KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT MODELS

BY : Tilahun DeribeDecember 2015

Outline

• Introduction• The Nonaka and Takeuchi Knowledge Spiral Model• The von Krogh and Roos Model of Organizational

Epistemology• The Choo Sense-Making KM Model• The Wiig Model for Building and Using Knowledge• Boisot KM model• Complex Adaptive System Models of KM• Conclusion• Recommendations

Introduction Knowledge management

was defined as the process of applying a systematic approach to the capture, structuring, management, and dissemination of knowledge throughout an organization to work faster, reuse best practices, and reduce costly rework (Nonaka and Takeuchi, 1995).

A model is defined as representation of a system that allows for

investigation of the properties of the system and, in some cases, prediction of future outcomes.

A knowledge management model gives us the representation of the KM for the investigation of

its properties for better understanding and systematizing our knowledge about knowledge management.

The first widely adopted KM model was the SECI model (knowledge spiral

model) described how tacit knowledge and explicit

knowledge can be transformed in an organization.

it has been extended, modified, and alternative KM models have been

Major Knowledge Management Models

The Nonaka and Takeuchi Knowledge Spiral Model (1995)

The Von Krogh and Roos Model of Organizational Epistemology (1995)

The Choo Sense-Making KM Model (1998) The Wiig Model for Building and Using

Knowledge (1993) The Boisot I-Space KM Model (1998) Complex Adaptive System Models of KM

The Nonaka and Takeuchi Knowledge Spiral Model The Nonaka and Takeuchi model of KM

has its roots in a holistic model of knowledge creation.

The tacit/explicit spectrum of knowledge forms (the epistemological dimension) and

the individual/group/organizational or three-tier model of knowledge sharing and diffusion Forms the ontological dimension

both needed to create knowledge and produce innovation (Dalkir, 2011, p.64).

Two Types of Knowledge: explicit knowledge,

contained in manuals and procedures, and tacit knowledge,

learned only by experience, and communicated only indirectly, through metaphor and analogy.

The SECI model is a well known conceptual model

describes how explicit and tacit knowledge is generated, transferred, and recreated in organizations

Making personal knowledge available to others in the company is at the core of this KM model. knowledge creation process takes place continuously and it occurs at

all levels of the organization In many cases, the creation occurs in an unexpected or unplanned

way (Dalkir, 2011, p.65).

Four Modes of Knowledge Conversion

Socialization (tacit to tacit), Externalization (tacit to explicit), Combination (explicit to explicit), and Internalization (explicit to tacit).

The von Krogh and Roos Model of Organizational Epistemology

the first model that clearly distinguishes between individual knowledge and social knowledge

the following aspects are analyzed: why and how the knowledge gets to the employees of

a company why and how the knowledge reaches the organization what does it mean knowledge for the

employee/organization What are the barriers for organizational knowledge

management (Cristea and Căpaţînă, 2009).

The von Krogh and Roos Model cont..

The cognitive perspective states that a cognitive system, no matter if it’s human or artificial, creates

representations (models) of the reality, and process of learning appears when this representations are somehow

manipulated (used in different inferences). A cognitive epistemology sees

organizational knowledge as a system with self-organization characteristics, where people are transparent to the information coming from the exterior.

The information it is not just taken from the exterior environment, it can be generated also internally.

The familiarity and practice are leading to learning. The employees form nodes of an organizations system, with relative

weak links – knowledge represents an emergent phenomenon which comes from the social interaction of these persons

The Choo Sense-Making KM Model stresses sense making, knowledge creation and decision

making. “knowing organizations” are those which use information

strategically in (a) sense making, (b) knowledge creation and (c) decision making.

Sense making long term goal is the warranty that organizations will adapt

and continue to prosper in a dynamic and complex environment through activities of prospecting and interpretation of relevant information enabling it to understand changes, trends and scenarios about clients, suppliers, competitors and other external environment actors.

the reduction of uncertainty and the management of ambiguity (Neto et al, 2009).

The Choo Sense-Making KM Model cont..

Knowledge Creation is a process that allows an organization to create or acquire,

organize and process information in order to generate new knowledge through organizational learning

The new knowledge generated, in its turn, allows the organization to develop new abilities and capabilities, create new products and new services, improve the existing ones and redesign its organizational processes.

Decision-Making. The organization must choose the best option among those

that are plausible and presented and pursue it based on the organization’s strategy.

