Posted by Daan de Koning on October 24, 2000 at 06:05:04:

In Reply to: Re: The ethics of knowledge management in a conflict situation posted by Vaughn P Fox on October 23, 2000 at 13:36:09:

Vaughn,

I do think that KM is always a useful part of conflict management.

When applying Knowledge Management in a conflict situation, it is effective to take into account the culture, emotions, ethics, religion and morality of (all) the parties involved in the conflict. Simply because each decision and action in a conflict, may lead to a reaction that is based on these factors. Gaining information of these factors and use them in the decision making process is benefitial for those who do.

I don't think we disagree on that.

What we (might?) disagree upon is the following,
I do think that:

the appliance of Knowledge Management will not lead BY ITSELF to a morally 'sound' solution of a conflict.

The use of KM in Conflict Management itself is neither moral nor immoral.

The use of KM will benefit those parties in a conflict that do use it, they will improve their winning probabilities.

A conflict is characterized by the absence of any foundation of trust and therefor the impossibility to establish a set of rules/standards because there is a fundamental difference in ethics.

In my view, the 'soundness' of decisions and actions is determined by the extend to which the results of these decisions and actions meet a predefined objective.

A criminal can apply knowledge management in performing crime very succesfully (that is, get the benefits without getting caught by the police nor being brought to justice). His succesfull application of knowledge management, doesn't make his acts moral or ethical or less criminal.

Likewise in conflict management. Applying KM wil not make the results more or less moral or ethical.

That's what I mean with 'KM is morally neutral'.

I am very interested in your thoughts on these matters.

Regards
Daan de Koning

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Follow Ups:

• 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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