San Jose in the Fall

KMWorld is an annual event that I always enjoy attending. No, not because San Jose is a beautiful, comfortable place to be during September (although it is both), but because it's a place to learn, to collaborate, to meet new folks, and to catch up with long-time KM friends. Jane Dysart and Hugh McKellar always put on a good show here in central California, and this year has been no different.

What is different from 2007 is the sense of what's hot, if that's an appropriate term to use in this area we call KM. (If you're wondering why I would even ask that question, note that "Is KM dead?" was also asked at the conference.) What I'm feeling here--or not feeling to be more precise--is the overwhelming number of sessions devoted to the topic of Web 2.0 social networking applications. To be sure, there are some breakouts devoted to connectivity via social tools, but overall, there seems to be more balance between technology and "softer" topics this year. Practical advice such as how to gain sponsorship, real world case studies, and techniques for improved knowledge sharing seem to be just as prevalent topics.