Posted by Riva Gianluca on December 17, 2001 at 09:23:06:

Hi everybody,
I promised I've got some numbers showing knowledge management is coming down sort of little desease, kind of flu so far, but I think it will soon turn into pneumonia, if we don't question our assumptions...
1)Try a research in ABI/Inform (a database with the abstracts of over 3000 economical magazines), and you will discover that the subject is going down. After a peak in 1999 (over 400 articles), there was a decrease in 2000 (less than 350 articles). I've made a study of the managerial fads, and I can say they have a cycle of 5-6 years...That is,if we don't show the power of knowledge management...let's say, by 1994, there'll be other fish to fry for most managers
2)I know most of you are skeptical. "They are magazines, we're different, they're out of practice, and so on and so forth". I agree to some extent, but the practitioners are a little unhappy as well. The last knowledge management conference in London was attended by only 1550 visitors, whereas visitors were 1875 in 1999 (you can find this information on the article "The KM 2001 conference", Information Today Vol.18 n.6 pp.1&50, June 2001, available in ABI/Inform as well.
3)Heisig&Mertins&Vorbeck on their book "Knowledge management: Best Practices in Europe", published by Springer in 2000, interviewed 1000 german firms and 200 europeans about the effectiveness of their practices (Databases, Lotus Notus, Groupware, you know, all the technological stuff...).Well, less than 10% was happy about their knowledge management.
4)There's also a little empirical research in Italy (13 firms, the magazine is in Italian therefore maybe it's useless for you, but anyway the reference is "L'organizzazione knowledge-baed", Sviluppo & Organizzazione n.179, Maggio/Giugno 2000 pp.91-102. Well, none of the firms are happy about their expences so far...
I think these are symptoms to think over a little. I know, only a flu, but again, flu can turn into pneumonia if you're careless...
Regards

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Follow Ups:

• Re: Is knowledge management coming down kind of crisis? Some numbers to think (and talk) over... hwong 04:48:38 12/18/01 (2)
  • Re: Is knowledge management coming down kind of crisis? Some numbers to think (and talk) over... Jake 20:14:01 02/10/02 (0)
  • I agree, but also practitioners are a little disappointed... Riva Gianluca 09:12:51 12/18/01 (0)
• Re: Is knowledge management coming down kind of crisis? Some numbers to think (and talk) over... Rob 10:49:54 12/17/01 (6)
  • You're perfectly right... Riva Gianluca 09:23:09 12/18/01 (4)
    • Re: You're perfectly right... Rob 12:33:15 12/18/01 (3)
      • That's exciting! Riva Gianluca 11:03:27 12/20/01 (2)
        • Re: That's exciting! Rob 15:31:56 12/20/01 (1)
          • Good luck Riva Gianluca 13:11:11 12/22/01 (0)
  • You're perfectly right... Riva Gianluca 09:22:18 12/18/01 (0)
• Are 'Knowledge' and its 'Management' Becoming Less Relevant? Jefferey Bridges 10:47:11 12/17/01 (5)
  • Let's search what really works... Riva Gianluca 09:36:00 12/18/01 (0)
  • Re: Are 'Knowledge' and its 'Management' Becoming Less Relevant? Rob 11:15:14 12/17/01 (3)
    • Stay!!!! Riva Gianluca 09:59:30 12/18/01 (0)
    • Re: Are 'Knowledge' and its 'Management' Becoming Less Relevant? Jefferey Bridges 11:39:10 12/17/01 (1)
      • Re: Are 'Knowledge' and its 'Management' Becoming Less Relevant? Rob 04:46:54 12/18/01 (0)

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