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Knowledge Management
Part: Computer Science · Chapter: Knowledge Management · Edition: 2026-07-12
Keywords: explicit/tacit knowledge, SECI, ontology, RAG, semantic search
Glossary:explicit knowledge,tacit knowledge,ontology,RAG— see GLOSSARY
At a glance
- KM is the organisational process of creating, sharing, and applying knowledge.
- Explicit vs tacit knowledge require different capture methods.
- Semantic layers (ontologies, IEML, RAG) scale retrieval.
Online references (live)
Offline snapshots (link-rot shield)
Offline snapshot omitted in this web edition. Offline snapshot · Knowledge management · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_management · retrieved 2026-07-12
Offline snapshot omitted in this web edition. Offline snapshot · Tacit knowledge · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacit_knowledge · retrieved 2026-07-12
Offline snapshot omitted in this web edition. Offline snapshot · Ontology (information science) · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology_(information_science) · retrieved 2026-07-12
Ontology (information science)
Engineering: WWW Platform — IEML · IEML — computable semantic metalanguage + policy-gated ontology / ChatOps standards.
This index for Knowledge Management (KM) explores how organizations capture, share, and leverage their most valuable asset: what their people know. In 2026, KM has evolved from simple “digital filing cabinets” into AI-driven ecosystems that manage both documented facts and the intuitive “know-how” of experts.
1. Epistemological Foundations (The “What”)
Before managing knowledge, you must define its nature and state.
- The DIKW Pyramid: Data Information Knowledge Wisdom.
- Knowledge Taxonomy:
- Explicit Knowledge: Codified, documented, and easily shared (manuals, reports).
- Tacit Knowledge: Personal, context-specific, and difficult to formalize (intuition, skills).
- Implicit Knowledge: Embedded knowledge that could be codified but hasn’t been yet.
- Individual vs. Organizational Knowledge: How personal insights become collective intelligence.
- Absorptive Capacity: An organization’s ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external information.
2. Core KM Processes (The “How”)
The lifecycle of knowledge within a system.
- Knowledge Creation: * The SECI Model (Nonaka & Takeuchi): Socialization, Externalization, Combination, and Internalization.
- Ba (Shared Space): The physical, virtual, or mental space for knowledge creation.
- Knowledge Capture & Codification:
- Taxonomy & Metadata: Organizing data so it is findable.
- Knowledge Audits: Identifying “who knows what” and where the gaps are.
- Storytelling: Capturing tacit knowledge through narrative.
- Knowledge Sharing & Transfer:
- Communities of Practice (CoP): Groups of people who share a passion and learn how to do it better as they interact.
- Mentorship & Apprenticeship: Transferring expert tacit knowledge to novices.
- Push vs. Pull Models: Sending information to users (Push) vs. providing a search interface (Pull).
- Knowledge Application: Integrating knowledge into decision-making and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
3. Technology & Infrastructure (The “Tools”)
The digital architecture that supports the human process.
- Knowledge Management Systems (KMS):
- Document Management Systems (DMS): Version control and storage for explicit files.
- Wikis & Internal Knowledge Bases: Collaborative repositories (e.g., Notion, Confluence).
- Expertise Location Systems: “Yellow Pages” for finding subject matter experts (SMEs).
- AI & Machine Learning in KM:
- Large Language Models (LLMs): RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) systems that “chat” with internal company data.
- Semantic Search: Understanding the meaning of a query rather than just matching keywords.
- Graph Databases: Mapping the relationships between people, projects, and documents.
- Social Software: Enterprise social networks (Slack, Teams) for informal knowledge exchange.
4. Strategy & Governance
The management layer that ensures KM adds business value.
- KM Vision & Alignment: Linking knowledge activities to the overall corporate strategy.
- Intellectual Capital (IC): Measuring the value of intangible assets (Human, Structural, and Relational Capital).
- Metrics & KPIs: * Quantitative: Number of downloads, contributions, or active users.
- Qualitative: Impact on innovation, time-to-market, or error reduction.
- Retention Strategies: Preventing “Knowledge Bleed” when key employees retire or leave (Succession Planning).
5. Organizational Culture & Behavior
The human “soft” side that often determines success or failure.
- The “Knowledge is Power” Myth: Overcoming the fear that sharing knowledge makes an employee replaceable.
- Psychological Safety: Creating an environment where people feel safe sharing mistakes and “lessons learned.”
- Incentive Systems: Rewarding contributors (gamification, recognition, or financial bonuses).
- Change Management: Helping teams transition to new KM tools and habits.
6. Specialized Domains & Applications
- Customer Knowledge Management (CKM): Managing what the company knows about its customers and what customers know about the company.
- Personal Knowledge Management (PKM): Tools and techniques for individuals to manage their own learning (the “Second Brain”).
- Knowledge Governance in Global Health: Managing evidence-based practices across borders.
- Crisis KM: Rapidly mobilizing knowledge during emergencies or system failures.
Comparison of KM Perspectives
| School of Thought | Focus | Key Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Technocratic | Information Systems | Databases / AI / Search |
| Behavioral | Social Interaction | Communities of Practice / Mentorship |
| Economic | Intellectual Capital | ROI / Patents / Brand Value |
| Process | Best Practices | Checklists / SOPs / Workflow |
Links
semantic networks and tools
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Scientific summary
Definition (Explicit knowledge). Knowledge codified in language or artefacts that can be stored and transmitted with low context.
Definition (Tacit knowledge). Knowledge embodied in skill and practice, costly to fully articulate (Polanyi).
Definition (Ontology, information science). A formal, shared conceptualisation of a domain used for inference and interoperability.
SECI (Nonaka). Socialization → Externalization → Combination → Internalization as a cycle of knowledge conversion.
Definitions and references
Formal definitions
Explicit knowledge — codified, low-context transmission.
Tacit knowledge — Polanyi: we know more than we can tell.
Ontology (IS) — formal shared conceptualisation (Gruber 1993).
SECI — Socialization, Externalization, Combination, Internalization (Nonaka & Takeuchi).
Full references
- Nonaka, I., & Takeuchi, H. (1995). The Knowledge-Creating Company.
- Polanyi, M. The Tacit Dimension.
- Gruber, T. (1993). A translation approach to portable ontologies.
- Lévy (2023) IEML — semantic computing (Engineering index).
- Part indexes: CS, Engineering.
- Concepts governance — plan, certify, reject forged, apply.