Knowledge-Information Circulation Through the Enterprise: Forward to the Roots of Knowledge Management

The field of Knowledge Management (KM) has already completed its initiatory phase, characterized by operational confusion between knowledge and information, stemming from the tenuous notion of “explicit knowledge”. Consequently, the progress of KM has been much slower than would the significance of knowledge management in a modern enterprise indicate. Here we propose and discuss four cornerstones for returning to the roots of knowledge management and so moving forward towards a new phase of KM. We discuss the roots of reliable knowledge thinking and theory in economics, management and philosophy. Then we formulate clear, unambiguous and pragmatic definitions and distinctions of knowledge and information, establish simple and natural measures of the value of knowledge and propose the Knowledge-Information (KnowIn) continuum and its circulatory nature in managing knowledge of the enterprise. Autopoietic cycle A-C-I-S is elaborated to that purpose. We conclude the paper by discussing some implications of the new KM for strategy and strategic management.