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Tribal Knowledge Audit

List "things only X knows" — each is risk if they leave.

60 min Intermediate

Goal

Surface "human single points of failure" before they leave (sick, quit, long leave).

Steps

1

Per member: list "3 things only I know".

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Expected Outcome

Immediate

You find 5-10 "human SPOFs" in team.

Evidence base

School: Knowledge Management / Bus Factor

Founders: Michael McCormick (1994)

"Bus Factor" term popularized in Python community (1994); McCormick in 90s quality articles; popular measure of knowledge distribution.

Frequently asked questions

How long does "Tribal Knowledge Audit" take?

This exercise takes about 60 minutes, practiced in a group in a Written reflection format.

When will I notice the effect of "Tribal Knowledge Audit"?

You find 5-10 "human SPOFs" in team. In the short term: In a quarter, long leaves don't paralyze ops.

Is "Tribal Knowledge Audit" evidence-based?

Yes — it draws on Knowledge Management / Bus Factor (Michael McCormick (1994)). "Bus Factor" term popularized in Python community (1994); McCormick in 90s quality articles; popular measure of knowledge distribution.

Is "Tribal Knowledge Audit" suitable for beginners?

Its difficulty level is: Intermediate. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.

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