How do you preserve important institutional knowledge on your marketing team(s) in the event that team members may depart or layoffs may be necessary?

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Marketing Managera year ago

We make it a best practice to document all training sessions for future reference if someone were to leave or if there was a restructuring. When something is new and/or learned by anyone from our group we schedule lunch and learn sessions too so that if anyone has certain questions or ideas it's brought up and discussed. 

Global Marketing Executive/ Head of Marketing in Services (non-Government)a year ago

Make it a team best practice to continually document processes or create a handbook or guidelines for consistency. Even if some of the same team members continue to be involved, it will save time and make it easier to drive continuous improvement.

Head of Corporate Developmenta year ago

We have six year plans and we produce marketing briefs for each project and retain those. We also have a work management system that archives previous work, so all of that provides a history to look back on to understand what has been done to date. 

Analyst, Communicationsa year ago

If internal/onboarding trainings, SOPs and compliance policy are in place for document/info handling, such as NDA, then it shouldn't be a problem. If one is worried about whistleblowing, then one could be at best to introspect first before reacting. Then the issue would be transferred to the crisis management team. Like someone else said here, we all leave at some point!

CMO, CSOa year ago

Create an internal knowledge share. Sharepoint, Wiki, or even a shared drive can work well. Make it comprehensive including vision, mission, values, roles and responsibilities, strategic approach, brand messaging, and "how to" execution work breakdowns.   

Tribal knowledge that isn't documented is a risky plan. We all leave, at some point. 

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Fully aligned — we co-own planning and sequencing20%

Mostly aligned — we review major changes together40%

Somewhat aligned — occasional coordination only 30%

Misaligned — plans are created separately 10%

No shared roadmap

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Highly likely14%

Somewhat likely16%

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Impossible6%

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