Knowledge
Feature article Knowledge management, librarians and information managers: fad or future?
Brendan Loughridge
Introduction
This article considers some of the principles and practices commonly associated with ``knowledge management ' ' (KM) in so far as they seem to be of potential importance or relevance to library and information professionals. Competing claims and counterclaims about KM as expressed in a selection of recent professional and academic publications are reviewed, though a truly comprehensive survey of the topic would, as Holtham (1997) suggests, have to take into account the domains of information systems strategies, information policies, computer science, knowledge-based and expert systems, the economics of information and knowledge, intellectual capital, human resource management and organisational culture and learning. While various definitions, or attempted definitions, of KM are quoted or referred to, the complex conceptual and epistemological aspects of, for example, the meanings of and relationships between data, information, knowledge, expertise, know-how and wisdom, which are often confused or ignored altogether in much of the literature of KM, are beyond the scope of this article (but see, for example, McGarry (1993) and Badenoch et al. (1994) for interesting discussions of these topics). Although terms like ``knowledge economy ' ', ``knowledge worker ' ' and ``knowledge management ' ' have been in circulation for a considerable time, there appears still to be no real consensus of opinion about how, and to what extent, KM differs clearly from and/or represents an advance or improvement on established librarianship or, more specifically, information management or information resources management theory and practice (see Drucker,1967; 1969; Machlup, 1980; Svieby and Lloyd, 1987). There are also differing views about both the validity of the conceptual foundation and framework so far developed for KM and the claims made for it as a major
Brendan Loughridge
Introduction
This article considers some of the principles and practices commonly associated with ``knowledge management ' ' (KM) in so far as they seem to be of potential importance or relevance to library and information professionals. Competing claims and counterclaims about KM as expressed in a selection of recent professional and academic publications are reviewed, though a truly comprehensive survey of the topic would, as Holtham (1997) suggests, have to take into account the domains of information systems strategies, information policies, computer science, knowledge-based and expert systems, the economics of information and knowledge, intellectual capital, human resource management and organisational culture and learning. While various definitions, or attempted definitions, of KM are quoted or referred to, the complex conceptual and epistemological aspects of, for example, the meanings of and relationships between data, information, knowledge, expertise, know-how and wisdom, which are often confused or ignored altogether in much of the literature of KM, are beyond the scope of this article (but see, for example, McGarry (1993) and Badenoch et al. (1994) for interesting discussions of these topics). Although terms like ``knowledge economy ' ', ``knowledge worker ' ' and ``knowledge management ' ' have been in circulation for a considerable time, there appears still to be no real consensus of opinion about how, and to what extent, KM differs clearly from and/or represents an advance or improvement on established librarianship or, more specifically, information management or information resources management theory and practice (see Drucker,1967; 1969; Machlup, 1980; Svieby and Lloyd, 1987). There are also differing views about both the validity of the conceptual foundation and framework so far developed for KM and the claims made for it as a major
References: and further reading Abell, A. (1999), ``The changing world of information management ' ', Knowledge Management Magazine, URL: http://www.knowledge-management.co.uk/ Kbase/results.asp (site visited at: 12 May 1999). Abram, S. (1997), ``Post information age positioning for librarians: is knowledge management the answer? ' ', Information Outlook, Vol. 1 No. 6, June, pp. 18-25. Badenoch, D., Reid, C., Burton, P., Gibb, F. and Oppenheim, C. (1994), ``The value of information ' ', in Feeney, M. and Grieves, M. (Eds), The Value and Impact of Information, Bowker-Saur, London, pp. 9-77. Boisot, M.H. (1998), Knowledge Assets, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Bonaventura, M. (1997), ``The benefits of a knowledge culture ' ', Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 49 No. 4, April, pp. 82-9. Broadbent, M. (1997), ``The emerging phenomenon of knowledge management ' ', Australian Library Journal, Vol. 46 No. 1, February, pp. 6-24. Broadbent, M. (1998), ``The phenomenon of knowledge management; what does it mean to the information professional? ' ', Information Outlook, Vol. 2 No. 5, May, pp. 23-36. Brooking, A. (1996), Intellectual Capital, International Thompson Business Press, London. Burke, M. and Miller, S. (1998), ``Responding to challenges: the training and educating of the information professional for the next millennium ' ', Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 50 No. 5, May, pp. 100-08. Butcher, H. (1998), Meeting Managers ' Information Needs, Aslib, the Association for Information Management, London. Chudasama, A. (1997), ``Intellectual capital auditing: an overview ' ', in Raitt, D.I., Blake, P. and Jeapes, B. (Eds), Online Information 97. Proceedings. 