Knowledge Management (KM) can be applied in every business processes or functions irrespective of the industries. TrueKM system should not only empower these business functions individually but it should also connect these business functions effectively to facilitate coordination.

This is the backbone of any organizations to ensure that it is running smoothly and efficiently. KM system is essential to manage the following:

• Internal communication through meetings, email and news bulletins
• Managing shared vision and driving right strategy using a collaborative approach
• Formulating, communicating and managing an implementation plan
• Linking the developments to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Refine the strategy or systems based on the performance

The HRD function should address the knowledge workers differently.

• Skills inventory or resource planning
• Scalable recruitment and training plan
• Linking performance management to contributions
• Identifying the aspirations and talent level of individuals
• Linking career development with talent development

KM plays a vital role in Organizational learning and competency development. KM in learning address the following:

• Encouraging continuous learning and reward for learning
• Delivering learning programs
• Competency management
• Personalized and need-based learning
• Scalable learning platform

There is no R&D without timely innovation and systematic approach. The research KM system must address the following:

• Accelerating innovation through management of collective ideas, insights, wisdoms and experiences
• Identifying what to do, when to do and how to do
• Managing the knowledge involved in projects, tasks or development activities
• Setting challenging goals and making everyone understand and move towards that common goal
• Managing learning as mentioned above

Project management is about properly managing the knowledge and other resources, planning and executing to meet or exceed the expectations. KM system is necessary to manage the following:

• Team building or formulation and maximizing the coordination
• Connecting project needs to skills profile to learning plan
• Managing project knowledge base including the lessons learned
• Managing reviews, mistakes and improvements
• Sharing the experience
• Collaborative and support systems for empowering the project team

Product management is about making sure the product is unique & valuable and is in line with customer needs. It should address:

• Managing the product life-cycle and the knowledge associated with it
• Maximizing creativity and increasing the ability to dream in line with market needs
• Managing customers' needs and responding to their needs better
• Gaining competitive edge by increasing learning potential, developing creativity and gaining better access to common knowledge
• Effectively interacting with the R&D, marketing, sales, training & support and ability to share knowledge easily
• Increasing product awareness, brand value and adoption while keeping the cost low

The marketing and sales team should be highly knowledgeable and creative. In today's situation, sales is primarily "consultative". KM is essential for:

• Gaining competitive intelligence through market research
• Building and managing marketing encyclopedia
• Organizing marketing events and seminars to increase awareness
• Collaborating with sales and R&D team
• Understanding of customer needs and pain areas and mapping the solution to their needs
• Educating customers

Support is about keeping the customers happy and delivering the responses on time. KM system is necessary to address the following:

• Increasing the responsiveness to customer problems or needs
• Managing problems and its solutions
• Educating customers on the key aspects of the solutions
• Proactive problem management
• Empowering customers with self-service systems
• Managing customer reviews and satisfaction

The quality drive is essential to make the solution stable and perfect. KM system is necessary for:

• Setting quality standards, documenting and communicating to the people involved
• Identifying and managing the task force for quality management
• Driving quality initiatives
• Managing a knowledge bank on quality management techniques, tips, procedures and so on
• Managing or monitoring the various stages such as reviewing, rating and recommending