Additional Information
CKOs are expected to be highly trained and very knowledgeable about everything.
It helps just to be an all-round sharp person.
"Pursuing a career in knowledge management is just generally something
that everybody does, regardless of what career aspirations they have," says
CKO Nick Bontis. "You don't necessarily have to be a business school grad
or a human resources person or a philosophy person."
An undergraduate degree in economics, business administration, management
or information systems is your best bet. A healthy curiosity and critical
understanding of what's going on in the world is also an essential asset.
Knowledge manager Jo-Anne Raynes, who has a degree in economics as well
as an MBA, suggests students learn all about computer systems and programs,
math and science, as well as liberal arts.
"But the key to all of this," says Raynes, "is you can have all this training,
but you really need to understand people. It's one thing to say you can sit
down in front of a computer and know all about that, but there's more to it.
You need to know it all: people training, leadership and culture -- you can't
be narrowly focused."
CKO Yogesh Malhotra, who has a doctorate in information systems and knowledge
management, agrees. "Online learning is very important, but it's more about
people and communication.
"You can't predict what is going to happen next in the world, so you have
to stay one step ahead of it all and be prepared to pass the information down
the line of employees when it comes to you."
So there is no conventional way for a CKO to start off their training.
Some take courses in management. Others take courses in information and technology.
But most people in the business agree that a willingness to understand new
technology as it happens and being able to adapt to changes is very important.