Subjectivity and cognition in knowledge management

Autor: Martin Rahe
Rok vydání: 2009
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Knowledge Management. 13:102-117
ISSN: 1367-3270
DOI: 10.1108/13673270910962905
Popis: PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide theoretical insights into an imminent problem of knowledge management. Through the reflection on the impact of subjectivity in knowledge production, the object‐subject divide is to be analyzed.Design/methodology/approachThe starting point is that knowledge management is far from being management of objective truth. The paper shows how the transformation of information and signals into knowledge is affected by mind sets and how these mind sets may differ according to individual and cultural parameters. This means that any kind of diversity finds its expression in cognitive diversity and finally also in knowledge diversity. This paper is based on a review of the literature in the field of behavioral economics and where it overlaps with economics and psychology.FindingsThe probability of misunderstanding increases the overlap of individual mindsets. Even if there are sophisticated technologies which support the management of knowledge, the knowledge product by itself can neither be managed nor effectively be controlled.Research limitations/implicationsThe theoretical discussion gives room for empirical testing, i.e. in experiments.Practical implicationsThe value of knowledge management depends on the accuracy of data gathering, but the probability of misunderstanding increases the overlap of individual mindsets.Originality/valueThe paper looks critically at a management tool that tries to manage the most important resource in the company and which is too often considered as a merely technological challenge.
Databáze: OpenAIRE