Knowledge Management Systems: Surveying the Landscape

Knowledge management systems (KMS) are the tools and techniques that support knowledge management practices in organizations. The study of these systems consists of a small but growing body of literature. In the last two years alone, at least four books, two special editions of journals, and a number of academic and practitioner articles have been published related to this area. However, much of the work that has been published has been in the form of isolated survey studies, or anecdotal case studies into particular aspects of KMS. This has made it difficult to build a cumulative body of knowledge into the development, use and management of these systems. The purpose of this paper is to “survey the current landscape” of KMS, and provide a framework for research into the development and use of these systems in organizations. The intent is to highlight areas where “gaps” exist in what we know about knowledge management systems and suggest ways to close those gaps.