Knowledge Management Assesment Approaches

Knowledge management is a discipline that is fairly new and lacks a concrete foundation. In the latter years of its emergence in the academic scene, an increasing amount of research can be found and institutions have begun implementing knowledge management in their respective curricula. The discipline is also gaining momentum at the corporate level as organizations in Europe and the United States are implementing some sort of knowledge management. Tools and techniques that map the flow of information known as knowledge management systems are making an appearance in the market. As knowledge management continues to gain popularity in the corporate and academic environment, a need for assessing knowledge management emerges.

The complexity of knowledge management lies in the fact that it is based on the idea of intellectual capital. Knowledge is capital that brings value and is of importance to an organization but has the characteristic of being intangible. It is difficult to measure and assess intangible goods. Traditional management ideas revolve around the assumption that it is hard or not attainable to manage what is not possibly measured. With the initiative of knowledge management and its increased applications both in the business and academic worlds, a way to assess and measure its effectiveness is required. In today's competitive world managers must find a way to justify any investment in new technology that promises solid returns, therefore an effective assessment of knowledge management is imperative.

A management systems' success depends greatly on an effective systematic method of measurement. Since the need for an assessment is obvious we revisit some reasons for finding an effective method that Grossman includes in his article:

1. identify and map intangible assets

2. recognize the knowledge flow patterns within the organization

3. prioritize the critical knowledge issues

4. accelerate learning patterns within the organization

5. identify and diffuse best practices

6. understand how knowledge creates interrelationships

7. understand organizational social networks and identify change agents

8. increase innovation

9. increase collaborative activities and a knowledge sharing culture