Safeguarding intellectual capital in security companies

Knowledge management in a company is defined as the binomial of intellectual capital with the relational capital of the same.

Intellectual capital can be conceptualized as all the knowledge that the company has through the people who work in it and which serves for the creation of value.

Relational capital are those links that connect the people of a certain company with other people outside and inside the company, here we can point out both the distributors, the state, and the interrelation of different departments with each other.

These two forms of intangible capital of the company are represented in two ways, such as:
.-explicit capital
.-tacit capital

The explicit capital is the one that we find in the different documents of the company such as organization manuals, sales policies and are those that are documented and can be used by all the people for whom they were edited and have the right of access to them.

Tacit capital is what we find in people's brains and is usually used only by them, or those that by oral transmission or teacher-apprentice relationship is spreading.

In the security industry, with rare exceptions, the greatest use made in the different segments of it is that of tacit capital, where sellers know distributors strongly, technicians know how they made the installation and how the client wants the treatment, and guards or private security agents are transmitting the expectations or desires of the client from one to another when they make the shift relays.

This occurs despite the fact that there is extensive explicit material, such as documenting each installation or programming of a security system, as well as manuals, emergency plans, etc.

It is for this reason that the different segments of the industry must, in the first place, make the greatest effort to move from the use and abuse of tacit capital to explicit capital, and preferably that it is codified, so as to facilitate as much as possible the standardization of repetitive and frequent activities.

On the other hand, reducing personnel that contain high tacit capital without having ensured at least an adequate relay for the continuity of operations is a serious error, which can lead to the loss of large blocks of knowledge in the work of the company, and therefore to important interruptions in the value chain of our products and services.

In conclusion, good knowledge management by companies guarantees in these turbulent times a better willingness to face innovation, development and the ability to meet the demands of customers who are increasing every day.

Greetings

Luis González Nogales.
President.

WINGS offers more benefits for those who have trained with the entity. The pin is a new way of carrying the certification.

By: Lyda Durango

For having the largest and most representative alumni group in the region, with more than 500 certified professionals, the Dominican Republic was chosen to launch the ALAS alumni program.

The event, which took place last March at the Hilton Santo Domingo Hotel in the Dominican Republic, marked the beginning of the program.

The launch ceremony was presided over by the president of ALAS, Luis González Nogales, who presented two plaques of recognition for the support of private security in the Dominican Republic.

The first was delivered to Major General Luis Ramón Payan Areche, former Superintendent of Private Security of this country, and, the second, to Colonel Carlos Fernández Valerio, former president of ALAS.

Likewise, the alumni pins were delivered to Eng. Ligia Benoit, of Security and Guarantee, S. A., SEGASA and Representative of ALAS in the Dominican Republic; Mr. José Abreu, of O S. S. Corporate Security; and Mr. Aitor Palacio, from Alarms Controls.

"I think it's a great initiative that ALAS maintains the link with alumni in a formal way," said Aitor Palacio, general manager of Alarm Controls, one of the alumni who received the pin.

"ALAS's role in the security industry for Latin America must persist after certifications, and programs like this are critical to making that happen."

The ALAS Pin can be acquired by students as a badge of each course taken and each ALAS PIN or set of them will carry an individual identification with the student's initials (first name and two surnames) and a consecutive number.

This Pin represents an added value for those who take the courses, a distinctive also for the company and an element of motivation for those who carry it.

"The ALAS Pin can be worn with pride in daily work uniforms or when the alumni consider it appropriate," explained Luis González Nogales, president of ALAS.

"The Pin is a symbol that represents a great achievement but more importantly, an attitude," said Aitor Palacio. "The pin says that the intention of the one who carries it is to do things with criteria and quality, no matter the sacrifices that this entails," he added.

It is important to clarify that the WINGS pins do not replace the diplomas or certificates that are delivered when completing and passing the courses, but are part of a set of benefits that the association is implementing for alumni.

"We want our alumni to be proud of their preparation and training efforts," the ALAS president noted.

More benefits for everyone
The mission of the Latin American Security Association is to improve training and introduce best practices in the facilities of the different systems that make up electronic security.

Therefore, the BOARD of Directors of ALAS considered it prudent to create this form of identification for all the thousands of students who continuously make the effort of preparation and training.

"We trust that this initiative will unite us more in favor of improving good practices in the installation, design and maintenance of Electronic Security Systems throughout Latin America," said Luis González.

Thanks to the launch of the alumni program, expectations are growing for alumni to remain active even after a course is over. For Aitor Palacio this is a great opportunity to participate by suggesting changes and modifications to the courses, for example.

"That this is taken to a general discussion forum and that there is a committee that evaluates and approves the changes or suggestions that are considered most important," he says.

"This way we would be nourishing ourselves with the experience of thousands of people who already have a good training, to constantly improve and update the different courses," he added.

For more information or to acquire the pins write to [email protected]