Nature and Foundations of Knowledge Management

Vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes covering key concepts in Knowledge Management.

Knowledge Management (KM)

The discipline that involves the creation, sharing, and leveraging of an organization's knowledge.

Knowledge

The most vital resource of today’s enterprise, consisting of collective information residing in the minds of employees, customers, and vendors.

Davenport and Prusak (1998)

Defined Knowledge Management as doing what is needed to optimize knowledge resources.

Tacit Knowledge

Knowledge that is personal, context-specific, and often difficult to formalize and communicate.

Explicit Knowledge

Knowledge that can be easily articulated, codified, and shared.

Bandwagon Effect

A trend where an idea or belief is adopted because others are doing so.

DIKW Pyramid

A model representing the relationship between data, information, knowledge, and wisdom.

Socialization (Knowledge Creation)

The process of sharing tacit knowledge among individuals through shared experiences.

Externalization (Knowledge Creation)

The process of articulating tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge.

Combination (Knowledge Creation)

The process of integrating new and existing explicit knowledge into a coherent system.

Internalization (Knowledge Creation)

The process of turning explicit knowledge into tacit knowledge through learning.

Intellectual Capital

The sum of a company's knowledge resources, includes human, organizational, and social capital.

Knowledge as a Production Factor

Knowledge is increasingly seen as the key resource that drives competitive advantage.

Knowledge Management Systems

Technological systems used to support the processes of knowledge management.

Organizational Learning

A process where organizations develop knowledge through experience and interaction.

Knowledge Elicitation

The process of acquiring knowledge from individuals or systems.

Knowledge Dissemination

The sharing and spreading of knowledge within and outside an organization.

Knowledge Utilization

The practical application of knowledge to make decisions.

Knowledge as a Strategic Resource

Knowledge that contributes to sustainable competitive advantage.

KM Infrastructure

The foundational elements necessary for effective knowledge management within an organization.

KM Technologies

Information technologies that facilitate the processes involved in knowledge management.

Codifiability

The extent to which knowledge can be articulated or expressed clearly.

Teachability

The ability to teach knowledge to others effectively.

Learning Organization

An organization that continually transforms itself by facilitating the learning of its members.

Collective Knowledge

Knowledge that emerges from the interactions of individuals within a group.

Human Capital

The knowledge, skills, and capabilities of individual employees.

Organizational Capital

The codified knowledge embedded in an organization’s processes, systems, and structures.

Social Capital

The knowledge embedded in relationships and social networks within an organization.

Innovation

The creation and implementation of new ideas or processes to improve performance.

Hierarchical Structure

An organizational framework where roles, responsibilities, and authority are defined in levels.

Communities of Practice

Groups of individuals who share a concern or passion for a topic and learn how to do it better through regular interaction.

Decision Support Systems (DSS)

Computer-based systems that help in decision-making processes.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Technologies that mimic human cognitive functions to assist in knowledge processes.

Business Intelligence (BI)

Technological systems focused on data access and analysis to support business decision-making.

Learning by Doing

The process of gaining knowledge and skills through hands-on experience.

Risk Management

The process of identifying, assessing, and controlling threats to an organization's capital and earnings.

Knowledge Work

Work that creates or applies new knowledge, primarily characterized by the use of intellectual abilities.

Performance Metrics

Measurements used to assess the effectiveness of KM initiatives.

Intangible Assets

Non-physical assets that represent potential value, such as brand reputation and intellectual property.

Knowledge Lifecycle

The progression through which knowledge is created, shared, and ultimately used within an organization.

Data

Basic facts or observations, which alone lack meaning.

Information

Processed data that is organized and has context, allowing it to be useful.

Wisdom

The ability to make sound judgments based on knowledge and experience.

Objectivity in Knowledge

The belief that knowledge should be impartial and independent of individual biases.

Subjectivity in Knowledge

Knowledge as a construct influenced by personal experiences and perceptions.

Knowledge Capture

The process of documenting tacit knowledge for future use.

KM Mechanisms

Organizational structures and processes that promote knowledge management.

Knowledge Mapping

The process of visually representing knowledge assets and flows within an organization.

Capacity for Innovation

An organization's potential to generate new ideas and implement them.

Knowledge Retention

Strategies to preserve knowledge and expertise within an organization despite turnover.