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Knowledge management: a human attribute

  • Karl Knox

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Knowledge can be defined as what we know – which is somewhat intangible – it is an all-encompassing term that is used both in academia and the business environment. For the purposes of this paper the perspective taken here is that knowledge involves the cognitive / mental process of understanding, comprehension and learning i.e. that set of activities that goes on in the minds of individuals. The paper discusses both the subjective and objective view of knowledge, using the four paradigms of information systems development model (Hirschheim & Klein’s 1989) and isomorphism (DiMaggio & Powell, 1983) as mechanisms to explain why knowledge is polysemous, influenced by multiple logics and represents complexity and is therefore a human attribute as opposed to an objective tangible resource or organisational differentiator. The conclusion focusses upon managing individuals, recognising their contribution, which in turn manages the knowledge within individuals and subsequently knowledge that resides within organisations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 16th International Conference on Intellectual Capital, Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning, ICICKM 2019
EditorsJohn Dumay, James Guthrie, Rahat Munir
PublisherAcademic Conferences and Publishing International Limited
Pages202-208
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9781912764501
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2019
Event16th International Conference on Intellectual Capital, Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning, ICICKM 2019 - Sydney, Australia
Duration: 5 Dec 20196 Dec 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Conference on Intellectual Capital, Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning, ICICKM
Volume2019-December
ISSN (Print)2048-9803

Conference

Conference16th International Conference on Intellectual Capital, Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning, ICICKM 2019
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CitySydney
Period5/12/196/12/19

Keywords

  • Hollow strategies
  • Isomorphism
  • Knowledge as a human construct
  • Knowledge management
  • Perceptual mapping
  • Polysemous

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Management Information Systems
  • Management of Technology and Innovation
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Information Systems and Management

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