ABSTRACT
This chapter traces the field of knowledge management (KM) along the discipline of organizational learning (OL). Organizational learning theories recognize the importance of cognitive development and the value of learning as an organizational-level phenomenon, which is synergistic and not simply the cumulative result of each member’s learning. However, OL takes place through individuals and the positive and negative outcomes that their members encounter from their behaviors. In this chapter, we discuss some of the changes that have occurred over the past three decades in the field of KM, highlighting how the field has evolved to the current state and some of the ongoing changes. In doing so, we examine how the interplay between information and communication technologies and KM processes (including various social and structural mechanisms) contributes to learning activities at the individual, group, and organizational levels. In short, the goals of KM and OL are intertwined: KM systems support the goals of learning at the individual, group, and organizational levels. Also, KM systems and OL tie together via the development of the Internet and other collaboration technologies that provide opportunities for organization-wide socialization. Finally, KM systems support the processes of perspective making and perspective taking at the individual, group, and organizational levels.
