Preface for the Third Edition - Read

618 D. Conclusion and Outlook
Concerning types of knowledge, there is no explicit focus as experts are ideally
free in their decision about what kind of mechanisms are best to exchange knowledge
(cluster 2).
As mentioned above, the primary focus considering KM roles is on knowledge
workers, their networks, teams and work groups. All knowledge workers may and
should act as authors, theme-oriented boundary spanners, subject matter specialists
and knowledge brokers (cluster 3). Experts and knowledge workers “adopt” a
theme or a couple of themes for which they are held responsible. Coaches help
newly recruited professionals to quickly network with other professionals and personalize
their knowledge workspaces.
On the operational level, the focus is on the organizational learning cycle with
an emphasis on individual learning, individual knowledge, its sharing and its
application (cluster 4). Personalization thus not only targets personal knowledge
and learning. On the contrary, individual learning in groups, teams and networks is
focused quite as much as experts and knowledge workers usually work and learn in
these collectives. Additionally, there is a strong need for visualization of what is
happening in the organizational learning cycle – what themes are deemed important
and who knows what about these themes. Identification therefore is an important
service function in this scenario.
The empirical results suggest that so far KM initiatives in most organizations
can be classified as resembling scenarios 1 or 2 whereas scenarios 3 and 4 do not
gain equally high attention. Figure D-8 gives an overview of a stage model that
shows possible phases of KM initiatives in organizations. Many organizations had
started KM in a way similar to scenario 1 and then either moved up to scenario 2 or
3. Scenario 4 presents the currently most advanced step in the organizations and
was implemented either on the basis of scenario 2 or on the basis of scenario 3.
4. personal “idea and individual”
2. centralized
3. decentralized
“market and hierarchy” “network and community”
1. knowledge management starter
FIGURE D-8. Stage model for KMS supported KM initiatives
However, it might as well be that once organizations arrive in scenario 4, they in
turn focus networks and communities as in scenario 3 and the KM pendulum visu-