The emerging phenomenon of knowledge management

Abstract

Knowledge management is rapidly developing as a specific and planned management practice to capture and re-use organisational knowledge. This might sound familiar to librarians who think it is what they do now. But the situation is much more complex than the mere combination of some familiar terms might at first indicate. Knowledge management is a form of expertise-centred management which draws out tacit knowledge making it accessible for specific purposes to improve the performance of organisations. Successful application of knowledge management practices involves understanding and constructively utilising organisational learning and the information politics of an organisation. Librarians are one group who have the background and orientation to comprehend the notion of knowledge management. But to be key players, they need to understand its dynamics and difficulties. Readers are challenged to come forward with examples of knowledge management in practice.