Managing Knowledge

Building Blocks for Success

Probst, Gilbert J. B. / Raub, Steffen / Romhardt, Kai

1. Edition October 1999
VIII, 360 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd

ISBN: 978-0-471-99768-9

John Wiley & Sons

Short Description

This book takes an innovative "building block" approach to knowledge management, one of the hottest issues in management today. This structured approach results in a practical tool for analyzing the entire range of knowledge-related activities in an organization. Focused and well structured, this book helps managers better understand the many complexities of knowledge management and provides guidelines for charting a path forward.

Further versions

Managing Knowledge is an extensive and eminently readable overview of the most important ideas, tools and current applications of knowledge management. The authors rely on an innovative 'building block' approach and provide a detailed description of the most important knowledge processes in organizations.

"We are experiencing a paradigm shift from an industrial age to a service/knowledge age. We are all looking for new answers that will give meaning and purpose to our efforts, and make sense of knowledge processes. This book is an excellent tool: it is easy to read and contains practical examples which help us to deal with the issues. I enjoyed reading it." Heinz Fischer, Vice-President (Personnel), Deutsche Bank

"Knowledge of customer needs, markets, patents, products and processes is a key strategic resource in today's business world. The use of this resource, particularly in larger companies, is becoming a matter of survival in highly competitive and innovation-driven markets. The practical approach to knowledge management offered by Gilbert Probst, Steffen Raub and Kai Romhardt should prove an extremely useful tool." Heinrich v. Pierer, President and CEO, Siemens AG

"In this book Professor Pobst and his colleagues show in a great way how to systematize and work on increasing the efficiency of strategic knowledge management." Leif Edvinsson, Director, Intellectual Capital, Skandia

"Knowledge will dominate our entire 21st century social environment. Organizations will rapidly divide into those that know and those that don't. Leaders of tomorrow must make better use than they have done in the past of what knowledge their employees hold. This book will show you how." Bob Bishop, Chairman, Silicon Graphics World Trade Corporation

Managing Knowledge: The Challenge.

The Company's Knowledge Base.

Building Blocks of Knowledge Management.

Defining Knowledge Goals.

Identifying Knowledge.

Acquiring Knowledge.

Developing Knowledge.

Sharing and Distributing Knowledge.

Using Knowledge.

Preserving Knowledge.

Measuring Knowledge.

Incorporating Knowledge Management.

Getting Started.

First Experiences of Implementation.

Appendices.

Notes.

Bibliography.

Index.

GILBERT J.B. PROBST is Professor for organizational behaviour and management and Director of the MBA programme at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. He obtained his PhD as well as his habilitation in business administration from the University of St Gallen, Switzerland where he was also a lecturer and Vice President of the Institute of Management. As a visiting faculty member Professor Probst taught at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, as well as at the International Management Institute (IMI) in Geneva. Professor Probst is on the board of a number of companies including Kuoni Travel, Holderbank and Alu Menziken Holding. He is also the President of the board of Swiss Top Executive Training (SKU). He is a consultant for various major companies such as ABB, Hewlett Packard, Siemens, Winterhur Insurance, Deutsche Bank, UBS and is the author and co-author of a number of books and journals. His publications deal with the subjects Learning Organizations, Knowledge Management, Systemic Approaches to Management, Thinking in Networks and Structuring of Organizations.

STEFFEN RAUB (Dipl.-Kfm., diplomé ESSEC) holds a PhD in Management from the University of Geneva. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the School of Management, Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand. His research, teaching and consulting focus on knowledge in organizations and the management of change. He is a founding partner of the Geneva Knowledge Group.

DR KAI ROMHARDT is an independent author, moderator, management trainer, and consultant in the field of knowledge management. He holds an lic. oec. (HSG) from the University of St Gallen, and a PhD from the University of Geneva. He has worked as a consultant for McKinsey Co. and has directed projects for Swisscom, UBS, and Siemens as a partner of the Geneva Knowledge Group.