socio - technical Knowledge Management : studies and Initiatives

On first reading this book, I could not decide if I was delighted with the breadth covered or if I felt I would have preferred more in-depth coverage of fewer issues. On second reading, I still was not sure. In the words of the author herself, ‘this book embraces difference, as evidenced by a wide variety of studies presented in 22 chapters that differ in perspectives on knowledge (explicit and tacit), in levels of analysis, (individual, group and organisational), in the concerns of research, and those of practice (e.g. people, culture, structure, technology, processes and performance)’ (p309). The book’s major contribution to the field lies in the empirical research undertaken on an international level. However, given the preponderance of academic examples, this also constitutes one of the book’s weaknesses. The result is a structure which I believe lends itself more to a ‘dip in’ approach to see if the aspects covered by the chapters are relevant, rather than a textbook to work through systematically. One of the stated aims of the book is to provide empirical investigations of various social and technical mechanisms which can contribute to understanding of the field of knowledge management and how that understanding can aid decision making. Obviously, the varied empirical research goes a long way to achieving this aim and the research is carried out in a range of different situations adding depth to the results. This same research can also help to point out limitations as well as benefits of a socio-technical knowledge management approach, which is also useful. Starting from a premise that knowledge management needs to be integrated into the strategic management of organiBook Review socio-technical Knowledge Management: studies and Initiatives