Putting Knowledge Networks into Action - Methodology, Development, Maintenance

3 About this Handbook (p. 13-14)

3.1 Objective
The knowledge network handbook is a guide for people who are:
* already familiar with the concept of knowledge management,
* convinced that networks are of ever increasing importance in the future,
* committed to action and want to know what to do next. You will not find a detailed argumentation on the importance of knowledge management, or the justification for embarking on knowledge management activities in this book.

We assume that you already accept the necessity to think more closely about and better manage the flow of knowledge throughout your organization. In the case you would like to read or refer to literature that extensively traces the emergence of the knowledge management movement and its rationale, we have provided you with a selected bibliography at the end of the handbook, which lists some excellent sources. What you will find in this book is a robust approach based on the strategies and operations of pioneering organizations, which are using knowledge networks to improve their business performance.

We also assume that you are beyond the point of questioning whether or not you should do something about the management of knowledge in networks. People responsible for constructing an organizational response to the knowledge network challenge come from a wide range of functional and operational groups. Yet it seems to us that these numerous different functional and operating paths all lead to one organizational intersection: the creation and transfer of knowledge within network environments in order to increase the company’s value. To sum up, the purpose of the knowledge network handbook is to offer you a framework for thinking about the network approach for managing knowledge and to guide your concrete implementation steps.

3.2 Research Model

The competence center knowledge networks is a research project within the research center KnowledgeSource which was co-founded by Prof. Dr. Georg von Krogh (Institute of Management), Prof. Dr. Andrea Back (Institute for Information Management), and Dr. Andreas Seufert (Institute for Information Management) at the University of St. Gallen (HSG). Within the framework of an international research cooperation with business and research partners, the objective of KnowledgeSource is to develop an integrated approach to strategic and information management in order to achieve lasting competitive advantages through knowledge management.

In cooperation with its industry partners DaimlerChrysler, Hewlett Packard, Lotus Professional Services, and Unilever the competence center focuses its research activities towards an integrated view of knowledge management and networking. The main objectives of the CC KNN are to establish a shared understanding, a reference model, and a methodology, for building high performing knowledge networks. These results aim at supporting our partner corporations in the process of establishing, recognizing, and facilitating knowledge networks within their organizations. To achieve this goal, the reference model and methodology are mainly based on academic research, bilateral projects with our partner corporations, as well as case studies from reputable organizations