Transforming Theory into Fact: Hands-On Knowledge Management Initiatives Built on a Reinsurer’s Pile of Junk

Knowledge traditionally has been the foundation of Swiss Re’s culture and a crucial component of its organizational strategy. Swiss Re defines Knowledge Management as “understanding and enhancing the information flow and decision making of the organization to leverage both for customer, shareholder, and employee value.” This chapter looks at the three strategies that comprise Swiss Re’s knowledge management initiative, using alignment, technology, and law as levers to further strengthen the firm’s knowledge assets. To illuminate further the way knowledge is used in the abstract business of reinsurance, Swiss Re’s knowledge management practices are contextualized within the prototypical knowledge management displayed by Thomas Edison.