Glossary of Knowledge Management

Abstract

Communities of practice Networks of people who work on similar processes or in similar disciplines and who come together to develop and share their knowledge in that field for the benefit of both themselves and their organization. Communities of practice may be created formally or informally, and members can interact online or in person. Core knowledge activities Knowledge activities that have been identified as most widely used by an organization, often also called the knowledge life cycle or the knowledge value chain. They are to identify , create, store, share, and use knowledge, often in a two-way exchange. Two important requirements have to be fulfilled to achieve improvements from these activities: (i) the activities should be aligned or integrated into business processes; and (ii) the activities should be balanced in accordance with the specificities of each process and organization. A knowledge management solution should not focus only on one or two activities in isolation. Data Discrete and objective facts, measurements, or observations that can be analyzed to generate information. Explicit knowledge Knowledge that can be codified in formal, systematic language and shared in discussion or writing. Examples include a telephone directory, an instruction manual, or a report of research findings. Information Data that have been categorized, analyzed, summarized, and placed in context in a form that has structure and meaning. Information management The management of an organization's information resources to improve performance. Information management underpins knowledge management, as people derive knowledge from information.