What is ‘knowledge management’? Professor T.D. Wilson

An early definition “By knowledge management I mean public policy for the production, dissemination, accessibility, and use of information as it applies to public policy formulation.” (Henry 1974: 189) “By knowledge management I mean public policy for the production, dissemination, accessibility, and use of information as it applies to public policy formulation.” (Henry 1974: 189)

After 1974 A special issue of Public Administration Review in A special issue of Public Administration Review in A trickle of papers – mainly in public administration – one a year to 1977 A trickle of papers – mainly in public administration – one a year to 1977 Silence – between 1978 and 1986 Silence – between 1978 and 1986

The 80s ‘bubble’ 13 papers with km in the title published between 1986 and papers with km in the title published between 1986 and 1992 Artificial intelligence, expert systems, etc. Artificial intelligence, expert systems, etc. Information systems development Information systems development Policy issues Policy issues

Consultancy push The consultancy push from 1995 was based on a recession in the industry which made it necessary to sell something new. The consultancy push from 1995 was based on a recession in the industry which made it necessary to sell something new. The consultancies have now lost interest in the subject – the pages they had on ‘knowledge management’ have now disappeared and, for the most part, only ‘historic’ documents are on their Websites The consultancies have now lost interest in the subject – the pages they had on ‘knowledge management’ have now disappeared and, for the most part, only ‘historic’ documents are on their Websites

Sveiby’s view I don't believe knowledge can be managed. Knowledge Management is a poor term, but we are stuck with it, I suppose. "Knowledge Focus" or "Knowledge Creation" (Nonaka) are better terms, because they describe a mindset, which sees knowledge as activity not an object. It is a human vision, not a technological one. (Sveiby, 2001) I don't believe knowledge can be managed. Knowledge Management is a poor term, but we are stuck with it, I suppose. "Knowledge Focus" or "Knowledge Creation" (Nonaka) are better terms, because they describe a mindset, which sees knowledge as activity not an object. It is a human vision, not a technological one. (Sveiby, 2001)

The spread to academia Picked up by management schools and information systems departments Picked up by management schools and information systems departments Proponents lacked previous experience or research in information management Proponents lacked previous experience or research in information management New terms for old concepts: New terms for old concepts: Library becomes ‘knowledge repository’ Library becomes ‘knowledge repository’ Book becomes ‘knowledge object’ Book becomes ‘knowledge object’ Information audit becomes ‘knowledge audit’ Information audit becomes ‘knowledge audit’

A recent statement [One of the key issues was]...the dissemination but yet disconnection of the different pieces of knowledge generated during a research project; that situation leads to a wide range of unstructured data and documents, often in paper format, stored in personal folders and categorized according to personal classification schemes.(Srikantaiah & Koenig, 2008) [One of the key issues was]...the dissemination but yet disconnection of the different pieces of knowledge generated during a research project; that situation leads to a wide range of unstructured data and documents, often in paper format, stored in personal folders and categorized according to personal classification schemes.(Srikantaiah & Koenig, 2008)

An example The reach of the new technology for information sharing: Many factors have transformed the way in which organizations now view information, but perhaps the pivotal development has been the dramatically extended reach of know- how through new information technology. Rapidly falling costs of communications and computing and the extraordinary growth and accessibility of the World Wide Web present new opportunities for information-based organizations, to share information more widely and cheaply than ever before. Information sharing is thus enabling — and forcing — institutions that are international in the scope of their operations, to become truly global in character by enabling information transfer to occur across large distances within a very short time The reach of the new technology for information sharing: Many factors have transformed the way in which organizations now view information, but perhaps the pivotal development has been the dramatically extended reach of know- how through new information technology. Rapidly falling costs of communications and computing and the extraordinary growth and accessibility of the World Wide Web present new opportunities for information-based organizations, to share information more widely and cheaply than ever before. Information sharing is thus enabling — and forcing — institutions that are international in the scope of their operations, to become truly global in character by enabling information transfer to occur across large distances within a very short time

