The document discusses the role of storytelling in knowledge sharing and organizational change. It defines what a story is and explains how both individuals and organizations operate narratively. Storytelling is presented as a tool for seeking buy-in for initiatives like knowledge management. Specific examples of using stories for analysis, planning, and change are provided, including a 12-step process for creating effective stories. The power of stories to influence individuals and shift organizations is explored.

1. Storytelling and Narrative The Role of Storytelling in Knowledge Sharing and Organisational Change 29-31 May 2002 KM Champions in Africa Knowledge Management Workshop Maputo, Mozambique

3. People live and act narratively… … as individuals “ I am a respected professional” “ I am a mother” “ I am progressing in my career” “ I have been passed over” “ I am an important part of the organisation I work for” “ I am a faceless cog in a bureaucratic machine”

5. People live and act narratively... “ unless we have the critical tools to understand in which story we stand, our praxis runs the risk of prolonging not only the problem but the problem story. Often a problem will be solved only by dissolving the story” -Alastair Macintyre, After Virtue … in organisations My organisation is transforming the lives of others. The management talk about change but they don’t live it. Young people get no encouragement in my organisation.

10. A typical scenario… Listen to what I have to say about Knowledge Management! Ho hum.. same old strategy, new name Another consultant telling us what to do….great I wonder if I can get away to check my email.

11. A storytelling approach… Let me tell you a story about a network in Nang Rong, Thailand. Hmmm… we could probably do that with our project in Kenya. We do some of those things already, perhaps we could adapt some others. That would never work for us but it gives me an idea of soemthing we could try.

14. Who is else is using Storytelling?

15. Comments.. Questions… Reactions… Stories…

17. Group work 2 Ben Okri – The Joys of Storytelling "stories are the secret reservoir of values: change the stories individuals or nations live by and tell themselves, and you change the individuals and nations." "When we have made an experience or a chaos into a story we have transformed it, made sense of it, transmuted experience, domesticated the chaos" "Great leaders understand the power of the stories they project to their people," he writes. "They understand that stories can change an age, turn an era around". "Stories can drive you mad... Stories can heal profound sicknesses of the spirit". "To poison a nation, poison its stories. A demoralised nation tells demoralised stories to itself."