KnowledgeManagement

Knowledge management (KM) is a discipline that seeks to improve organizational performance by enabling the creation, capture, organization, storage, retrieval, sharing, and application of knowledge. It combines people, processes, and information technology to make the right knowledge available to the right people at the right time.

KM covers the knowledge life cycle: creation or acquisition, codification and storage, dissemination and sharing, usage in decision making and operations, and retirement or updating of knowledge resources. It emphasizes the balance between tacit knowledge, which resides in people, and explicit knowledge, which can be documented and stored for reuse.

Knowledge is broadly categorized as tacit (personal know-how) and explicit (documented information). KM seeks to convert tacit knowledge into explicit forms when possible and to facilitate socialization and collaboration to spread insights through communities of practice, after-action reviews, and lessons learned repositories.

Tools and methods used in KM include knowledge management systems, intranets, wikis, document management systems, databases, collaboration platforms, and advanced search tools. Key components include taxonomy, metadata, ontologies, and knowledge maps that help organize and locate information.

Governance and roles are central to KM practice. Organizations may appoint knowledge managers or chief knowledge officers to oversee programs. Standards such as ISO 30401 provide a framework for implementing and sustaining a knowledge management system. KM initiatives should align with business strategy and be evaluated through indicators of knowledge availability, reuse, and impact.

Adoption spans multiple sectors, including business, government, healthcare, and academia. Common barriers include cultural resistance, information overload, insufficient incentives, and organizational silos; success relies on leadership support, clear value propositions, and ongoing training.