Notions of knowledge management systems: a gap analysis.

Knowledge management, now a distinct domain of research and practice, has roots in many disciplines. As a
result, a wide variety of philosophies, theories, and definitions of knowledge management are used in the
literature, and in practice. This has led to many models and methodologies being used in developing knowledge
management systems, but without sufficient cross-pollination of ideas from the various influences and adopted
philosophies. We argue that this has led to significant gaps in the understanding of what is needed for knowledge
management systems and to divergent and inadequate models and methodologies. These problems are
hindering both research and practice. Fieldwork in knowledge management systems development for
organisations has been supplemented by an in-depth analysis of the literature, which has revealed particular
gaps in knowledge management systems research. The notions that should underpin knowledge management
systems development are confused and incomplete. This paper summarises the most salient of these and
challenges several of the published notions of knowledge, knowledge management, and models of knowledge
management. In particular we challenge the apparently accepted dichotomies and propose how different facets
can be considered within a matrix of KM models.