What knowledge management is all about ?

I love this cartoon! It shows the non-sens of "knowledge management" and makes fun of all the buzz around this new management tool: how to look smart by using "bullshit" terms in your company ? Use buzz words!

Let's think how to define Knowledge Management ? It is one of the most tricky thing to do when you are interested in that area.

As I get more mature on that subject, I would define it as "the study of the organizational conditions that make it possible to do something useful with knowledge to accomplish objectives through the structuring of people, technology, and knowledge content".

This is my definition of KM. I think we should talk about "conditions" instead of a clear process with steps including indentification, capitalisation, transfer and creation. Why ? Because in companies, these steps are not crystal clear!

What is clear (or seems to be clear) is that a lot of companies implementing KM initiatives are modifying the conditions under what people are sharing what they know. As Teece has underlined, KM is a multifaceted matrix of techniques. That is why defining KM is so difficult. I propose some definitions I have captured during my PhD Seminar in Copenhagen Business School.

Comments

[Eric]

Hi Alex!
Great cartoon indeed! Have you ever read Edward O. Wilson's book entitled "Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge"? Whether you subcribe to Wilson's thoughts or not, this is great and ambitious book about knowledge fragmentation and attempts to re-assemble knowledge. not an easy task and Wilson is wise enough to try to answer the question any manager would ask: "To what end?"
Best
Eric

[Alex]

No Eric, I don't know about O'Wilson's book.
May I find it on Cyberlibris ;-) ?

[Alex]

Example of a JOB in Knowledge Management from Monster:

"...The primary objective of this position is to work with TLR market groups, TLR Strategic Consulting and local businesses to increase the productivity and effectiveness of the businesses. This includes increasing the cross-border communication and knowledge flow, implementing knowledge sharing initiatives, providing knowledge sharing consulting and solutions, delivering and/or coordinating knowledge sharing tools and process and working with other TU staff to ensure programs, tools and services enable TLR employees to increase their business and customer acumen..."

See: http://offres.monster.fr/getjob.asp?JobID=24945324