Knowledge management (KM) is frequently presented as a recent development born entirely of the business world. However, the intellectual origins of knowledge management are both deeper and broader than have been posited in the literature to date. Influences of philosophy, economics, education, psychology, information and communication theory, and library and information studies have been almost completely overlooked. This book links current and historical works to the development of knowledge management across domains and disciplines to give students and scholars a deeper appreciation of the origins of KM and a better understanding of its intellectual origins, its concepts, and principles.Through his thorough and critical examination of historical and more recent classic works, the author demystifies this important, emerging area of study. This is an essential and fascinating read for Library and Information Science lecturers, students, and practitioners; required reading for courses in Knowledge Management.

About the Author

Danny P. Wallace is Professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Oklahoma-Norman. He was co-editor of RUSA Quarterly, is co-author of Library Evaluation (Libraries Unlimited, 1999), and serves on American Library Association's accreditation committee.

Reviews

"This collection of easy-to-understand essays on previously published complex works from 1928 through 1999 is presented by a professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Oklahoma, making the field approachable for novices. This work is intended for all students of knowledge management and closely related fields as well as knowledge management practitioners who want to place the field in context. . . . An extremely useful addition to any collection serving a population that studies or uses knowledge management, this work brings the often dry and hard-to-understand original writings to life with commentary and interpretation by an instructor of the field." -

ARBA