What Straits Knowledge does

Straits Knowledge is a global knowledge management (KM) consulting and research firm founded in 2002, headquartered in Singapore with a European office in Dublin (Ireland) operating as Straits Knowledge International, and an additional Paris (France) presence. The firm advises public-sector agencies, large enterprises, and development-sector organisations on evidence-based KM strategy, knowledge audits, KM frameworks, enterprise taxonomy development, and culture/behavioural diagnostics; notable clients include the U.S. Army War College, FDA, NASA, Singapore Army, PETRONAS, Huawei, Mars, and the Asian Development Bank. The portfolio combines consulting engagements, public and in-house training workshops (six 2-to-3-day programmes covering KM strategy, knowledge audits, communities of practice, expert knowledge transfer, project learning, and taxonomy development), and a set of proprietary performance support tools: KM Method Cards (80 approaches), KM Diagnostic Cards (75 signals), Organisation Culture Cards (52 behaviour patterns), and a 134-page KM Guidebook (24 methods). A separate but jointly-controlled sister company, Straits Knowledge Digital, developed the Aithin™ knowledge mapping and KM diagnostics platform and serves as Gold Partner and authorised reseller for Synaptica taxonomy software.

The firm monetises across three streams: professional-services consulting engagements delivered by senior practitioners; paid training workshops priced at S$250-S$550 per person per day plus custom in-house advisory sessions at SGD1,000 per 2-hour block (SGD875 virtual, with international travel minimums); and unit-priced product sales via an online storefront (cards at roughly US$50 each, bundles at US$110 and US$150) and external publishers (MIT Press for Principles of Knowledge Auditing, Kogan Page for The Knowledge Manager's Handbook). Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales supplemented by an event-and-content-driven motion (the Green Chameleon blog, KM conference speaking, referral networks through global associate consultants, and book-driven inbound). Delivery currently excludes the United States due to tariffs and postal service disruptions.

The team's credibility is anchored by Principal Consultant Patrick Lambe (MIT Press author, Visiting Professor at Bangkok University, editorial board member of three KM journals, BSI KM Standards Committee member, and CILIP advisor) and Managing Partner Edgar Tan (also Managing Director of Straits Knowledge Digital). The firm holds a 2019 CILIP UK Knowledge and Information Management Information Resources Award for The Knowledge Manager's Handbook, second edition.

Name

Straits Knowledge

Legal name

Straits Knowledge

Website

https://straitsknowledge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Straits Knowledge is a Singapore-based global knowledge management consulting firm founded in 2002, serving public-sector agencies, large enterprises, and development organisations through KM strategy, knowledge audits, taxonomy development, training workshops, and proprietary performance support tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Knowledge Management & KCS Programs (BPAEAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Knowledge Management & Wikis (BPAMAMAH), Strategy & IT Advisory (BPAEAAAA)

Keywords

• Knowledge management consulting
• KM training workshops
• Enterprise taxonomy development
• Knowledge audit services
• Performance support tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Enterprise consulting engagements covering KM strategy, knowledge audits, taxonomy development, and KM framework development. Consulting is delivered through combination of consulting, training, coaching, and reflective practice.
2. Training Workshops: Public workshops and customized in-house training programmes covering KM strategy, knowledge audit and diagnostics, communities of practice, expert knowledge transfer, project learning, and taxonomy development. Training fees range from S$250 to S$550 per person per day.
3. Products and Publications: Sale of KM diagnostic cards, KM method cards, organisation culture cards, guidebooks, and externally published books. Products sold via online store with PayPal payment processing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Straits Knowledge is a global consulting and research firm that helps organisations develop bespoke knowledge management (KM) strategies, frameworks, roadmaps, and programmes. It conducts knowledge audits, builds enterprise taxonomies and ontologies for digital content management, and supports clients in digital transformation. Its portfolio is delivered through consulting engagements, public and in-house training workshops, and proprietary performance support tools (KM Diagnostic Cards, KM Method Cards, Organisation Culture Cards, and a KM Guidebook), along with the Aithin™ knowledge mapping and KM diagnostics platform developed with sister company Straits Knowledge Digital.

