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The KM Team 413

and library and information studies departments of universities. Stand-alone special
interest courses have evolved into degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate
levels. Some sample KM courses and their syllabi can be found on Peter Gray ’ s site
(http://mint.mcmaster.ca/mint/OLKM_Syllabi.doc). Quite a few doctoral students are
doing their dissertations on KM topics and some of these are listed on the ICASIT web
site (http://www.icasit.org/km/academia/list_of_phd_dissertation.pdf).
Knowledge management has become more solidly established as a discipline
as well as a fi eld of professional practice. In parallel, KM qualifi cations now require
more than having had a course or two in the subject, as many employers now require
a degree or at least a specialization in KM. The fi eld of knowledge management
still maintains its wide diversity as the titles of these degrees range from computer
science, management or business, cognitive psychology, and library and information
science degrees. In parallel, a number of professional associations have created KM
chapters such as the Special Libraries Association (http://wiki.sla.org/display/SLAKM/)
that in addition to its excellent content is also a “ practice what you preach ” site
with wikis, communities of practice, and many web 2.0 features. Other associations
include:
• KMPro, Knowledge Management Professional Society (http://www.kmpro.org), with
wide-ranging chapters and a certifi cation process.
• AOK, Association of Knowledge Work (http://www.kwork.org).
• Knowledge Management Benchmarking Association (http://www.kwork.org/).
• Information and Knowledge Management Society (http://www.ikms.org/).
• Regional KM organizations listed at IT Toolbox ’ s web site (http://it.toolbox.com/
wiki/index.php/Knowledge_Management_Societies_ & _Associations).
Some sample KM job postings are shown here (adapted from TFPL: http://www.tfpl
.com/permanent_recruitment/clients/kmroles.cfm).

The Ethics of KM
Ethics establishes a framework for making decisions based on values and a determina-
tion of what is right and wrong. Laws create public policy built on government ’ s
presumption of what is best for its citizens. Legal aspects frequently attempt to codify
ethical responsibilities but often can differ from an individual or organizational moral
standard. An ethical code for a profession is a system of standards to which those in
the fi eld agree to conform ( Rogus 1997 ). Professionals in formal leadership roles have
a responsibility to model the highest possible standards for those whom they manage.
Perhaps our most important aspiration is that we understand how the larger culture