The role of IT in KM: where are we now and where are we heading?

Abstract

PurposeTo provide a summary of the major trends in the evolution of knowledge management (KM) technologies in the last five years.Design/methodology/approachDrawing from a range of literature published in the academic and industry arenas including the articles accepted in the special issue, the author also applied his own personal experience and practice knowledge in the field to summarize the three major trends in the use of KM technologies for the workplace and individual knowledge workers.FindingsFirst, KM is becoming more and more process‐centric and relevant technologies are gradually being aligned to support process‐based KM activities. Second, there is the emergence of personal networks and applications. Third, knowledge sharing and capturing are becoming more instantaneous (i.e. on‐demand and just‐in‐time).Practical implicationsKM is becoming more and more just‐in‐time. Large‐scale KM programmes still prevail but, in future, the technical infrastructure and information content of these programmes also need to support ad hoc, spontaneous but intensive intra‐ and inter‐organizational collaborations.Originality/valueWhile most articles on KM technologies tend to focus on individual technique(s)/system(s), this paper provides a succinct and high‐level summary of the evolution of KM technologies from a commercial and practical perspective.