Posted by Daan de Koning on October 23, 2000 at 04:28:17:

In Reply to: Re: The Potential for Knowledge Management in Conflict Management posted by Reilly Atkinson on October 20, 2000 at 18:51:43:

Reilly, Vaughn

Reading your discussion, I get the impression that you think that it is the objective of knowledge (management) in a conflict situation to achieve a situation where:
- the conflict no longer exists
- a pareto efficient solution (a Win-Win situation) is accomplished.

If this objective can not be achieved, then, knowledge (management) is not a significant aspect in handling a conflict. (correct me if I am wrong, but this is how I understand your words)

In my opinion, these are matters of morality and ethics, and not of KM.

In a conflict, a party has first to asses the probability of winning. Then his potential of improving this probability, and last his desire to put the energy into that.

Based on this assessment, one develops a conflict strategy. This strategy could encompass using military force.

Knowledge management adds value to assessing the conflict situation, and developing and operationalizing the conflict strategy.

Finally, knowledge management does not help in dealing with moral dilemmas.

Knowledge Management itself is ethically neutral. As is quantum mechanics. The technology/science of the atomb bomb itself is not immoral. The only beings known to have morality is the human being. (BTW, this human being is also the only known agent capable of expressing knowledge).

Unfortunately, only a few conflicts can be managed in such a way that no one gets hurt. One could even argue that such easy solvable conflicts are not 'real' conflicts.

That doesn't change the fact that knowledge management does add value to conflict management.

Regards,
Daan de Koning

PS.
If one looks at the history of mankind, one sees that every new technology has been deployed to an extend that was immoral first, before we could handle it in ways that were benefitial. Humans somehow have to cross each border. Based on this observation, one can make a prediction that information and communication technology first will be used without regards to individual privacy, to an extend that in the future will be perceived as unethical. It will happen, and no one can prevent it. But let that not keep you from enjoying this sunny monday afternoon in the autumn of 2000.

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Follow Ups:

• Re: The ethics of knowledge management in a conflict situation Vaughn P Fox 13:36:09 10/23/00 (3)
  • Re: The ethics of knowledge management in a conflict situation Daan de Koning 06:05:04 10/24/00 (2)
    • Re: The ethics of knowledge management in a conflict situation Ron de Weijze 19:20:56 01/10/01 (0)
    • Re: The ethics of knowledge management in a conflict situation Vaughn P Fox 22:51:28 10/24/00 (0)

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