Knowledge management in a collaborative business framework

Abstract

Knowledge Management (KM) is a newly emerging, interdisciplinary business model that has knowledge within the framework of trading partners as its focus. It is rooted in many disciplines, including business, economics, psychology and information management. Knowledge management involves people, process and technology in overlapping parts. It helps in building a competitive advantage for today's firm. Examples of two companies that successfully implemented knowledge management are presented.

A precursor to organization decision-making includes – the creation of a knowledge representation process; the knowledge acquisition process; and the organization of a knowledge facilitating creation of an enterprise knowledge base as described in this paper. The progression over time of a business organization through three stages to become a knowledge organization is outlined.

In order to gain and sustain a strategic advantage in a global economy, it is becoming increasingly critical for organizations to share knowledge with their customers, trading partners, suppliers, and to competitors as well. One of the key factors that acts as a barrier to successful knowledge management is lack of knowledge sharing or trust. Knowledge sharing scenarios are also outlined to illustrate the impact on the payoffs to trading partners based on the intents of partners involved.