The original The reach of the new technology for knowledge sharing: Many factors have transformed the way in which organizations now view knowledge, but perhaps the pivotal development has been the dramatically extended reach of know- how through new information technology. Rapidly falling costs of communications and computing and the extraordinary growth and accessibility of the World Wide Web present new opportunities for knowledge-based organizations, to share knowledge more widely and cheaply than ever before… Knowledge sharing is thus enabling — and forcing — institutions that are international in the scope of their operations, to become truly global in character by enabling knowledge transfer to occur across large distances within a very short time. (Denning, 1998) The reach of the new technology for knowledge sharing: Many factors have transformed the way in which organizations now view knowledge, but perhaps the pivotal development has been the dramatically extended reach of know- how through new information technology. Rapidly falling costs of communications and computing and the extraordinary growth and accessibility of the World Wide Web present new opportunities for knowledge-based organizations, to share knowledge more widely and cheaply than ever before… Knowledge sharing is thus enabling — and forcing — institutions that are international in the scope of their operations, to become truly global in character by enabling knowledge transfer to occur across large distances within a very short time. (Denning, 1998)

‘KM’ means what you want it to mean You want to push an information strategy in your organization – call it a ‘knowledge strategy’. You want to push an information strategy in your organization – call it a ‘knowledge strategy’. You want to get a paper into a journal on expert systems – call the expert system a ‘knowledge management’ system. You want to get a paper into a journal on expert systems – call the expert system a ‘knowledge management’ system. You want to persuade the university authorities to put money into the development of your department – tell them you intend to offer new courses on ‘knowledge management’, You want to persuade the university authorities to put money into the development of your department – tell them you intend to offer new courses on ‘knowledge management’, and so on, and so on. and so on, and so on.

Sveiby Knowledge management is made up of two strands: Knowledge management is made up of two strands: The management of information, and The management of information, and The management of people. The management of people.

Analysis of journals – 2003 Knowledge Management in Electronic Government - 14 Knowledge Management in Electronic Government - 14 Journal of the Operational Research Society - 5 Journal of the Operational Research Society - 5 Knowledge-Based Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems, Pt 1, Proceedings - 5 Knowledge-Based Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems, Pt 1, Proceedings - 5 International Journal of Technology Management - 3 International Journal of Technology Management - 3 Annals of Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence - 2 Annals of Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence - 2 Automation in Construction - 2 Automation in Construction - 2 Computers in Industry - 2 Computers in Industry - 2 Decision Sciences - 2 Decision Sciences - 2 Information Systems Management - 2 Information Systems Management - 2 Journal of Computer Information Systems - 2 Journal of Computer Information Systems - 2 Total Quality Management - 2 Total Quality Management - 2

Analysis of journals 2007

Subject distribution of papers

Earl’s investigation Yet nearly 15 years on [i.e., from the early 90s], the promise of knowledge management has yet to be realised. There is a dearth of outstanding success stories, where original goals were achieved or sustainable value was created. Yet nearly 15 years on [i.e., from the early 90s], the promise of knowledge management has yet to be realised. There is a dearth of outstanding success stories, where original goals were achieved or sustainable value was created. It is not unusual to visit companies claiming knowledge management successes only to find some worthy efforts lacking any lasting impact. More often, a company has simply relabelled a new IT application as a knowledge management initiative. (Earl 2004) It is not unusual to visit companies claiming knowledge management successes only to find some worthy efforts lacking any lasting impact. More often, a company has simply relabelled a new IT application as a knowledge management initiative. (Earl 2004)

Academic programmes … a discipline that takes a comprehensive, systematic approach to the information assets of an organization by identifying, capturing, collecting, organizing, indexing, storing, integrating, retrieving and sharing them. (Kent State University, 2008) … a discipline that takes a comprehensive, systematic approach to the information assets of an organization by identifying, capturing, collecting, organizing, indexing, storing, integrating, retrieving and sharing them. (Kent State University, 2008)

Conclusion I Knowledge cannot be managed: Knowledge cannot be managed: Peter Drucker: knowledge is between two ears and only between two ears. Peter Drucker: knowledge is between two ears and only between two ears. What we produce on the basis of what we know is a ‘message’ – voice, print, electronic, etc. The message needs to be understood by the receiver before it can affect his or her ‘knowledge’ – knowledge cannot be transferred directly. What we produce on the basis of what we know is a ‘message’ – voice, print, electronic, etc. The message needs to be understood by the receiver before it can affect his or her ‘knowledge’ – knowledge cannot be transferred directly.

Conclusion II

Obrigado! Obrigado!