What does the evolution of curriculum in knowledge management programs tell us about the future of the field?
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/VJIKMS-12-2016-0072 |
| Published date | 13 November 2017 |
| Date | 13 November 2017 |
| Pages | 454-466 |
| Author | H. Frank Cervone |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Knowledge management,Knowledge management systems |
What does the evolution of
curriculum in knowledge
management programs tell us
about the future of the field?
H. Frank Cervone
School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Abstract
Purpose –The current study aims to analyze the curriculum of selected knowledge management (KM)
programs at universities in the USA, Europe, Australia and Asia within current and historical contexts to
understand the scope and nature of the requirements in KM programs. By comparing the results from
programs, a baseline understanding of what the overall requirements within these programs has been
developed. This may provide benefitsfor the profession, as this baseline can provide a clearer understanding
of the skills and knowledgeelements that are present or absent in the current academic programs.In addition
to better informingthe KM community of what graduates of theseprograms may know, this information can
provide a basisfor academic program improvement and, ultimately, betteruse of KM in professionalpractice.
Design/methodology/approach –The basic approach in this study is a comparative analysis of
curriculum in master-level programs in English that are focused on KM. In the current study, historical
references toprograms in KM were identified through prior researchin the topic area. Current programs were
identified through standard reference sources. The course titles and program descriptions for current
programs are further analyzed using textanalytics tools to understand the relationship of topics within and
between programs.
Findings –The concept of KM as a distinct program of study appears to be stable but the number of
programs is declining.The number of new master degree programs in KM has notsignificantly increased in
the past 15 years, whereas many programs have been discontinuedor have been reduced to the certificate/
diploma level. Of the programs that exist today, we see that a greater variety in home locations of these
programs which tendto imply coverage of the field is becoming increasingly diverse in its approach.Overall,
it appears that the KM programsare moving toward transformation or integration with alliedfields.
Originality/value –There has been verylimited study of the curriculum within KM programs. Most of the
research performeddates from 2010 or earlier. The current study adds a unique contributionto the literature
by looking at earlier iterationsof KM programs and compares those to the current stateof the curriculum in
KM programs and theirsuccessor programs in an attempt to understand how the field may be developingand
changing.
Keywords Data science academic programs, Knowledge management academic programs,
Knowledge management curriculum, Postgraduate- and masters-level academic programs,
Postgraduate curriculum administration
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Knowledge management (KM) as a disciplineis only slightly more than 20 years old. Still a
relatively young discipline, change in the discipline has been a constant theme throughout
its lifetime. As an emerging discipline,questions related to exactly what KM entails, or even
if it is a discipline at all (Wilson, 2002) have been a regular theme in the literature. As
curriculum in academic disciplines tends to reflect practice, by analyzing how the
VJIKMS
47,4
454
Received13 December 2016
Revised28 February 2017
Accepted15 March 2017
VINEJournal of Information and
KnowledgeManagement Systems
Vol.47 No. 4, 2017
pp. 454-466
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5891
DOI 10.1108/VJIKMS-12-2016-0072
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