Abstract
The implementation of knowledge management (KM) in an organization involves the integration of knowledge from the domains of strategy, structure, processes, and technology. These domains are generally underpinned—when assimilating roadmaps for holistic KM implementation—with standard KM models in the literature. The pioneering models manifesting the holistic ‘growth’ of knowledge in an organization are generally used to underpin the knowledge‐based segregation of organizational structure. However, some authors take a critical view of such theoretical models, and instead suggest the knowledge process‐based models manifesting the ‘circulation’ of knowledge as being a more practical approach to KM implementation. This paper takes the implementation‐oriented approach further, and modifies and integrates the fundamental aspects of KM advocated in these models resulting in the creation of an integrated KM model that renders a practical framework for the broad knowledge processes across the organization. The essence of the proposed integrated model are the knowledge activities permeating an organization, which are categorized in terms of the cyclic knowledge processes of creation, organization, dissemination, and use of knowledge. These processes traverse the segregated structure of an enterprise.
It is suggested that a modified knowledge‐based segregation of enterprise into individual and group, organization, customer interface, and global enterprise be developed based on the cyclic knowledge processes. Further, based on the proposed integrated model, an implementation framework is outlined manifesting the cyclic circulation of knowledge across the organization. Such a framework can provide a link in the KM roadmaps between the abstract categorizations in KM models and the actual implementations using technologies, organizations, and people. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.