A descriptive framework for the field of knowledge management

Abstract

Despite the extensive evolution of knowledge management (KM), the field lacks an integrated description. This situation leads to difficulties in research, teaching, and learning. To bridge this gap, this study surveys 2842 articles from top-ranked KM journals to provide a descriptive framework that guides future research in the field of knowledge management. This study also seeks to provide a comprehensive depiction of current research in the field and categorizes these research activities into higher-level categories using grounded theory approach and topic modeling technique. The results show that KM studies are classified into four core research categories: technological, business, people, and domains/applications dimensions. An additional concern addressed in this study is the major research methodologies used in this field. The results raise awareness of the development of KM discipline and hold implications for research methodologies and research trends in the selected KM journals. The results obtained from this study also provide practitioners with a useful quality reference source. The framework and the components included provide researchers, practitioners, and educators with an ontology of KM topics, where they can cover deficiencies in research and provide an agenda for future research.