21st International Online Information Meeting, London, 9-11 December, Learned Information Europe Ltd, Oxford, pp. 73-8. Collier, M. (1994), ``The impact of information on the management of a large academic institution ' ', in Feeney, M. and Grieves, M. (Eds), The Value and Impact of Information, Bowker Saur, London, pp. 214- 28. Cooper, C. (1998), ``The PricewaterhouseCoopers Information and Knowledge Exchange (IKE) ' ', in Webb, S.P., Knowledge Management: Linchpin of Change, Aslib, the Association for Information Management, London, pp. 40-53. Corrall, S. (1998), ``Knowledge management: are we in the knowledge management business? ' ', Ariadne: the Web version Issue 18 (December, 1998). URL: http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue18/knowledge-mgt (Site visited at 22 April 1999). Davenport, T. and Prusak, L. (1997), Working Knowledge: How Organisations Manage What They Know, Harvard Business School Press, Harvard, MA. David Skyrme Associates (1997), ``Knowledge management: making sense of an oxymoron ' ', (Knowledge Insight, 2nd series, No 2). URL: http://www.skyrme. com/insights/22km.htm (Site visited at: 20 June 1999). Doyle, D. and du Toit, A. (1998), `` 'Knowledge management in a law firm ' ', Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 50 No. 1, January, pp. 3-8. Drucker, P. (1967), The Effective Executive, Pan Books, London. Drucker, P. (1969), The Age of Discontinuity: Guidelines to Our Changing Society, Heinemann, London. Dwiar, E. (1997), ``Let 's do the knowledge ' ', Library Association Record, Vol. 99 No. 11, November, pp. 604-05. Feeney, M. and Grieves, M. (Eds) (1994), The Value and Impact of Information, Bowker Saur, London. Field, M. (1998), ``How to dine free at the Hilton ' ', Library Association Record, Vol. 100 No. 3, March, p. 124. Field, M. (1999), ``Think `complexity ' ' ', Library Association Record, Vol. 101 No. 5, May, p. 270. Fisher, A. (1998), ``So what is the big fuss about? ' ', Library Association Record, Vol. 100 No. 4, April, pp. 190-91. Foster, A. (1999), ``Knowledge management not a dangerous thing ' ', Letter to the Editor, Library Association Record, Vol. 101 No. 3, March, p. 149. Greene, F., Loughbridge, B. and Wilson, T.D. (1996), The Management Information Needs of Academic Heads of Departments in Universities, BLR&D Report 6252, University of Sheffield, Department of Information Studies, Sheffield. Also available at : Information Research: an electronic journal No. 3, February 1999. URL: http://www.shef.ac.uk/~is/publications/ hodsin/index.html (Site visited at 17 March 1999). Harris, P.E. (1998), ``Rethinking research strategies in the global information village: suddenly everyone 's an `information professional ' ' ', in Raitt, David I. et al. (Eds), Online Information 98. Proceedings. 22nd International Online Information Meeting, London, 8-10 December, Learned Information Europe, Oxford, pp. 47-53. Hill, S. (1998), ``Knowledge management: a new career path for the information professional ' ', in Raitt, D.I. et al. (Eds), Online Information 98. Proceedings. 22nd International Online Information Meeting, London, 8-10 December, Learned Information Europe, London, pp. 149-56. Holtham, C. (1997), ``Will business knowledge management survive until the twenty-first century ' ', in Raitt, D.I., Blake, P. and Jeapes, B. (Eds), Online Information 97. Proceedings. 21st International Online Information Meeting, London, 9-11 December, Learned Information Europe, London, pp. 79-92. Infield, N. (1998), ``A job for the professionals: defining an employee in the information sector ' ', Information World Review, No 133, February, p. 16. Kirk, J. (1999), ``Information in organisations: directions for information management ' ', Information Research: An Electronic Journal, No. 3 February. URL: http://www.shef.ac.uk/~is/publications/infres/ paper57.html (Site visited at 17 March 1999). Klobas, J. (1997), ``Knowledge partners: information professionals in the new information environment ' ', Australian Special Libraries, Vol. 30 No. 4, December, pp. 103-16. Knowledge Management (1998a), ``Case study: West Mercia Police ' ', Knowledge Management Magazine, November, pp. 7-18. 252 Knowledge management, librarians and information managers Brendan Loughridge New Library World Volume 100 . Number 1151 . 1999 . 