education

Scaling the Use of Organizational Knowledge

Knowledge is one of the most valuable assets in any organization. It lives in different places—within data, processes, and people—and serves as the foundation for decision-making, efficiency, and innovation. But how do organizations effectively scale the use of this knowledge? By understanding where it is found and taking practical steps to make it accessible, reusable, and impactful, companies can unlock its full potential.

Knowledge resides in three main areas. First, it exists in the data and information within an organization: the structured and unstructured content stored in systems, ranging from databases to emails. This data holds significant value, but only when it is well-organized and easy to access. Second, knowledge is embedded in the systems and processes an organization uses to perform its work. These workflows and methodologies reflect accumulated experience and best practices. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, knowledge exists in the minds of people. Employees bring expertise, creative problem-solving, and critical insights grounded in their experience and skills.

Scaling the use of knowledge means finding ways to capture, share, and apply it across the organization. To start, data and information should be structured and centralized so it can be easily searched and retrieved. Systems and processes should be designed not only for consistency but also for adaptability, ensuring that they can evolve with the organization’s needs. Knowledge that resides in people can be scaled through collaboration, mentoring, and cultivating a culture of openness and knowledge-sharing.

Technology can play a significant role in making knowledge more accessible at scale. Tools such as language-based models and other digital systems can help extract, summarize, and organize information, allowing employees to focus on more creative and strategic tasks. However, scaling knowledge shouldn’t solely rely on technology—it’s equally about empowering people and creating an environment where expertise can flow freely.

In short, the key to scaling knowledge lies in understanding where it lives, finding ways to unlock it, and building systems that ensure its usefulness grows along with the organization. By bridging the knowledge found in data, systems, and individuals, companies can create a powerful foundation for growth, resilience, and innovation.

Stories – A Way to Transfer Knowledge

Since the dawn of civilization, storytelling has been our primary way of sharing and preserving knowledge. From oral traditions filled with myths and legends to written texts, films, and interactive media, stories have shaped how we understand the world.

But why are stories so effective? Because they create experiences. Instead of just presenting isolated facts, they embed knowledge in a context, making it easier to understand, remember, and apply. This principle isn’t just useful for humans—it can also transform how we train language models.

How Stories Shape Learning

Stories are more than just entertainment. They act as cognitive frameworks, helping us connect new information to what we already know. Think about how we learn history—not through a list of dates and events, but through narratives about the people who lived them. The same applies to scientific discoveries, moral lessons, and even problem-solving strategies.

By structuring knowledge within a story, we make it relevant and engaging. A well-crafted narrative provides context, emotion, and meaning, making learning a natural and immersive experience.

Using Stories to Train Language Models

The way we train language models today often relies on vast amounts of structured and unstructured data. But what if we approached this process more like teaching a human?

Instead of feeding language models disconnected data points, we can frame information within meaningful stories. This method allows the model to understand not just words and syntax but also the deeper relationships between concepts. Context-rich learning could lead to more intuitive and adaptable language models, capable of reasoning and responding in more human-like ways.

A Future Built on Narrative Learning

Imagine a world where language models learn through carefully curated stories—absorbing knowledge in the same way we do. This could revolutionize fields like education, research, and communication.

By embracing storytelling as a core method for training, we’re not just improving language models. We’re reinforcing the fundamental truth that knowledge, when placed in the right context, becomes something more than just data—it becomes wisdom.