Knowledge Management in Human Resources:
Toward Organizational Sustainability
Toward Organizational Sustainability
Knowledge Management
What is knowledge management?
In the systems thinking realm, knowledge management (KM) is not simply a collection of knowledge; it is the action of collecting, the action of analysis, and the action of recommendation and implementation of changes. Gene Bellinger states that "the value of Knowledge Management relates directly to the effectiveness with which the managed knowledge enables the members of the organization to deal with today's situations and effectively envision and create their future." Further, it is continuous, with loops and feedback that prohibit a linear process. A quote to represent that idea, by Neil Fleming:
"A collection of data is not information.
A collection of information is not knowledge.
A collection of knowledge is not wisdom.
A collection of wisdom is not truth."
In other words, KM cannot be a one-time event; it must be embedded in the way we think about change and mission achievement.
Benefits of KM
According to an article in CIO Magazine, the benefits of KM could include the following:
In the systems thinking realm, knowledge management (KM) is not simply a collection of knowledge; it is the action of collecting, the action of analysis, and the action of recommendation and implementation of changes. Gene Bellinger states that "the value of Knowledge Management relates directly to the effectiveness with which the managed knowledge enables the members of the organization to deal with today's situations and effectively envision and create their future." Further, it is continuous, with loops and feedback that prohibit a linear process. A quote to represent that idea, by Neil Fleming:
"A collection of data is not information.
A collection of information is not knowledge.
A collection of knowledge is not wisdom.
A collection of wisdom is not truth."
In other words, KM cannot be a one-time event; it must be embedded in the way we think about change and mission achievement.
Benefits of KM
According to an article in CIO Magazine, the benefits of KM could include the following:
- Foster innovation by encouraging the free flow of ideas
- Improve customer service by streamlining response time
- Boost revenues by getting products and services to market faster
- Enhance employee retention rates by recognizing the value of employees' knowledge and rewarding them for it
- Streamline operations and reduce costs by eliminating redundant or unnecessary processes
Types of knowledge assets
Explicit knowledge is that which can be documented, filed away, and used in the future by anyone who can read and understand the information. It is often categorized and kept by the Information Technology Department of an organization.
Tacit knowledge, on the other hand, is the know-how or personal experience of individual employees. This type of knowledge is located within the human capital of an organization rather than in its physical or electronic files.
Tacit knowledge is what makes knowledge management a subcategory of Human Resources Management (HRM).
Explicit knowledge is that which can be documented, filed away, and used in the future by anyone who can read and understand the information. It is often categorized and kept by the Information Technology Department of an organization.
Tacit knowledge, on the other hand, is the know-how or personal experience of individual employees. This type of knowledge is located within the human capital of an organization rather than in its physical or electronic files.
Tacit knowledge is what makes knowledge management a subcategory of Human Resources Management (HRM).
This site answers the question of how organizations can gain and maintain institutional knowledge through values-driven HRM.
Photos used under Creative Commons from homesbythomas, lumaxart, millicent_bystander, accent on eclectic