245±253 Knowledge Management (1998b), ``Case study: The Yorkshire Building Society ' ', Knowledge Management Magazine, November, p. 12. Knowledge Management (1998c), ``It 's all in the mind ± accounting for the intangible ' ', Knowledge Management Magazine, November, pp. 11-14. Knowledge Management (1998d), ``Intellectual capital and knowledge management in health ' ', Knowledge Management Magazine, November, pp. 15-16. Koenig, M.E.D. (1996), ``Intellectual capital and knowledge management ' ', IFLA Journal, Vol. 22 No. 4, pp. 299-301. Koenig, M.E.D. (1997), `` Intellectual capital and how to leverage it ' ', Bottom Line, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 112-18. Lank, E. (1998), ``Valuing `ICL knowledge ': a case study ' ', in Webb, S.P., Knowledge Management: Linchpin of Change, Aslib, the Association for Information Management, London, pp. 54-9. Lester, T. (1996), ``Measuring human capital ' ', Human Resources, May/June, pp. 54-8. Line, M.B., Mackenzie, G. and Sturges, P. (Eds) (1998), Librarianship and Information Work Worldwide 1998, Bowker Saur, London. McGarry, K. (1993), The Changing Context of Information: An Introductory Analysis, 2nd ed., Library Association Publishing, London. Machlup, F. (1980), Knowledge and Knowledge Production, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. Marshall, L. (1997), ``Facilitating knowledge management and knowledge sharing: new opportunities for information professionals ' ', Online, Vol. 21 No. 5, September/October, pp. 92-8. Miller, T. (1997), ``Up the wisdom warehouse: why information specialists need to be more proactive ' ', Information World Review, No. 131, December, p. 33. Murray, P. and Myers, A. (1999), ``The facts about knowledge ' '. URL: http://www.info-strategy.com/ knowsur1 (Site visited at 6 July 1999). Nonaka, I. and Takeuchi, H. (1995), The Knowledgecreating Company. How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Pantry, S. (1997), ``Whither the information professional?: challenges and opportunities. The cultivation of information professionals for the new millennium ' ', Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 49 No. 6, June, pp. 170-2. Pedley, P. (1998), ``The best placed profession to give tips on filtering ' ', Library Association Record, Vol. 100 No. 2, February, pp. 82-3. Peters, P.E. (1996), ``From serials publications to document delivery to knowledge management ' ', Serials Librarian, Vol. 28 No. 1/2, pp. 37-55. Rehman, S. et al. (1997), ``Defining competencies for special library professionals: Malaysian experience ' ', Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 49 No. 6, June, pp. 162-9. Rossion, F. (1998), ``To be a knowledge officer or not? How the information professional can face this challenge ' ', in Raitt, D.I. et al. (Eds), Online Information 98. Proceedings. 22nd International Online Information Meeting, London, 8-10 December, Learned Information Europe, Oxford, pp. 157-63. St Clair, G. (1998), ``Special libraries ' ', in Line, M.B., Mackenzie, G. and Sturges, P. (Eds), Librarianship and Information Work Worldwide 1998, Bowker Saur, London, pp. 103-20. Skyrme, D.J. (1997), ``From information to knowledge management ± are you prepared? ' ', in Raitt, D.I., Blake, P. and Jeapes, B. (Eds), Online Information 97. Proceedings. 21st International Online Information Meeting, London, 9-11 December, Learned Information Europe, Oxford, pp. 109-17. Skyrme, D.J. (1998), Measuring the Value of Knowledge, Business Intelligence, London. Skyrme, D.J. and Amidon, D.M. (1997), Creating the Knowledge-based Business, Business Intelligence, London. Solon Consultants (1999), ``Scottish museums look to the future ' ', Solon News Release, 2 February. Sparrow, J. (1998), Knowledge in Organizations, Sage Publications, London. Stewart, T.A. (1997), Intellectual Capital: The New Wealth of Nations, Doubleday, New York, NY. Stonier, T. (1990), Information and the Internal Structure of the Universe: An Exploration into Information Physics, Springer-Verlag, London. Streatfield, D. and Wilson, T.D. (1999), ``Deconstructing `knowledge management ' ' ' Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 51 No. 3, March, pp. 67-71. Sturges, P. (1998), ``Epilogue ' ', in Line, M.B., Mackenzie, G. and Sturges, P. (Eds), Librarianship and Information Work Worldwide 1998, Bowker Saur, London, pp. 281-3. Sveiby, K.E. (1997), The New Organisational Wealth: Managing and Measuring Knowledge-based Assets, Berrett-Koehler, San Francisco, CA. Sveiby, K.A. and Lloyd, T. (1987), Managing Knowhow: Add Value by Valuing Creativity, Bloomsbury, London. University of Warwick (1999), ``Knowledge management ' ', Business Processes Resource Centre, University of Warwick. URL: http://bprc.warwick.ac.uk/ Kmweb.html (site visited at: 2 February 1999) This site also provides useful links to further ``Knowledge Management ' ' sites. von Krogh, G. and Roos, J. (1996), Managing Knowledge: Perspectives on Cooperation and Competition, Sage Publications, London. Webb, S.P. (1998), Knowledge Management: Linchpin of Change. Some Practical Guidelines, Aslib, The Association for Information Management, London. Welch, R. (1997), ``Knowledge is about people: information is about systems ' ', in: Raitt, D.I., Blake, P. and Jeapes, B. (Eds), Online Information 97. Proceedings. 21st International Online Information Meeting, London, 9-11 December, Learned Information Europe, Oxford, pp. 105-08. Wilson, D.A. (1996), Managing Knowledge, ButterworthHeinemann, in association with the Institute of Management, Oxford. 253