Many large companies and not-for-profits have resources dedicated to internal knowledge management. These resources are usually part of a company’s business strategy, information technology, or human resource management departments.¹ There are also several consulting companies that have formed to provide advice regarding knowledge management. Knowledge management typically focuses on organizational objectives such as: improved performance, competitive advantage, innovation, sharing of lessons learned, and integration.² The origin of the definition of knowledge management arose within the consulting community. The use of the Internet linked together geographically dispersed knowledge-based organizations.³ Recently, with the increased use of computers, adaptations of technologies have been introduced to increase discussion forums.¹ Some of these adaptations include knowledge bases, expert systems, group discussion systems, and computer-supported cooperative work.
Knowledge is most commonly categorized in three different ways: explicit, implicit, or tactic.³ Explicit knowledge is information or knowledge that is set out in tangible form. Implicit knowledge is information or knowledge that is not set out in tangible form but could be made explicit. Tactic knowledge is information or knowledge that one would have extreme difficulty making tangible. One of the flaws of this system of thinking is that people begin to think too simplistically in terms of explicit knowledge, which calls for “collecting” knowledge management methodologies, and tactic knowledge, which calls for “connecting” knowledge management methodologies.³ Knowledge management really consists of making an organization’s data easily accessible for members of the organization through portals and content management systems.³
References:
1. Addicot, Rachel; McGivern, Gerry; Ferlie, Ewan (2006). “Networks, Organizational Learning and Knowledge Management: NHS Cancer Networks.” Public Money and Management 26 (2): 87-94.
2. Gupta, Jatinder; Sherma, Sushil (2004). Creating Knowledge Based Organizations. Boston: Idea Group Publishing.
3. Koenig, Michael E. What is KM? Knowledge Management Explained. Retrieved from http://www.kmworld.com/Articles/Editorial/What-Is-.../What-is-KM-Knowledge-Management-Explained-82405.aspx