KM System

Knowledge Management System: The Challenges

Abstract

Purpose- This paper discusses and highlights the various challenges faced in building of an efficient Knowledge Management system and proposes solutions for dealing with the challenges.

Design- Different literatures are reviewed, discussed and analyzed and solutions are proposed.

Findings- This study identifies various challenges faced by Knowledge Management system and different aspects of the systems are analyzed which influence the performance of the organization.

Research limitations/implications- This study tends to explore the different aspects of KM system and design challenges with solutions presented in form of propositions without empirical study.

Practical implications- This framework provides the overview of challenges faced by Knowledge Management system of an organization which can be utilized by organizations to make modifications and adjustments accordingly for significant enhancement performance and success probability, while implementing the knowledge management system.

Keywords- Knowledge management, KM system

Knowledge Management System: The Challenges

Introduction

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”

This is quote of George Santayana which is reflected in the motivation which underlies a traditional knowledge management approach or system, the primary goal of which is the storage of past information and the associated outcomes. For survival in the knowledge-centric economies, many organizations have been undertaking various initiatives for the management of knowledge, their critical yet volatile asset. Knowledge, in business terms is represented not as a commodity but is designed and constructed by a collaborative approach.

Knowledge management (KM) has rapidly moved from its initial phase of infancy and now forms an essential part of the business practices of any organization. However, despite of the rapid growth of KM and recent materialization of “Chief Knowledge Officer” as a new executive level position in various organizations, KM has not become mature yet and there exists a lack of definitional clarity and appropriate management approach for the incorporation of KM in overall scheme of any business. Therefore the KM remains a widely researched area and various pedagogical approaches have been developed by the researchers for precise addressing of information, reuse of capital knowledge or empowerment of knowledge.

This article discusses the implications of KM systems and the challenges faced by the building and implementation of appropriate KM system in an organization. After a brief overview of the basic framework of KM, I will discuss the areas that pose problems to the initiative of KM systems and will identify the various inherent challenges faced by KM systems.

Discussion

Background

With technological advancements in the field of information technology, the world has been pushed into an era of new economy. Accounting value, which previously formed the basis of market value of any business or organization but in the new economy the criteria of evaluation changed. Now, the account value does not represent the total market value of any business but is also significantly dependent on the contribution of intangible assets of the business or organization. The most contributing factor among intangible assets as argued by Lin (2002) is knowledge. Nowadays, it is essential for an organization to build a framework for the evaluation of implemented activities of KM ...