Decision making process in organizations is constrained by the bounded rationality principle

The Wiig Model for Building and Using Knowledge

highlights the following principle: in order for knowledge to be useful and

valuable, it must be organized. Dimensions the Wiigs KM model are:

completeness, connectedness, congruency, and Perspective and purpose (Dalkir, 2011, pp.76-

77).

Degrees of InternalizationLeve

l Type Description

1 Novice Extremely low consciousness (even not at all) about knowledge and the way it can be used

2 Beginner He knows about knowledge existence and where it can be obtained, but he doesn’t know the way it can be used

3 Competen

t Knows, but the possibility of using knowledge is limited

4 Expert He keeps the knowledge in mind, understands where can be applied, works with knowledge without extern intervention

5 Master Completely internalization of knowledge; a master has a profound understanding about the events in his environment

 Table 1: Degrees of Internalization in Wiig Model

Four Types of Knowledge: based on facts, conceptual knowledge, methodological knowledge and

expectation knowledge. Knowledge based on facts

is about data, causal links, measures and readings – having an observable content, directly measurable.

Conceptual knowledge implies systems, concepts and perspectives.

Methodological knowledge is used by strategies, methods for decision refining and other techniques. Example - situations when the company is learning from previous mistakes or

has the ability to make forecasts based on events analysis Expectation knowledge refers to

judgments, hypothesis and expectations of the persons that possess them. As examples- intuitions, suppositions and heuristics that we use while making

decisions. forms of knowledge, combined with the perspectives proposed by Wiig,

form a matrix which constitutes the core of Wiig knowledge management model

The Wiig matrix

Boisot KM model The Boisot KM model is based on the key concept of

an "information good“ that differs from a physical asset. Boisot distinguishes information from data by

emphasizing that information is what an observer will extract from data as

a function of his or her expectations or prior knowledge. Boisot (1998) proposes the following two key points:

The more easily data can be structured and converted into information, the more diffusible it becomes.

The less data that has been so structured requires a shared context for its diffusion, the more diffusible it becomes (Dalkir, 2011).

Boisot KM model cont… Boisot's model can

be visualized as three dimensional cube with the following dimensions: from uncodified to

codified, from concrete to

abstract, from undiffused to

diffused.

Boisot Cont .. He proposes a

Social Learning Cycle (SLC) that uses the I-Space to model the dynamic flow of knowledge through a series of six phases.

  Name Characteristics

1 Scanning

Identifying threats and opportunities for the discovery of new visions.

2 Problem solving

process which offers structure and coherence

3 Abstraction

Generalization of applying new codified visions

4 Diffusion Sharing new visions with a certain number of persons

5 Absorption

Applying new codified visions to different situations

6 Impact Including knowledge in real practices

Complex Adaptive System Models of KM

sees organization as an adaptive, complex system. models contain series of functions based on cybernetics principles,

using communications and control mechanisms in order to understand, describe and predict what should do a viable organization.

contain lots of independent agents which are interacting. There is no general authority to manage the way in

which these agents should work. A general model of a complex behavior will be the result

of all the interactions.  

Fig 4: Bennet (ICAS) model

Conclusion

Several models of KM were introduced. The first widely adopted KM model was the SECI model

KM models helps us get a deeper understanding A model-driven KM approach enables not only a

better description but also helps to provide a better prescription for meeting organizational goals.

Each model has its strength and weakness and no one model fully represents all dimensions and

entire spectrum of Knowledge management.

Coverage Area/Model

The Nonaka and Takeuchi Knowledge Spiral Model

The von Krogh and Roos Model of Organizational Epistemology

The Choo Sense-Making KM Model

  The Wiig Model for Building and Using Knowledge

  The Boisot I-Space KM Model

Complex Adaptive System Models of KM

Acquisition and creation of knowledge √ √ √ √Codification sharing of knowledge √ √Levels of interaction of knowledge (individual/ group/ organizational/ inter-organizational, individual/public) √ √ √ √ √Processes in the use of knowledge (knowledge creation, sense making, decision making etc.) √ √ √ √Levels of internalization of knowledge √Types of knowledge and conversion (tacit/explicit,fact/concept etc) √ √ √ √Qualities and dimensions of knowledge √ √

Recommendations

Organizations and knowledge management experts need to use the km models for

better understanding and effective implementation of km systems.

However, as no one model is complete for representing the complex nature of knowledge

management, organizations need to use a combination of models to suit

their organizational setting and business goals for the effective implementation of knowledge management systems.

 

And finally

Thank You