Mobile Knowledge Management

Whereas knowledge management (KM) has gained much attention in the field of management science and practice as the eminent source of competitive advantage (e.g., Davenport & Prusak, 1998; Drucker, 1993; Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995; Probst, Raub, & Romhardt, 2003), one issue has been largely neglected: The aspect of mobility. Conventional solutions for knowledge management systems (KMSs) have in common that they are designed for stationary workplaces and consequently require the corresponding infrastructure—that is, personal computers and fixed-line network access. Thus, they do not cater for business processes in which workers move around in or outside the premises. The result is that knowledge support for mobile workers is often rather restricted, once a task has to be performed outside of the office. Organizations in which parts of the workforce belong to one of the following classifications are concerned in that context: • Specialists, mobile on the premises (e.g., in-house technicians) • Specialists, mobile outside the premises (e.g., members of the sales force) • Specialists and executives in companies with mobile operations (e.g., organizations like contracting business, police, or armed forces) • Decision makers (e.g., CEOs who are required to make timely and well-funded decisions disregarding their current position)