Large organizations often struggle with knowledge silos, where critical expertise is trapped with individuals or isolated teams. Employees waste time searching for internal experts or unknowingly duplicating work that already exists elsewhere. While document-based knowledge systems like wikis help, they fail to capture the "who knows what" problem—leaving valuable tacit knowledge untapped.
One approach could be a dynamic, searchable directory of employee expertise, similar to Bridgewater's "baseball cards" concept. Instead of relying on static HR profiles, this system could:
Integration with workplace tools like Slack, Microsoft 365, or HRIS could minimize manual upkeep. A simpler version might start with employee self-tagging and peer endorsements.
For large enterprises—especially those with dispersed teams like tech firms or consultancies—this could reduce redundant work and speed up decision-making. Employees might benefit from greater visibility for their skills, while managers could optimize team utilization. However, adoption could face hurdles:
A phased rollout might help validate the concept:
Unlike existing tools that focus on static documents or Q&A, this approach would prioritize connecting people—making it easier to find not just answers, but the right person to ask.
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Digital Product