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12 Chapter 1

Concept Name

Key Attributes Examples Nonexamples

1. 1. 1.
2. 2. 2.
3. 3. 3.
4. 4. 4.
5. 5. 5.
6. 6. 6.
7. 7. 7.

Figure 1.2
Illustration of the Concept Analysis Technique

contributions to the organization ’ s intellectual capital are derived through the produc-
tion of ontologies (semantic maps of key concepts), identifi cation of core competen-
cies, and identifi cation of knowledge, know-how, and know-why at risk of being lost
through human capital attrition.
Concept analysis is a technique used to visually map out conceptual information
in the process of defi ning a word ( Novak 1990, 1991 ). This is a technique derived from
the fi elds of philosophy and science education ( Bareholz and Tamir 1992 ; Lawson
1994 ) and is typically used in clearly defi ning complex, value-laden terms such as
democracy or religion . It is a graphical approach to help develop a rich, in-depth under-
standing of a concept. Figure 1.2 outlines the major components of this approach.
Davenport and Prusak (1998) decry the ability to provide a defi nitive account of
knowledge management since “ epistemologists have spent their lives trying to under-
stand what it means to know something. ” In his 2008 keynote address, Michael
Stankosky reiterated this disappointment that we still “ don’t know what to call it! ” If