Product overview

Straits Knowledge is a global consulting and research firm founded in 2002, offering a portfolio of knowledge management consulting services, training programmes, performance support tools, and publications. The core offering consists of consulting engagements in knowledge audits, KM strategy, taxonomy development, and organisational culture analysis, supported by practical training workshops that facilitate capability transfer. The product portfolio includes four card-based performance support tools (KM Diagnostic Cards with 75 signals, KM Method Cards with 80 approaches, Organisation Culture Cards with 52 behaviour patterns, and a KM Guidebook covering 24 methods), which are sold individually or in discounted bundles. Publications by Principal Consultant Patrick Lambe include Principles of Knowledge Auditing (MIT Press, 2023), The Knowledge Manager's Handbook (Kogan Page, co-authored with Nick Milton), Organising Knowledge (Chandos, 2007), and The Blind Tour Guide (2002). Training is offered through six public workshop programmes covering KM strategy, knowledge audits, communities of practice, expert knowledge transfer, project learning, and taxonomy development. The Aithin™ platform, developed through sister company Straits Knowledge Digital, provides digital knowledge mapping and KM diagnostics capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Knowledge Management Consulting Services Enterprise consulting engagements covering evidence-based KM strategy development, knowledge audits, framework and roadmap creation, taxonomy and ontology development, and digital knowledge management programme support. Delivered to clients in public, private, and development sectors worldwide as a combination of consulting, training, coaching, and reflective practice.
• Knowledge Management Strategy Workshop Two-day public or in-house training programme focused on developing a knowledge management strategy, roadmap, and framework to support strategic objectives; teaches participants to facilitate senior management workshops and develop implementation roadmaps.
• Knowledge Audit & Knowledge Diagnostics Workshop Two-day programme focused on diagnosing opportunities for knowledge and information management interventions; teaches participants to conduct knowledge audits, develop knowledge maps, and conduct KM diagnostics.
• Communities of Practice & Peer Collaboration Workshop Three-day programme (2 days plus follow-up) covering collaborative dynamics, community formation, and nine key techniques for supporting knowledge sharing within communities of practice.
• Expert Knowledge Transfer Workshop Three-day programme focused on understanding expert knowledge forms, assessing risks and priorities, and practicing seven key techniques for capturing and transferring expertise.
• Project Learning & Knowledge Capture Workshop Three-day programme focused on knowledge-enabled project management, planning KM and learning activities into projects, and practicing ten practical techniques.
• Taxonomy Development Workshop Two-day programme focused on developing and implementing a taxonomy to support KM objectives, covering taxonomy forms, design principles, facet analysis, and deployment strategies.
• KM Diagnostic Cards Physical pack of cards containing 75 signals of possible issues and opportunities around coordination, learning, and remembering, designed to support rapid organisational KM diagnostics exercises.
• KM Method Cards Physical pack of cards containing concise descriptions of 80 approaches, methods, and tools that knowledge managers and KM activists can use in a variety of scenarios.
• Organisation Culture Cards Physical pack of 52 cards representing typical patterns of behaviour found in organisations dealing with change management, developing innovation, or implementing KM initiatives, developed from six years of projects with almost a thousand participants.
• KM Guidebook 134-page A4 book containing detailed guidance on applying 24 practical approaches, methods, and tools for sharing knowledge, facilitating knowledge transfer, capturing knowledge, and learning activities; supports the KM Method Cards.
• Aithin™ Knowledge Mapping and KM Diagnostics Platform Knowledge mapping and KM diagnostics platform developed jointly with sister company Straits Knowledge Digital, used for conducting knowledge audits and organisational assessments.
• Principles of Knowledge Auditing (Book) Patrick Lambe's book published by MIT Press, providing foundations for knowledge management implementation with a comprehensive and critical review of mainstream knowledge management.
• The Knowledge Manager's Handbook (Book) Practical handbook co-authored by Nick Milton and Patrick Lambe, fully updated for ISO 30401 standard with new chapters on external standards, engagement, and links between KM and digital transformation.
• Organising Knowledge (Book) A 2007 book by Patrick Lambe on how taxonomy work integrates with and supports knowledge management, the only major text combining practical taxonomy development guidance with broader KM explanation.
• The Blind Tour Guide (Book) A 2002 book by Patrick Lambe exploring the impact of technological change on business and working life in the new economy context.
• Method, Diagnostic and Culture Cards Bundle Bundle combining KM Diagnostic Cards, Organisation Culture Cards, and KM Method Cards covering KM diagnostic needs, cultural analysis, and KM intervention design.
• Method Cards and Guidebook Bundle Bundle combining KM Method Cards (80 approaches) and the Guidebook (in-depth guidance on 24 of those).

