Previous edition: 2009.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 259-277) and index.

The contemporary importance of knowledge and knowledge management -- Epistemologies of knowledge in the knowledge management literature. The objectivist perspective on knowledge -- The practice-based perspective on knowledge -- An introduction to key concepts. What is knowledge management? -- Knowledge-intensive firms and knowledge workers -- Learning and knowledge management -- Knowledge creation and organizational unlearning. Nonaka and knowledge creation theory -- Unlearning and the deliberate loss of knowledge -- Socio-cultural issues related to managing and sharing knowledge. The influence of socio-cultural factors in motivating workers to participate in knowledge management initiatives -- Communities of practice -- Cross-community, boundary-spanning knowledge processes -- Power, politics, conflict, and knowledge process -- Information and communication technologies and knowledge management -- Facilitating knowledge management via the use of human resource management practices -- Leadership, organization culture management, and knowledge management -- Reflections on the topic of knowledge management.