A key aspect of adaptive organizations is to document lessons learned and insights as they are encountered. This objective sounds easier than it truly is in action. People don’t naturally and easily document and share their insights for personal, cultural, past practices or institutional reasons.
BrightPlanet has been grappling with this issue from the standpoints of technology, infrastructure, incentives, you name it. Our last approach was a sing-a-long with the Righteous Brothers to the tune of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” (no copyrght infringement intended):
You’ve Lost That Bitchin’ Insight
You never remember anymore when I try to offer tips.
And there's no memory when I try to avoid stupid slips.
You're trying hard not to write it, (to the wiki).
But baby, baby I know it . . .
You've lost that bitchin' insight,
Whoa, that bewitchin' insight,
You've lost that bitchin' insight,
Now it's gone . . .gone . . .gone . . .wooooooh.
Now there's no welcome look in your eyes when I document for you.
And now your're starting to criticize little things I do.
It makes me just feel like crying, (baby).
'Cause baby, our documentation is dying.
You've lost that bitchin' insight,
Whoa, that bewitchin' insight,
You've lost that bitchin' insight,
Now it's gone . . .gone . . .gone . . .wooooooh.
Baby, baby, I write it all down for you.
If you would only write it down like you used to do, yeah.
We had an insight . . .an insight . . .an insight you don't find everyday.
So don't . . .don't . . .don't . . .don't let it slip away.
Baby (baby), baby (baby),I beg of you please . . .please,
I need your notes (I need your notes),
I need your notes (I need your notes),
So write it all down (So write it all down),
Write it all down (so write it all down).
Wiki that bitchin' insight,
Whoa, that bitchin' insight
Wiki that bewitchin' insight,
'Cause if you don't, it's gone . . .gone . . .gone,
and our company can't go on, noooo . . .
Bring back that bitchin' insight,
Whoa, that bewitchin' insight
Bring back that bitchin' insight,
'Cause it's gone . . .gone . . . .
The key lesson we’re trying to draw from this is: Document as you go! It does take a bit of discipline, and organizational awards need to be attuned to it. Fortunately, wikis are a key enabler that we are using with increasing frequency internally.
