By Ravi Sharma & Naguib Chowdhury

Abstract
The research reported in this paper outlines the construction and utilisation of a diagnostic tool for performing what we call a material knowledge audit in an enterprise of medium complexity.  The tool was developed by adapting some of the more applicable techniques suggested in the literature by practitioners.  It was then put on trial in five organisations – a library, an IT consulting firm, a research institute, a telecommunications service provider, and a media agency – which were involved in knowledge intensive business activities.  The appendices list the three main components of such a field trial-ed diagnostic instrument. 

The AAR is a simple process used by a team to capture the lessons learned from past successes and failures with the goal of improving future performance. It is an opportunity for a team to reflect on a project, activity, event or task so that the next time, they can do better.

AAR does not have to be performed at the end of a project or activity. Rather, it can be performed after each identifiable event within a project or major activity, thus becoming a live learning process for staff.

1. Start an internal KM library by collecting several of the most widely read KM books and make them available.