Using knowledge management principles to solve organizational performance problems

The purpose of this paper is to provide a practical framework for employing knowledge management (KM) principles to improve organizational performance.

To combine the disciplines of soft systems analysis and organizational development and provide tailored KM solutions to performance deficiencies.

Most of the literature on KM focuses on what it is but not on how to do it. It is almost as if KM just happens. In practice, the installation of a viable KM capability must be integrated into an organization's management structure and business strategy

Use of this framework and its related diagnostic techniques have been successfully used by KM practitioners in more than 70 government and commercial organizations. However, more rigorous business case techniques are needed to fully validate the methodology.

There is little written on how to build and implement an organizational KM system. This paper describes how the three fundamental organizational system components can be balanced to achieve good organizational health and effect organization‐wide change.