Knowledge Management Basics
If you're relatively new to KM or a student, then this section will give you some of essential background. Or if you're keen to get started on implementing KM in your organization, go straight to the KM Roadmap - there are many links back into this section if you want to refresh your understanding of the basics.
Definition of KM
There are hundreds of definitions of KM. We offer a definition based on interviews with many of the leading practitioners of KM, which we then analyze in some detail. For completeness we include a few definitions from others that we like.
The Essence of KM
Knowledge management is a combination of managing explicit content (information) and providing the environment for tacit knowledge (in people's heads) to be shared. This section also covers the two main thrusts (sharing and innovation) and seven strategic levers that you can apply to bring about business benefits.
The Benefits of KM
Good KM can improve business performance in several ways including faster time-to-market, reduced costs through avoidance of duplication and not 'reinventing the wheel'. This section introduces the hierarchy of benefits - better information and knowledge processing that leads to organizational efficiency and effectiveness benefits, through to bottom line results and better outcomes for stakeholders.
The Evolution of KM
Knowledge management in its current form - as a strategic tool of business - emerged into mainstream consciousness (but not necessarily mainstream practice!) in 1995. This section traces the main stages of evolution as witnessed by objective observers. KM is constantly evolving and although its future is certin, its precise nature is uncertain.
KM Core Concepts
Whereas academics may cite hundreds of concepts from epistomology to "the resource view of the firm", we believe that practictioners need a grasp of only a few. This section takes you through eight of those we consider the most important including the distinciton between tacit and explicit knowledge, the knowledge spiral, the KM maturity curve and the notion of intellectual capital.
KM Glossary Concepts
Not sure about the difference between benchmarking and benchlearning? Need to know what socialization in the KM context means? Then this A-Z glossary should prove a useful starting point. It has links to more detailed explanataions and relevant articles where these are available.
Last updated: 19th February 2011
