Abstract

Knowledge management (KM) can improve access to and use of information for decision making and fulfilling organization goals. Development and implementation of KM includes the following steps. First, create a culture that has long-term commitment to: trust, active leadership, the sharing of both successes and failures, and the time needed to build and maintain KM. Second, design a KM process, perhaps with the assistance of a consultant. Review corporate strategy; define and clarify objectives; establish an incentive system for information collection; decide who will be responsible for KM functions; train the staff; find information systems technology that support KM; and increase commitment to KM by reducing daily demands and increasing resources. Third, establish methods for information collection. Internal information should be gathered initially. Then, external sources should be targeted, including industry groups, customers, and suppliers. Fourth, make sense of the collected information. Do this by linking and presenting the information in a useful manner. KM can be enhanced by an open bulletin board and by periodic weeding of unused information.