Review of technology solutions for knowledge management

Abstract

Abstract:The present paper focuses on Knowledge Management (KM) as a new managerial discipline emerging in the last few years of the 20 th century. The main emphasis of the paper is on the technological solutions applied in the organizations at different stages of the KM life cycle. It makes a classification of the types of technologies described in the theory and practice based on the main KM processes. Finally, are presented survey data on the real application of various knowledge management technologies in the organizations.

Future research on information technology in knowledge management

“…Antonova, Gourova, and Nikolov () reviewed technological solutions for KM. On the basis of the main KM processes, they presented a classification of different facilitating technological solutions described in theory and practice.…”

“…On the basis of the main KM processes, they presented a classification of different facilitating technological solutions described in theory and practice. Later, using data from a survey conducted by KPMG (KPMG, ), Antonova et al () demonstrated that technologies play a vital role in KM processes. However, they emphasized the need for KM implementation to focus in the first instance on human and organizational issues and not technology.…”

“…They further highlighted that KM tools are implemented to support knowledge processes in organizations and help managers and employees; thereby, the technologies are not standalone saviors but part of the organizational and human processes. A KM strategy must depend on the organizational processes and structures and respond to the organization's specific needs if it is to succeed (Antonova et al, ).…”

“…Although these studies cover a period of about a decade (2001–2014), some research themes have been suggested by different authors at different times, such as research regarding the enablers or inhibitors for KM (Alavi & Leidner, ; Lee & Chen, ; Liao, ) or particular KM technologies (Von Krogh, ), human and social factors (Antonova et al, ; Scholl et al, ; Scholl & Heisig, ; Venters, ), impact on performance (Alavi & Leidner, ; Gallupe, ) as well as KMS support for KM processes such as knowledge creation and knowledge transfer/sharing (Alavi & Leidner, ; Gallupe, ; Qiu & Lv, ), or innovation (Lee & Chen, ; Qiu & Lv, ) and knowledge reuse (Lee & Chen, ). Only one review (Schultze & Leidner, ) looked at the theoretical foundations and suggested to apply more critical (Day, ) and dialogic discourse methodologies, whereas others emphasized the need for more multidisciplinary approaches (Scholl et al, ), combined qualitative and qualitative approaches (Liao, ), or field and laboratory studies (Gallupe, ).…”

Key Characteristics in Selecting Software Tools for Knowledge Management

“…Instead, a knowledge management system must be a sociotechnical system as a whole which comprises the knowledge itself (the intellectual capital of the organisation), organisational attributes (intangibles such as trusting culture), policies and procedures, as well as some form of electronic storage and retrieval systems." Different ways of classifying knowledge management technologies are utilised in the literature and Antonova, Gourova et al [25] categorised technological solutions according to the following knowledge management processes: (1) generation of knowledge, (2) storing, codification and representation of knowledge, (3) knowledge transformation and knowledge use and (4) transfer, sharing, retrieval, access and searching of knowledge.…”