KM Dissertation

[Leonard J. Ponzi]

My bibliometric dissertation on KM titled, "The Evolution & Intellectual
Development of Knowledge Management" is publicly available.  You can down
load a copy from the following link:

http://www.mindspring.com/~lponzi/Dissertation/PonziKMDissertationFinal.PDF


If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

Len Ponzi



Abstract


Knowledge Management (KM), a concept perceived by academics and
practitioners as an emerging field, has little empirical lead evidence to
support claims about its origin, growth, or constructs.  The purpose of
this research was to analyze systematically the 1991 to 2001 academic and
industry literature to provide a better understanding of KM's evolution and
intellectual development.  Given the limitation of the methodological
approach in this study, the analysis presents an archival view of KM.

The findings of this research illuminate the emergence of KM, and in so
doing, this study unpacked the KM concept by employing seven different
bibliometric techniques and analyses (Discourse Life Cycle, Co-Term
Occurrence, Author Co-citation Analysis, Disciplinary Activity & Breadth,
Author Influence Index, and Disciplinary Influence) to explore the main
conceptual shifts in KM's discourse, interdisciplinary nature, and
intellectual structure.  This methodological approach statistically
analyzed data gathered from the occurrence and co-occurrence of key search
phrases, cited authors, and cited references.

Discourse life cycle and co-term occurrence analyses reveal that KM is
still developing and that it has had three distinct evolutionary
stages.  The period 1991 to 1995 reflect KM's origin and formation.  The
foundation of KM occurred in 1995, when Nonaka and Takeuchi's seminal work,
The Knowledge-Creating Company, was published.  This work marked the
tipping point to the growth stage as well as the birth of KM.  Starting in
1996 and continuing through 1999 is a growth period, in which the KM
literature reached exponential growth rates.  During 2000-2001, the KM
literature experienced a contraction and rebound.  Disciplinary Activity
measures show that KM's rapid growth, contraction, and rebound was in large
part a computer industry driven phenomenon.

The intellectual development analyses support claims that KM has emerged
from the organizational sciences and is predominantly a social science
phenomenon.  The intellectual structure supports the four proposed
constructs of: 1) Creating a Knowledge-based Business Strategy; 2)
Developing a Learning Organization; 3) Managing Intellectual Capital; and
4) Leveraging Information Technology.  Future study of KM's evolution and
intellectual development is needed.


KEYWORDS: Knowledge Management, Bibliometrics, Evolution, Discourse,
Intellectual Structure

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