Personal Knowledge Management: Individual, Organizational and Social Perspectives

Citation

Costello, B. (2011), "Personal Knowledge Management: Individual, Organizational and Social Perspectives", Library Management, Vol. 32 No. 8/9, pp. 634-635. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435121111188292

Authors David J. Pauleen (Associate Professor, School of Management, Massey University, New Zealand) and G.E. Gorman (Professor of Information Management, School of Information Management, Victoria University, New Zealand) are well known for their works on knowledge and information management, emerging work practices, virtual teams and related subjects. The two take the time in this work to assess some of the inherent challenges, conflicts and opportunities, which arise in the growing field of personal knowledge management.

Drawing on the experience of its many multi disciplinary contributors, the book looks at the emergence of the field, showing its development and the questions that can face both practitioners and managers who contemplate applying its principles. The nature of the needs of an individual may conflict with an organizational perspective and several of the chapters discuss this, providing insight and guidance. The application of the principles outlined on an organizational basis in several chapters allow the reader to analyse their own situation and see where the proposed models may best suit the needs of their own organisation. Similarly, the discussions at both personal and societal levels encourage the reader the contemplate several of the philosophical questions at the heart of the personal knowledge management approach while still providing some practical approaches.

The language throughout the text ranges from deeply philosophical to clear, concise and method based. It is definitely a book to be consumed gradually, allowing the reader the opportunity to build on each chapter, applying their own learnings on the subject. Knowledge management as both a change initiator and as a skill for coping with significant at both a personal or an organizational level is addressed in the text. Managers as well as knowledge professional will find this a fascinating, if at times challenging work, requiring re‐examination of personal and professional knowledge approaches.