Distributed Knowledge Management in Organizations

Abstract

A framework to capture and manage distributed knowledge can address distributed knowledge management from creation to facilitation. Knowledge generation and dissipation needs to be embedded in corporate processes. These processes need to have an underlying principle that eliminates the obstacles of collecting multiple knowledge perspectives within complex organizations. Moreover, extrinsic motivators, social-psychological forces, and organizational climate factors are believed to influence knowledge sharing. This study discusses a framework that provides a synergized view to collect, share, and manage distributed corporate knowledge using organizational knowledge models and technology knowledge models. Structural, cognitive, relational, and technological factors derived from a synthesized literature review aid to formulate this framework. Using this framework, the role of peer-to-peer networks on distributed knowledge management in organizations is examined.