As time goes on, the thought that organizational knowledge is overtly toxic was popular.  Currently, though the mind set that it is a double edged sword fits the topic much more heartily.  

At every organization there is dead weight.  The woman with the office not quite on the corner that never really produces or is called onto projects.  The guy who is in every project meeting but never has deliverables or tasks assigned.  and on and on.  

They know things.  Things about the organization.  The project manager that left in a huff, the VP that fell on his sword for the greater good.  and on and on.  These may not seem like they are of enough value to pull a pay check and benefits, but one has to peek through the cracks and use this knowledge to not repeat the mistakes of the past.

Organizations have long institutional memories.  All the stories of your predecessor, the previous management structure and the good ol’ days.   They may be long gone as remnants only as headers in file folders and long dissipated after a reorg but for some reason their myth and legends are stronger than some of the business processes everyone is expected to abide by.  

A lot of those good ol’ boy networks are established via vices.  Primarily, smoking, drinking and golf.  Golf is actually waning in the new generation replaced by online games.  Halo is the new golf.  If you don’t participate in any of these activities, procuring the institutional knowledge may have to come in other forms.  See lunch.

There are few approaches.  Ask the alpha and talk them up and hope they give you a hint of information and accept you.  Ask the weakest link and hope he spills his heart out to you.  Or ask someone in the middle since they may be overshadowed by the alpha and the weakest.  

Once you have someone who will talk to you, you have to give to get.  You shouldn’t sell any information that can get your boss in trouble, but a few jabs at a coworkers solitaire habit or a well placed joke about too long smoke breaks are usually good enough.  If this is at all confusing go rent the Godfather trilogy and the Wire and watch the dynamics.  It’s all business.  

You have to understand who the VP of Marketing’s husband is.  Think about why someone has an office who doesn’t appear to produce and why they have the same last name as the Head of Facilities.  All this comes into play when making friends and enemies.  

When you feel you have enough history, clout and knowledge in your repository to make a play, understand that this isn’t their first rodeo.  They have that office for a reason.  They leave at three and get in at nine for a reason.  Your job is to talk to them and figure out why and how to proceed.