Mobile Technology for Knowledge Management

IntroductIon IT support for knowledge management (KM) is a widely discussed issue. Whereas an overempha-sis on technology is often criticized, the general consensus is that a well-balanced combination of technical and social approaches can be a rewarding departure (Alavi & Leidner, 1999). The usage of knowledge management systems (KMSs) (i.e., information systems including for example data warehouse techniques and artificial intelligence tools) is seen as a factor that can beneficially support different KM processes (Frank, 2001; Wiig, 1995). Due to the fact that an increasingly large proportion of work is not conducted in the context of stationary workplaces anymore, it becomes necessary to make KMSs available to those mobile workers (Rao, 2002; Sherman, 1999). Considering the different technological infrastructure in the stationary, as well as the mobile context, a KMS that so far is only available at a stationary workplace cannot simply become mobile without any changes. Further, the aspect of mobility implies specific design requirements for KMS. Taking together the rapid developments in the field of technology, allowing more and more mobile processes to be potentially supported through mobile KMS, as well as the current social and occupational developments, resulting in more mobile workplaces and business processes (Gruhn & Book, 2003), the relevance of mobile KM can be expected to increase in the future. Once the focus is shifted away from the su-perordinate process perspective and addresses the design and development of applications to support mobile knowledge workers, technology and its use by human actors turns out as a major factor that has to be considered. The multiplicity 1626 Mobile Technology for Knowledge Management of devices as well as the variety of KM applications , combined with technological and human limitations, all affect the development of mobile KMS. This article aims at addressing important design requirements pointing to different directions that need further research. By doing so, the goal is to put not too much emphasis on technological issues, but rather to introduce the relevant mobile technology and provide a basis for the further discussion of mobile technology usage in the context of KM.