Knowledge strategy typologies: defining dimensions and relationships

Received: 7 April 2010 Revised: 7 December 2010 Accepted: 13 December 2010 Abstract Studying knowledge strategy empirically requires that specific strategies be operationalized. In this paper, two existing knowledge strategy typologies (the Bierly & Chakrabarti typology of Loners, Explorers, Exploiters and Innovators and the von Krogh, Nonaka & Aben typology of Leveraging, Expanding, Appropriating, and Probing) are compared and mapped onto knowledge strategy dimensions, generating a set of eight ideal knowledge strategy profiles. These profiles are then applied to eight case studies, to develop a better understanding of knowledge strategies by investigating how the two typologies are related. Results suggest that a hierarchy exists between the two knowledge strategy typologies: the Bierly & Chakrabarti typology operates at the grand strategy level, while the von Krogh et al. typology works at the operational strategy level. Findings also suggest that consistent portfolios of operational knowledge strategies can support an organization’s grand knowledge strategy. Knowledge Management Research & Practice (2011) 9, 102–119. doi:10.1057/kmrp.2011.7