Tutorial. 3. What is knowledge management

3. What is Knowledge ManagementETL525 Knowledge ManagementTutorial One5 December 2008K.T. Lamlblkt@ust.hkLast updated: 4 December 2008KM History• The subject of KM was originally arisen in the field of expert systems, described as “knowledge-based systems” [in late 1980s].• The term became associated with the consultancy companies[around 1997], and diverged into three streams:– IT-focused consultancy companies promote KM as something to be accomplished through technology.– Those previously worked in organization development seized upon the „learning organization‟ as a vehicle for promoting effective sharing of information in organization.– The nature of intangible assets and intellectual capital in companies and the need to account for them in the balance sheet emerged as a subject of concern to corporations. KM was used as an alternative way of speaking about this phenomenon.Source: Maceviciute and Wilson (2005)KM History (cont.)• Knowledge Innovation Timeline• Books on KM began to appear by the early 1990s.• The field picked up momentum in the mid-1990s with the development of a number of large, international KM conferences and consortia.• KM became an academic discipline in 2003. Many universities offer courses in KM, including business and library schools.Source: Dalkir (2005)Multidisciplinary nature of KM• Some of the disciplines that contribute to KM:– Organizational science– ...