White Papers

Over the years, Touchstone has developed and collected a variety of resources around the services that it offers. The following abstracts represent research conducted by Touchstone associates as well as industry colleagues.

PMM & EV-Lite: Implementing EV-Lite in a Non Mature PM Environment
There is a direct correlation between the level of project management maturity and the success of implementing an earned value management system (EVMS) in any environment. This paper explores that correlation and suggests that the EV-Lite continuum can be used as a basis for implementing and growing an EVMS as the level of PM maturity grows. Authors Peter Padovani, Touchstone, and Dick Buxton, EDS.

Best Practices for Managing Cross-Agency E-Government Initiatives
This paper presents a set of skills and activities that – when integrated with strong traditional program management skills and processes – will yield the best results for cross-agency E-Government initiatives.

Towards an Ecological Theory of Sustainable Knowledge Networks
Virtual teams of geographically distributed knowledge workers are increasingly common, but they face serious challenges. This proposal has three objectives: to create a empirically-based "ecological" theory of effective, sustainable virtual teamwork; to create a Web-based Handbook to disseminate the theory, and to create a software Collaboration Assistant to coach virtual teams in sustainability practices. By E. Jeffrey Conklin, Clarence Ellis, Lynn Offermann, Steve Poltrock, Albert Selvin, and Jonathan Grudin.

Transforming an Existing Organization into a Learning Organization
Organizations that incorporate growth and change as the fundamental institutions and ideals on which the organization is built will have an advantage in this rapidly changing, post-industrial era. By Douglas Guthrie, PhD.

Visual Issue Mapping System: A Systematic Approach to Wicked Problems
Visual Issue Mapping System (VIMS) is a graphic technique that creates a shared map of a meeting discussion. A facilitator uses the VIMS method to capture the key questions, ideas, and arguments that come up as the discussion unfolds, recording them in a network-like map for everyone in the meeting to see. The technique works for any topic or problem, but is best when used with groups that contain widely differing views on a dynamically complex or “wicked” problem. By E. Jeffrey Conklin, PhD

Wicked Problems
Finding and solving the source of pain in organizations using innovative approaches. By E. Jeffrey Conklin, PhD, and William Weil.

Blending Cultural Transformation and Groupware to Create a Learning Organization
In a world of accelerating change, neither individuals nor groups can grasp the implications of all the changes, nor can they respond effectively in isolation. To be successful in a rapidly changing environment, companies must undergo continual transformation by creating social and technological structures that both facilitate this transformation and support corporate learning in all organizational domains. By E. Jeffrey Conklin, PhD, and Richard C. Eppel.

Designing Organizational Memory
Preserving and utilizing the intellectual assets of an organization's members to compete in a knowledge-based economy. By E. Jeffrey Conklin, PhD.

Capturing Organizational Memory
Integrating hypertext language, groupware, and rhetorical method to record the ideas developed within an organization. By E. Jeffrey Conklin, PhD.

The Role of Manager as Facilitator
Southern California Edison's (SCE) experience using the IBIS Method. Reprinted with permission from The Facilitator Newsletter.

The IBIS Manual
A short course in issue-based information system methodology. By E. Jeffrey Conklin, PhD.

Guide for Developing and Using IT Performance Measurements [PDF]
The Chief Information Officer department of the U.S. Navy excels in developing innovative tools to measure IT investments in meeting mission requirements. This handbook is a very practical guide for developing IT performance measures. Co-authored by Kathryn Burns and a DON CIO team.

Metrics Guide for Knowledge Management Initiatives [PDF]
Much has been written about the benefits of knowledge management programs in organizations. How do managers measure how well these activities benefit the organization? This guide, developed by a integrated product team for the U.S. Navy Chief Information Officer department, presents a practical framework for measuring the value of knowledge management investments. Co-authored by Kathryn Burns and a DON CIO team.