What are we managing – knowledge or information?
| Published date | 26 June 2007 |
| Date | 26 June 2007 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/03055720710759946 |
| Pages | 169-179 |
| Author | Shashi Prabha Singh |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
What are we managing –
knowledge or information?
Shashi Prabha Singh
Department of Library & Information Science, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
Abstract
Purpose – A good amount of literature has appeared on knowledge management, wherein, by and
large, the concepts of information and knowledge are being used in an overlapping manner, as are
information management and knowledge management. There seems to be a conceptual confusion as to
what libraries are managing – information or knowledge? This paper proposes to examine this issue.
Design/methodology/approach – Based on a literature survey and the author’s own teaching
experience, the article tries to provide an answer to this simple but at the same time complex question.
The subject scope is self-explanatory as it deals with two basic aspects, i.e. IM and KM.
Findings – Based on certain characteristics, efforts have been made to produce a clear distinction
between IM and KM. These findings are also presented in tabular form.
Practical implications – Today, KM has become an important activity in all organizations,
particularly in the corporate sector. As a result, intangible assets are playing the role of key drivers
and technology is a key enabler. To be successful in the emerging knowledge economy, new processes,
skills, and techniques that help to generate, manage and handle new knowledge need to be developed
and practised adequately by information specialists.
Originality/value – The paper provides a crystallization of ideas to avoid any confusion among
students and LIS professionals.
Keywords Informationmanagement, Knowledge management,Tacit knowledge, Explicit knowledge,
Information science
Paper type Literature review
Introduction
Ever since the dawn of civilization, Indian society has been in transition, in which
knowledge and innovation have played significant role. Agrarian and industrial
revolutions played a major role in developing agrarian and industrial societies. Later
came an era of information revolution, leading to the emergence of the information
society. During this period, there was a manifold increase in information generation
activities, and now it is the turn of a technological revolution, which has resul ted in the
emergence of the knowledge-based society. Knowledge society and knowledge
management are the buzzwords of the twenty-first century, where convergence of
communication technologies, computer technology and digital technology are the main
partners. This technological explosion has resulted in the emergence of new breeds of
resources, forcing us to shift from tangible goods to intangible goods. Due to all these
developments, information and knowledge-based activities are dominating and
bringing a change in focus towards knowledge management. However, the line of
demarcation between information and knowledge management is still very blurred. As
a result, both of these terms are being used interchangeably. This situation is posing a
serious question for library professionals, i.e. what are we managing, information or
knowledge? To answer this question, we will need to define these basic concepts again.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0305-5728.htm
What are we
managing?
169
VINE: The journal of information and
knowledge management systems
Vol. 37 No. 2, 2007
pp. 169-179
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0305-5728
DOI 10.1108/03055720710759946
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