1st Edition

The New Knowledge Management

By Mark W. McElroy Copyright 2002
    280 Pages
    by Routledge

    254 Pages
    by Routledge

    'The New Knowledge Management' is the story of the birth of "second-generation knowledge management," told from the perspective of one its chief architects, Mark W. McElroy. Unlike its first-generation cousin, second-generation Knowledge Management seeks to enhance knowledge production, not just knowledge sharing. As a result, 'The New Knowledge Management' expands the overall reach of knowledge management to include "innovation management" for the very first time.

    'The New Knowledge Management' introduces the concept of "second-generation knowledge management" to the business community. Mark W. McElroy has assembled a collection of his own essays, written over the past four years, chronicling the development of related thinking in the field.

    Unlike first-generation KM, mainly focusing on value derived from knowledge sharing, second-generation thinking formally adds knowledge making to the scope of KM. In this way second-generation KM expands the overall reach of KM to include "innovation management" for the very first time. 'The New Knowledge Management' finally begins to bridge the gap between KM and the field of organizational learning, which up until now have been viewed as miles apart.

    Part I: the new knowledge management; Second-generation knowledge management; Integrating complexity theory, knowledge management, and organizational learning; Part II: practice implications; A framework for knowledge management; Double-loop knowledge management; Where does knowledge management belong?; The policy synchronization method; Part III: sustainable innovation; The principle of sustainable innovation; Managing for sustainable innovation; Sustainable innovation and the learning drive; Part IV: the economics of knowledge management; Social innovation capital; Returns on investment from knowledge management; Appendix: A presentation on second-generation knowledge management.

    Biography

    Mark W. McELroy

    "Mark McElroy is the new guru of Knowledge Management. His articulation of "second generation" concepts in knowledge management provides the most coherent framework I know of for understanding how information becomes knowledge in organizations. And his application of complexity theory to business organizations ranks with the most rigorous work available. Give this book the time and attention it deserves and it will change how you see your organization." - Thomas Petzinger Jr., CEO of LaunchCyte LLC; former "Front Lines" columnist, The Wall Street Journal; author of "The New Pioneers"


    "A most insightful reading on the evolution of KM. "The New Knowledge Management" is about sustainable innovation, or life as a social process of continuous renewal. This very rich book also highlights the importance of organisational knowledge, as an important part of organisational sustainability. It is also leading up to social innovation capital as a longitude dimension for extended society innovation." - Leif Edvinsson, Global Knowledge Nomad, The world´s first Director of Intellectual Capital, Brain of the Year 1998, Creator of Universal Networking Intellectual Capital, The world´s first holder of Professorship of Intellectual Capital, University of Lund Sweden


    ""The New Knowledge Management" is a thoughtful and provocative exploration of the many aspects of knowledge in organizations. McElroy challenges some of the popular myths of knowledge management and weaves together a solid and comprehensive framework for knowledge management professionals." - Verna Allee, author of "The Knowledge Evolution"


    "Even though the field of Knowledge Management is as old as the human intellect, there continue to be marvelous opportunities to define new and important innovations. The distinctions that Mark McElroy offers are just that. What he gives us here are valuable and enduring ideas that help to focus our thinking on what really matters, which is namely the creation of new knowledge of value to the future designs and decisions of the organization. This book is a fine compilation of clear and insightful writings that frame the evolution of contemporary knowledge management, and point us towards the future." - Langdon Morris, Partner of Innovation Labs and Co-author, "Fourth Generation R&D: Managing Knowledge, Technology, and Innovation"