Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning

Transcription

1 Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning Volume 1 Series Editors Ettore Bolisani, Padova, Italy Meliha Handzic, Istanbul, Turkey

2 More information about this series at

3 Ettore Bolisani Meliha Handzic Editors Advances in Knowledge Management Celebrating Twenty Years of Research and Practice

4 Editors Ettore Bolisani DTG, Dept. of Management and Engineering University of Padua Vicenza Italy Meliha Handzic International Burch University, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Suleyman Sah University Istanbul Turkey ISSN ISSN (electronic) ISBN ISBN (ebook) DOI / Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London Library of Congress Control Number: # Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher s location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Permissions for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center. Violations are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (

5 Prologue: Book Series on Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning When we decided, with the encouragement of colleagues and friends of the International Association for Knowledge Management (IAKM), to launch a new book series on Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning, we had a clear idea of the purpose of this challenge. In our preliminary discussions, we had to consider a specific question: Why a new series? How can it attract the interest of readers, editors, and authors, not to mention publishers? Aren t there enough journals, conferences, books, and even other series on the same topic? Although we were aware of the risks associated with a new editorial project, we also found many good reasons to do it. In particular, the book series recalls the mission of the International Association for Knowledge Management which we founded, with nine other colleagues, in 2012: the mission of supporting the development of knowledge management (KM) as a scientific discipline. Despite its increasing importance in academia, KM still suffers, like any other new area, from a problem of recognition. It aims to become an independent field, but as it has multidisciplinary roots from psychology to computer science, from organizational science to business administration, just to mention some it requires an integration of different perspectives and a robust clarification of its conceptual references. Research and practice often branch off in multiple directions, and no clear consensus on concepts and methods has emerged so far. So, as scientists and professionals involved in KM, we need unified theories, common approaches, and standard languages that help us see the problem of managing knowledge under the same shared perspective. The way to reach a credible agreement on what we are doing and to set a common ground for our future work calls for a capability to discuss, exchange, and, maybe, contrast our ideas and positions freely and openly. We need a place where we can do this in a rigorous but, at the same time, friendly atmosphere. This book series is an integral part of this mission. What inspires it is not the acceptance to a particular school of thought or ideological position, as sometimes happens even in the scientific world. Rather, what inspires it is a vision of KM as a playground where there is a lot to research, discover, and innovate, where curiosity, dialogue, and openness to confrontation are the key ingredients. With the same scrupulousness of scientific publications, but with a broader scope and more relaxed constraints than those that may characterize other editorial channels, the series will put an emphasis on free discussions of new theories, v

6 vi Prologue: Book Series on Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning methods, and approaches; on visions of the future and advances in the field; on critical reviews of recent or past empirical evidence; and on formulating ideas for new practical methods or applications. It aims to offer a constantly updated reference to researchers, practitioners, and also students involved in the field of KM and its application. To conclude this presentation, here are a few words of acknowledgment for all those who support this initiative. First of all, we thank our publisher Springer, particularly Dr. Martina Bihn, Editorial Director of Business/Economics and Law, and Dr. Prashanth Mahagaonkar, Editor of Business/Economics, who have believed in our project and have supported it with their competence and proactive help. Secondly, we gratefully thank our colleagues of the International Association for Knowledge Management. They have not only encouraged us but have also guaranteed their active support for the success of the book series. Indeed, the involvement of our Association is essential, not only for circulating the information about the series (all updated information about issued books and new calls for papers will be published on the official website, but also because members will be in the frontline as contributors, reviewers, and editors.

7 Preface Advances in Knowledge Management: Celebrating Twenty Years of Research and Practice It can be said that KM has, more or less, 20 years of history. In practice, however, it is virtually impossible, and maybe useless, to find the exact origins of KM. Surely, this emergent area of management has many parents. Among the most cited authors that are often indicated as seminal contributors to KM are Davenport and Prusak, Nonaka and Takeuchi, Bontis, Grant, Wiig, and Spender; however, there is no space here to mention all the others that would also deserve a citation. There are also authors (for instance Polanyi) who, even though they can t be classified as KM scholars, strongly influenced and still influence this field. Since the early works of these pioneers, a lot has been done. KM has developed, both in research and practice, and although its recognition as a scientific discipline is still debated, it has gained its place in the management field. On the future of KM, there are, however, diverging opinions. In particular, some critics affirm that KM has weak theoretical grounds: ambiguous definitions, inconsistent interpretative frameworks of phenomena, and lack of a shared perspective in a field that is multidisciplinary in nature. Others add that KM is just a rebottled old wine that simply takes and recombines ideas and practical methods from past managerial disciplines and approaches. And there are those that affirm that KM practice, despite the huge investments by companies, has a high percentage of failures, and there is also a problem of measurement of benefits and costs. It wouldn t be wise to underestimate these criticisms, but it also appears that the popularity of KM is not simply a fashion: the KM movement has increased over the years, and this can t be neglected. There are established conferences, books and book series, and specialized journals; associations of KM scholars and professionals; many documented cases of companies that are successfully carrying out KM programs and investing a lot in them; and even new professions that are explicitly tagged as KM. It is therefore the proper time to make an appraisal: What is the state of KM? Has it really become a discipline (as its promoters say)? Or is it time to move on to other subjects (as its critics propose)? And, in general, what is left to do? What directions can or should (if any) the research and practice of KM take? vii

