Abstract

The objective of this article is to illuminate the relation between knowledge management and virtual communities. A model which comprises four types of knowledge management is presented. A central theme in this article is the suggestion that knowledge management is not an unequivocal concept. Generalized knowledge management strategies do not enable managers and consultants to form an opinion on the effectiveness of virtual communities for their organization or network. Depending on the environment of the organization, the knowledge management will differ in focus and content. In this collaboration there will (and should) be more attention for virtual communities and the most effective type of these communities in the given situation.