Quantifiable outcome

• Improves findability and discoverability of digital content when taxonomy is used to enrich search services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Straits Knowledge DigitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationSister company that focuses on developing digital tools for KM, including the Aithin knowledge mapping and KM diagnostics platform. Edgar Tan is Managing Director. Is Gold Partner and authorized reseller for Synaptica software.
• AnecdotecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialises in helping organisations tackle complex problems like learning, knowledge sharing and organisational change. Creates conditions for insight and empowerment.
• The Cynefin CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network focusing on application of complexity science to management and organisational practice (formerly Cognitive Edge). Straits Knowledge is a licensed practitioner of Cynefin methods and tools.
• Common Knowledge AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFounded by Dr Nancy M. Dixon, consulting and research firm working with organisations to increase effectiveness of knowledge sharing initiatives. Extensive experience in military, government and industry.
• ShadowBox TrainingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUses cognitive task analysis techniques pioneered by Dr Gary Klein. Focuses on cognitive skills such as sensemaking, decision-making, and problem detection to empower new staff to make decisions like experts.
• Knowledge PlatformminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of the most experienced developers of online learning content in Singapore. Patrick Lambe and Edgar Tan are alumni.
• PebbleRoadminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUser experience design studio based in Singapore specialising in building simple, usable and memorable solutions for websites, intranets and learning.
• Step Two DesignsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEstablished 1996, one of Asia Pacific's best known consultancy firms providing vendor neutral advice on intranets, content management systems, usability, information architecture, and KM.
• STRONIUMcoreTechnology or IntegrationApplication development company based in Kuala Lumpur. Worked on development and support of Aithin software application and partners on taxonomy consulting projects involving Synaptica implementations.
• SynapticacoreTechnology or IntegrationOne of the world's leading taxonomy and ontology management software companies (a Squirro company). Software in continuous production since 1995, recognized by KMWorld's 100 Companies that Matter Award. Straits Knowledge Digital is Gold Partner and authorized reseller.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• APQC (American Productivity & Quality Center): Established US-based KM research, benchmarking, and consulting organization with a broad portfolio including standards work, KM assessments, and educational content — overlapping with Straits Knowledge's KM framework and capability-building offerings.

Direct peers

• Enterprise Knowledge (EK): US-based KM, taxonomy, ontology, and data governance consultancy with services spanning KM strategy, knowledge organization, and content management — directly comparable to Straits Knowledge's taxonomy and KM practice.
• The Cynefin Company: Listed core partner of Straits Knowledge; focuses on sense-making, complexity science and knowledge management methods and tools for organizational practice — overlapping KM advisory methodology.
• The Knowledge Academy: Global training provider offering KM courses among many other professional training subjects — competes for the same public-workshop buyer as Straits Knowledge's training programmes.
• Knoco Ltd: UK-headquartered KM consulting and training firm founded by Nick Milton, Patrick Lambe's co-author on The Knowledge Manager's Handbook. Operates in the same evidence-based KM advisory niche with global delivery.
• Anecdote: Listed as a core strategic partner of Straits Knowledge; specializes in organizational storytelling, knowledge sharing, and change — directly overlapping KM consulting and training capabilities.
• Common Knowledge Associates: Founded by Dr Nancy M. Dixon (a recognized KM researcher); consulting and research on knowledge sharing initiatives in military, government and industry — listed partner of Straits Knowledge with overlapping KM methodology.
• Knowledge Management Institute (KMI): KM training and certification provider offering courses and workshops similar to Straits Knowledge's public workshop portfolio (KM strategy, knowledge audit, communities of practice).
• TFPL / Information Edge: UK-based information and knowledge management consultancy providing KM strategy, audits, and training — a long-standing peer in the same boutique advisory space.
• Step Two Designs: Asia-Pacific consultancy specializing in intranets, content management, usability, information architecture, and KM — listed partner of Straits Knowledge with comparable enterprise digital advisory offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/straits-knowledge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Straits Knowledge