Ultimate Guide to Business Writing

2

Managing knowledge

In the previous chapter we discovered how best to write a document. But this is only part of the story. At heart, what’s important is not creating documents per se but imparting knowledge, a distinction with profound implications:

• Documents are only one vehicle for transferring knowledge, others being wikis, chat-rooms, conference calls, training videos, training courses, chats around the coffee machine (good for picking up stuff you didn’t know you didn’t know) or even chats in the pub (in vino veritas).

• Documenting knowledge is not just about creating well-written content but also about ensuring that it’s managed effectively, eg logically organised and regularly updated.

• The word ‘knowledge’ reminds us that information ...