A Process Model of Establishing Knowledge Management: Insights from a Longitudinal Field Study

Annemette L. Kjærgaard, Karlheinz Kautz

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    This paper contributes to the discussion on how to manage knowledge in organizations. Taking a perspective which acknowledges the importance of, but does not privilege, IT as the decisive element, it reports the results of a study investigating the process of establishing as opposed to conducting knowledge management. Based on a grounded theory approach to the analysis of the empirical data, a model of establishing knowledge management in organizations is developed. The model emphasizes how the organizational members make sense of the action and behavior of management, and how this understanding influences their own perceptions and actions in the process of establishing knowledge management. This leads to an understanding of knowledge management as an autonomous venturing process. The model is then used to suggest an explanation of why establishing knowledge management was not successful in the case which was investigated. Conclusions are provided on how the model can be further exploited for studying and improving the practice of knowledge management.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalOmega - International Journal of Management Science
    Volume36
    Issue number2
    Pages (from-to)282-297
    Number of pages16
    ISSN0305-0483
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 2008

    Keywords

    • Knowledge management
    • Process model
    • Organizational identity
    • Grounded theory

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