Definition of Knowledge Management

There are many definition of knowledge management.

Harry Scarborough et al (1999, p.1) define KM as "any process or practice of creating, acquiring, capturing, sharing and
using knowledge, wherever it resides, to enhance learning and performance in organizations".

Hedlund (1994) suggests that KM addresses the generation, representation, storage, transfer, transformation, application, embedding, and protecting of organisational knowledge.

Davenport criticised technological approaches to KM in 1996.

"The emphasis on codification in the KM literature probably reflects the dominance of the information systems view: many of the articles have focused on developing and implementing KM databases, tools (e.g. decision support tools) and techniques despite a now fairly wide acknowledgement that "the most dramatic improvements in KM capability in the next ten years will be human and managerial".

Others believe that knowledge is also concerned with the establishment of an environment and culture in which knowledge can evolve (Davenport and Prusak 1998; Wenger 1998; Wenger and Snyder 2000).

It is also believed that KM is a conscious strategy of getting

• the right knowledge
• to the right people
• at the right time.