Strategic Implementation and Usage of Knowledge Management

Knowledge management is an emergent technology that seeks to address the explicit and tacit knowledge within an organization. Explicit knowledge is easily documented and transferred, consisting of such things as access to market research and analyst reports. Tacit knowledge is the specific knowledge of experts within an organization and is difficult to capture, store and transfer. Knowledge management systems seek to make both tacit and explicit knowledge available to the organization to improve the overall performance of the firm. Three knowledge management applications are analyzed. Fireman's Fund Insurance recently installed a knowledge management application that they are hoping will radically alter the communication culture of their organization. Buckman International Laboratories is one of the early pioneers in the area of knowledge management and has successfully integrated knowledge management throughout their organization. KPMG Peat Marwick is one of the leading consulting firms in the world. They recognized early that a strategic objective for them to remain competitive is the incorporation of an integrated knowledge management system.