medicine to computer scientists, which seemed just as unlikely as teaching assembly language programming to physicians. The course outline is in the appendix below.

The field of knowledge management spans over 100 KM specialties. It is too broad to be certified in as a whole. Doctors get board certified in a specialty, not in the broad field of medicine. Taking a one-week class in KM and then being anointed CKM is not meaningful, and is generally not respected by experienced KM consultants and thought leaders.

Certification makes sense for narrow specialties within specific products and disciplines, such as:

• Microsoft
• Oracle (Knowledge Management Certified Implementation Specialist)
• Project Management Institute
• Knowledge Centered Service (KCS)

It doesn’t make much sense for KM, but three organizations focused on delivering KM certification, only one of which is still active:

• Knowledge Management Institute (KM Institute) — active
• KMCI — inactive
• KMPro — defunct

Other certification offerings:

• APQC Certified Knowledge Manager: Knowledge Excellence Certification
• Association for Talent Development (ATD) KM Certificate
• Knowledge Management Academy (KM-A) — Austria
• ISO 30401 KM Standard Auditor Certification

According to Patrick Lambe:

The CILIP KM Chartership program is the only one I’m aware of that involves independent professional peer review of a practice portfolio, independent of the purchase of any training products.

This is a topic on which strong opinions have been expressed. I recommend reading one or more of these threads and articles:

• KM Certification
• SIKM Leaders Community Discussions
• KM Competencies: Is Certification the Way to Go? by Patrick Lambe
• Money, Testosterone and Knowledge Management by Patrick Lambe
• A Perspective on Knowledge Management & Training in Europe by Barry Hardy
• Anti-certification rant by Dave Snowden
• Certification wars and standards by Dave Snowden
• I am totally opposed to any attempt to certify people in a developing field such as KM by Dave Snowden
• You can’t create a craft by committee by Dave Snowden
• Professionalism in KM by Dave Snowden
• On KM and certification by Dave Snowden and David Gurteen
• KM Certification by David Gurteen
• KM Certification — one KM professional’s opinion Manager’s Choice by Art Schlussel
• The problem with ‘certified’ KM training by David Griffiths
• KM Certification — Another Bad Idea Threatens KM by John Maloney
• Practically Speaking, Does Professional Certification in Knowledge Management Exist? by Bill Kaplan

1. Part 1…Yet?
2. Part 2: How Will You Know It’s Real?
3. Knowledge Management (KM) Certification — A Reality Check

• How to Become a Certified Knowledge Manager (CKM): A Quick Guide by Shelf

Alternatives to KM certification include:

• 10 Ways to Build Expertise in Knowledge Management
• Cognitive Edge Accreditation
• International Knowledge Management Standards and Accreditation
• KM Training

1. Columbia University: MS in Information and Knowledge Strategy (IKNS)
2. George Mason University: MS in Organization Development and Knowledge Management (ODKM)
3. Kent State University: Knowledge Management — 30-hour MS and 12-hour Graduate Certificate

Are you certified in knowledge management? Do you know of other accreditation related to KM? What do you think about the value of KM certification?

APPENDIX: Survey of Medical Techniques

This course is directed toward computer scientists who seek an appreciation of the capabilities and limitations of medical techniques as applied to life and death situations. Only a minimal background in biology and chemical theory will be assumed. Topics include:

1. Anatomy (2 sessions) bones, muscles, erogenous zones
2. Biochemistry (6 sessions — plus lab) life synthesis, cloning, and the importance of the test tube brush. Lab will concentrate on salient differences between Erlenmeyer and Florence flasks.
3. Pharmacology (2 sessions) the use of placebo in treating terminal acne, taking note of possible carcinogenic side effects.
4. Pathology (1 session) causes and cures of “horrid age spots,” and comparison of infantile eczema with Dutch elm disease.
5. Physiology (1 session) short overview of the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Time remaining will be spent discussing physiology of the 12th century papacy.
6. OBGYN (2 sessions — plus lab) an exhaustive study of the reproductive system, including ovulation, fertilization, pregnancy, and delivery.
7. Pediatrics (1 session) dealing with the results of overenthusiasm in the OBGYN lab.
8. Surgery (1 seminar) the stubbed toe: amputate or operate?
9. Psychiatry (2 sessions) use of electric shock therapy in the treatment of pathological fear of aldermen.
10. Dermatology (2 sessions) the role of the dermatologist during a nuclear holocaust.
11. Podiatry (2 sessions) why it is no longer called chiropody, and curing athletes foot with threats of reprisals.