A model of information technology opportunities for facilitating the practice of knowledge management
| Published date | 24 October 2008 |
| Date | 24 October 2008 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/03055720810917732 |
| Pages | 490-506 |
| Author | Rosemary Wild,Kenneth Griggs |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
A model of information
technology opportunities for
facilitating the practice of
knowledge management
Rosemary Wild and Kenneth Griggs
Orfalea College of Business, California Polytechnic State University,
San Luis Obispo, California, USA
Abstract
Purpose – There is controversy about the role information technology (IT) should play in knowledge
management (KM) spanning extremes that either overvalue or undervalue IT’s role. This study
recognizes the balance required between the two extremes and aims to present a KM process and a
three-dimensional model to assist in identifying opportunities in which IT can effectively facilitate KM
practices.
Design/methodology/approach – Through a synthesis of KM literature the paper developed a KM
process that consists of identification of classifications of knowledge and their particular value to an
organization, sources of knowledge, and application opportunities. It developed a three-dimensional
model consisting of KM life cycle, KM level, and KM objectives to assist in identifying the most
effective IT application opportunities.
Findings – Current IT infrastructures provide support for the organization, formalization, and
distribution of organizational knowledge. However, there are relatively few applications that perform
the generation, application, and evolution of organizational knowledge. The paper describes a
distributed simulation prototype system that demonstrates the potential ability of IT to perform these
important KM activities and contribute to the effective facilitation of KM.
Research limitations/implications – This study is by no means exhaustive, but is intended as a
starting point to explore opportunities in which IT may be most effective in realizing the goals and
objectives of KM.
Originality/value – The proposed KM process guides knowledge workers toward a systematic
understanding of how to view the use of IT in the most effective way to achieve organizational
objectives and goals. The model permits them to assess how they are currently using IT for KM and
where they may either leverage their current IT infrastructure or develop focused IT applications to
achieve benefits through better use of IT in facilitating knowledge management. The Navy planning
system described demonstrates one such application.
Keywords Knowledge management, Decision supportsystems, Simulation,
Communicationtechnologies
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Knowledge management (KM), although not having been termed such, has been
practiced for many years in organizations that value the sharing of knowledge (Sieloff,
1999). However, the evolution of what has been referred to as a knowledge-based
economy (Drucker, 1995) has forced organizations to evaluate what it means to manage
knowledge and has motivated researchers to struggle with questions related to how to
define and operationalize the notion of KM. Interest in the subject has exploded,
spanning multiple disciplines, somewhat reminiscent of what occurred when artificial
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0305-5728.htm
VINE
38,4
490
VINE: The journal of information and
knowledge management systems
Vol. 38 No. 4, 2008
pp. 490-506
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0305-5728
DOI 10.1108/03055720810917732
intelligence was a “hot” topic. The ABI/INFORM database reveals that the number of
new KM articles has, on average, more than doubled each year over the past decade.
One of the difficulties facing organizations and researchers alike is that knowledge
management, while being intuitively important is intellectually elusive (Despres and
Chauvel, 1999). It is important because:
With rare exceptions, the productivity of a modern corporation or nation lies more in its
intellectual and system capabilities than in its hard assets ...(Quinn et al., 1996).
It is elusive because:
To define knowledge in a non-abstract and non-sweeping way seems to be very difficult.
Knowledge easily becomes everything and nothing (Alvesson, 1993).
Therein lies the conundrum, one of many surrounding this important, and arguably
necessary, tenet of present day organizational management.
In this paper we provide a synthesis of relevant literature exploring the meaning of
KM and the potential applications of knowledge management systems (KMSs). We tie
key emergent themes to the suggested use of information systems and technology as a
facilitator of KM. We propose a KM process consisting of knowledge classifications,
knowledge sources, and knowledge application opportunities. We present a
three-dimensional m odel that depicts three su ggested perspectives for using
information technology (IT) to facilitate and promote effective knowledge
management. The model dimensions are:
(1) KM objectives, including to support innovation, capture insights and
experiences, make it easy to find and re-use resources, foster collaboration,
improve the quality of decision making, and increase the effectiveness of
intellectual asset.
(2) KM level which defines the role of a KMS system as one that supports or one
that performs KM.
(3) The phases in the KM life cycle including the generation, organization,
formalization, distribution, application, and evolution of knowledge within an
organization.
We then discuss different IT required to support both the infrastructure and the
application requirements for KMSs. We conclude with an illustrative KMS application
for the US Navy. The system is a prototype KMS which enables the generation,
application and evolution of manpower knowledge that has the potential to
significantly improve manpower management decisions, integrate “stove piped”
communities within the Navy, and ultimately and most importantly, help achieve the
overriding strategic Naval goal of fleet readiness. Our research goal was to contribute
to the literature on KM by focusing on the development of a KM process which clarifies
the role IT can and does play in facilitating KM practices.
Overview of KM
Drucker (1993) said the only – or at least the most important – source of wealth in the
contemporary post-capitalist society is knowledge and information. He also states that
the most important challenge facing our knowledge-based economy is to find a
methodology, a discipline, or a process with which information can be made
A model of IT
opportunities
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