The knowledge audit : Similarity and diversity among different views
Björn Alm, Thomas Åslin · 2005
The starting point for managing knowledge is often to do a knowledge audit. There are plenty of different views and definitions of the knowledge audit. One rather broad definition, which might be accepted by most KM practitioners, is that it is a qualitative evaluation and investigation of an organization’s use of knowledge. More detailed descriptions of the knowledge audit process reveal an inconsistent terminology and different approaches in the way of conduct. In order to exemplify this diversity, but also finding common characteristics, three experts’ definitions of the knowledge audit have been summarised and compared by the use of a specially developed framework. The framework focuses on the overall KM view (including terminology and KM focus), the definition of knowledge, and the activities of the process. Our research shows that the three experts all at some point differ in terminology, KM focus, definition of knowledge and the activities that were carried out during a knowledge audit. There are however also several unifying characteristics amongst the experts KA definitions, such as the recognition and special treatment of tacit and explicit knowledge and the creation of a visual knowledge map and an audit report.