Knowledge Management vs. Information Technology

Managing data is easily accomplished with basic information technology like databases. This sometimes creates the illusion that we can manage very large amounts of data with little cost. Managing to turn data into information, by giving it a meaningful context, is becoming an area of intense research. Some organizations try to manage so called "big data".₁ Big data requires specialized tools and expertise. Often an organization needs two or three highly specialized and skilled individuals to create information out of data. Comparatively, giving data a context to turn it into information is child's play when compared to the task of being able to actually use the information and create knowledge. Managing knowledge is virtually impossible. Because knowledge is created by the individual, directly managing knowledge requires structuring every interaction between every individual in an organization and the organization's information. This is best called by its common name, micro-management. Micro-management is not knowledge management. I define knowledge management as

Creating an information environment where

• Individuals have access to the information they need to create knowledge 
• Individuals record information that is likely to be needed by the organization
• Information is viewed as a valuable asset by the organization

From my definition knowledge management encompasses aspects that can not be addressed by information technology alone. Knowledge management encompasses Information Management and Document Management. It has an important role to play in an information intense environment. Knowledge management professionals need to consult and work closely with other key departments in an organization, such as Information Technology, Marketing, Legal, and Financial departments.

There are several strategies for creating such an information environment. I would like to examine some strategies for creating this kind of information environment in future posts.

¹ "Big Data" is any unstructured dataset that requires special tools and insight to make meaningful. The term is deliberately vague and depends on the organizations ability to use the data.