Collecting and using Knowledge in the Association

Precisely because it is so important for members, successful knowledge management should also be one of the highest priorities of an association. The world around the association is dynamic and it is not only factual knowledge that needs to be collected, but also knowledge relating to changing values. Members of the new generation in particular can contribute this type of knowledge.
Finally, digitalisation is crucial for successful knowledge management. Although digitalisation has now reached society and therefore also associations, there is still room for improvement. This can be explained by the fact that digitalisation is a dynamic process with constant innovation. To ensure that your association continues to benefit from collected knowledge in the future and can adapt to the challenges that come with digital transformation and other major changes, digital knowledge collection is essential.

Due to the geographical distribution of your members across different regions, effective knowledge management in the association can only be implemented with the help of an interactive platform. After all, such a platform can be accessed from anywhere.

A Member Portal offers many advantages for successful collection and management of knowledge by and for your members. It is a central hub where your members have the opportunity to network. By asking and answering each other’s questions, they can actively exchange knowledge and thus rely on sector-specific support.

At the same time, passive knowledge exchange is also possible. A Member Portal should offer the ability to store knowledge in the form of data and documents that can be retrieved by your members anytime and from anywhere. In addition, these documents and data are not stored chaotically in a random folder or lost in Email clutter, but arranged by groups relating to specific topics or departments.

Furthermore, documents, whether text files or presentations, can often be edited jointly and simultaneously by your members. This allows results to be brought together efficiently by those who hold the relevant knowledge.

Member Portals also often offer the possibility of granting external users guest access so that external experts can share their knowledge with the association and its members. This also increases the attractiveness of your association, as access to such expertise can be compelling enough to attract new members.

Set up a central knowledge platform

An association should establish a central knowledge platform where all relevant information and resources are stored. This platform may be a Member Portal, a knowledge management system or a collaboration platform. Such a platform has the crucial advantage that both knowledge management and communication are brought together in one place and can be accessed from anywhere. Central storage and structuring of knowledge simplifies access and promotes efficient collaboration.

Promote a learning culture

A positive learning culture is essential for successful knowledge management. The association should create an environment in which continuous learning is encouraged. This may be supported through training, further education programmes, mentoring or the exchange of best practices. Individual knowledge and experience should be valued and shared in order to establish a culture of knowledge exchange.

Establish communities of practice

Communities of practice are groups of people with similar interests and expertise who meet regularly to exchange knowledge and work together on challenges. The association can promote and support such communities of practice to enable the exchange of specialist knowledge and best practices. Regular dialogue and cooperation within these communities produce valuable insights and help spread them. Regional and supra-regional association events in particular provide an ideal setting for such meetings.

Integrate knowledge management into business processes

It is important to integrate knowledge management into the association’s business processes. This means that the handling of knowledge and information is considered in all phases of association work. Whether planning, implementing or evaluating projects and initiatives, knowledge should always play a central role. Knowledge management should be viewed as a cross-sectional topic embedded into the association’s workflows and guidelines. This ensures that knowledge is systematically captured, updated and used to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of association work.

Much has been said about why knowledge is important and how you can implement knowledge management effectively in your association. But what information exactly should be shared? There are two types of knowledge that are particularly relevant for an association:

Association-related knowledge

This refers to knowledge primarily relating to the association. It includes information such as dates, events, committee results, correspondence or reports. It also includes knowledge of everyday processes, rules, activities and the association’s core principles.

Knowledge about the association’s immediate environment is also important. This includes information on parliamentary sessions, party conferences and other political activities relevant to your association. This type of knowledge is particularly interesting for new and potential members. It can also be easily stored as a document in a Member Portal.

Factual knowledge

As an association, you operate in a specific sector. Knowledge relating to this sector is therefore particularly relevant and interesting for your members. This may include factual knowledge focusing on specific areas within the sector, such as informational texts, research reports or publications. Members can use this to learn and apply it in their main profession. Learning opportunities for your members are particularly valuable. A Member Portal can be used to share information about such events and to distribute documents containing subject-specific knowledge.

In conclusion, it becomes clear: knowledge management is one of the basic prerequisites for a successful association. After all, knowledge is one of the reasons why some members join an association in the first place. It is therefore important to manage the resource of knowledge efficiently. An interactive Member Portal offers the opportunity to do exactly this, enabling your members to participate in the knowledge collected within the association easily and accessibly and to contribute to it.