During a short stay with an organisation, an interim manager acquires significant knowledge about that organisation. On leaving, there is a risk that the knowledge goes too. It is important to ensure that the interim recognises this issue and works with the organisation to ensure that the necessary safeguards are provided. The knowledge management process occurs at a number of different levels:
understanding the role and its impact at the start. Sometimes the interim manager has to acquire this knowledge or learn it from an incumbent and it may or may not have been written down at the start
acquisition of knowledge through the contract. Usually, the interim is likely to be setting up or revising policies, processes and procedures, or reporting mechanisms or ensuring that important interfaces within the organisation are working. It is possible that in a changing environment these will be changed either by the interim or by others in the organisation
at the end of the contract, the interim needs to pass on this knowledge back to the organisation. Who this is to be and at what point is an important consideration and an appropriately timed handover has to be made
often, the interim is more skilled than the role that they are fulfilling and the organisation can come to rely on the interim. It is important to ensure that the organisation keeps its attention focused on that time when the interim's contract will end either contractually or as a result of work being completed. This is particularly important where a new permanent member of staff is to be appointed - this process often takes longer than the organisation plans when recruiting the interim
once the interim has completed the contract, it is possible that the interim will not be able to make time available as an "after sales service". The handover needs to be as complete as possible before the interim departs otherwise the interim's new assignment may make it difficult for odd days to be spent to make good any difficiencies
ensure that the interim writes down as much as possible. Personally, I start making handover notes and work progress notes as soon as I start as the reasons for taking certain decisions may not remain clear at the late stages of the contract. Also, I use hyperlinks in computer applications to link up major records to make sure that everything has an audit trail
Knowledge management is an important feature of the interim assignment to get right at the point when the assignment starts, during its conduct as well as at the end.
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