Kunnskapsforlatelse

Kunnskapsforlatelse is a Norwegian term used to describe the neglect or abandonment of knowledge assets within individuals, organizations, or societies. The word combines kunnskap (knowledge) with forlatelse (abandonment or leaving behind), and it is employed in discussions about knowledge management, archival practice, and organizational memory to signal a decline in retained know-how over time.

The concept encompasses both tacit and explicit knowledge. It can refer to situations where experienced staff depart without transferring essential know-how, where documentation is not created or properly maintained, or where archives and training programs are phased out, leading to erosion of an organization’s collective knowledge.

Causes of kunnskapsforlatelse include personnel turnover without effective succession planning, cost pressures that deprioritize knowledge retention, cultural norms that discourage knowledge sharing, and overreliance on digital systems without adequate governance, metadata, or curation.

Consequences include poorer decision-making, loss of institutional memory, reduced capability to learn from past projects, and greater risk when key individuals leave or systems fail. The concept is relevant for public administration, private sector organizations, and research institutions, where knowledge continuity matters for performance and accountability.

The term is debated among scholars. Some see it as overlapping with established notions such as organizational memory loss, knowledge attrition, or willful ignorance, while others argue that kunnskapsforlatelse highlights normative concerns about failing to preserve and pass on knowledge. It remains most common in Norwegian-language discussions and has not yet become a standard term in international knowledge-management literature. See also Organizational memory, Knowledge management, Tacit knowledge, Information governance.