8 viii Preface Addressing these questions is the goal of Volume 1 of the book series entitled Advances in Knowledge Management: Celebrating Twenty Years of Research and Practice. The volume tells a story of knowledge management s (KM) journey so far. It looks back into the beginnings of KM, unravels its present dynamics, and tries to see what lies ahead. Essentially, Volume 1 aims to capture the zeitgeist of KM, celebrates its advances, and positively promises that there can be a bright future for those who embrace it, a future of opportunities for research and practice. The book represents a structured collection of writings founded on the most recent experience and research pursued by members of the International Association for Knowledge Management (IAKM), their colleagues and students, and other authoritative scholars. We are thankful to all for supporting this project and contributing their time and effort to make this book possible. The book is organized into three major parts, each containing three chapters. It is designed to permit selective readings of individual chapters or parts of the book, depending on readers interests. However, readers are advised to first familiarize themselves with the chapters in Part I. Part I of this book offers a peek into KM s past. Since every good story starts at the beginning, the chapter Knowledge Management: Origins, History, and Development traces the origins of KM and its progress toward economic relevance and value. Part I also includes the chapter Knowledge Management Concepts and Models that reviews some of the most important concepts and models developed in and for KM. Research interest in these concepts and models over the past years is further analyzed in the chapter A Descriptive Analysis of Knowledge Management Research: Period from 1997 to 2012 via a descriptive study of top KM publications. Part II of the book focuses on KM s present. In particular, the three chapters in this second part of the book illustrate KM in action: practices, methods, and approaches adopted by organizations. The chapter Knowledge Management in the Public Sector: UK Case Study Perspectives is concerned with the implementation of KM in the public sector. The chapter Supporting Business Managers with Knowledge Management examines the role of KM in supporting business managers and enhancing decision performance across industries. In the chapter Understanding and Improving the Professional Toolbox: Communities of Practice as a Paradigmatic Lesson for Knowledge Management, the main emphasis is on communities of practice, their importance in social learning and knowledge transfer, and their prospects as a KM method. Part III of the book is devoted to KM s future and proposes a look at new views and ideas. The first two chapters address major issues and challenges for KM research and practice based on the opinions of KM experts. The chapter Future Research in Knowledge Management: Results from the Global Knowledge Research Network Study presents visions and directions for KM s future from a global survey of academics and practitioners interested in KM, while the chapter What Practitioners (Should) Want and Expect: A Personal Perspective provides a personal perspective of an eminent researcher on what practitioners should expect

9 Preface ix from KM. The chapter The Next Generation of Knowledge Management: Mapping-Based Assessment Models proposes a new KM value assessment model showing where to go from here and how. We hope that the book will help readers better understand KM and appreciate its benefits. It is especially our wish for the book to help researchers get a clear picture of what lies ahead and how to get there. It is also hoped that the book will help practitioners to develop suitable KM solutions that will turn their intangible assets into tangible outcomes. With many researchers and practitioners working together in a holistic and systematic manner, we trust that the field will continue to evolve and mature. International Association for Knowledge Management Padova, Italy Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Ettore Bolisani Meliha Handzic

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11 Contents Part I Analyzing the Past Knowledge Management: Origins, History, and Development... 3 John C. Spender Knowledge Management Concepts and Models John S. Edwards A Descriptive Analysis of Knowledge Management Research: Period from 1997 to Meliha Handzic Part II Acting in Present Knowledge Management in the Public Sector: UK Case Study Perspectives Sandra Moffett and Tim Walker Supporting Business Managers with Knowledge Management Kursad Ozlen and Nermina Durmic Understanding and Improving the Professional Toolbox: Communities of Practice as a Paradigmatic Lesson for Knowledge Management Ettore Bolisani and Enrico Scarso Part III Predicting the Future Future Research in Knowledge Management: Results from the Global Knowledge Research Network Study Peter Heisig What Practitioners (Should) Want and Expect: A Personal Perspective Helen Hasan xi

12 xii Contents The Next Generation of Knowledge Management: Mapping-Based Assessment Models Giovanni Schiuma and Daniela Carlucci Epilogue