Implementing process-oriented knowledge management strategies

Ronald Maier is a Professor, Department of Management Information Systems, School of Business and Economics, MartinLuther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany ([email protected]). Ulrich Remus is an Assistant Professor, IT-Management and Business Systems Development, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany ([email protected]). Abstract Despite growing interest about a strategic perspective on knowledge management (KM), there is still a lack of a procedure and methods to guide the implementation of KM strategies. In this paper, we review the current state of practice of KM initiatives and identify four scenarios for potentially successful KM initiatives. The majority of organizations can be described as being a knowledge management starter. In order to improve these KM initiatives and link them to business strategy, we suggest a process-oriented knowledge management approach as a step to bridge the gap between humanand technology-oriented KM. This approach is outlined with the help of the four levels of intervention: (1) strategy, (2) KM organization and processes, (3) topics/content, and (4) instruments/systems. The deŽnition and implementation of a process-oriented KM strategy in a large transaction bank will serve as an example to illustrate the application of our approach.