Implementing Knowledge Management Through IT Opportunities: Definition of a Theoretical Model Based on Tools and Processes Classification

Knowledge management has been recognised as a strategic competence through which organizations can address their need for supporting innovation, improving business performance and sustaining their long-term competitive advantage. Nevertheless, the implementation of effective and efficient KM is not an easy task and some organizations have failed in this purpose. Most of these failures have been related to the lack of a generally accepted framework and methodology. The abundance of KM tools, their fairly affordable purchase price, combined with short available time, lead in many cases to an unstructured implementation of KM. The recent advent of the Enterprise 2.0 phenomenon offers new opportunities to achieve the benefits of flexibility and utility of the web 2.0 technologies. These benefits, however, are not automatic and Enterprise 2.0 doesn't elude the KM implementation issue. Even if in the literature there is still a debate about the relationship between Enterprise 2.0 and KM, from a practical point of view the need of an integrated architecture is emerging, in order to reduce expansive and recurring maintenance costs. The aim of this research is to provide a theoretical model for a quick and successful implementation of KM in organizations. This paper presents a three-dimensional model defined to identify opportunities in which IT can effectively facilitate KM application. The three dimensions, consisting in KM processes, KM tools and strategic purposes, are defined through a synthesis and a rationalization of KM literature. In particular, by analysing KM processes and their features, the model identifies and classifies knowledge application opportunities which can be implemented through an integrated and scalable architecture. Moreover, different categories of KM tools and enablers currently available on the market are analysed and associated with the KM life-cycle processes and the main strategic purposes. The study also presents an architecture schema as a base for KM implementation to coherently integrate the chosen tools from the theoretical model. The model aim is to provide organization management with a systematic approach in their challenge to implement KM and effectively reach KM strategic goals. The model also guides in the assessment of the current use of IT systems in respect to KM purposes and to diagnose possible needs to leverage the IT architecture and achieve higher benefits.