Extending the concept of knowledge management into innovation and new business creation

Abstract

Knowledge management (KM) is a widely-used term in management science of 2000’s. The key essence of KM can be coined e.g. as a “purposeful management of activities and processes for leveraging knowledge to keep and improve competitive positioning by using well individual and collective knowledge resources of the firm and its stakeholders” (CEN, 2004). Majority of the KM discussion and research has focused on recognition, expression and dissemination of knowledge as it manifests itself in the present day of an organization. Research has focused on tangible knowledge artefacts such as Patents, Utility models, Trademarks, Licenses. The processes of creation and maintenance of knowledge are used more often by companies as protective measures rather than as dynamic tools for new value creation. Furthermore, the concepts and practices of futures research and anticipation are rarely studied as vital parts of KM. The paper at hand studies the views and strategies of Small- and Medium-sized companies in Finland in their reach for managing present and future-related knowledge by means of qualitative research. The authors propose a double-dichotomy framework of alternative approaches and dimensions for KM. The framework is derived from the analysis of material collected by semistructured interviews with the people responsible for KM processes in 10 companies. Authors also point out the needs for further research on the field.